Roberts claims another title

ROAD race action was at the centre of the weekend's competitive athletics action with City of Derry Spartan star Gregrory Roberts grabbing all the plaudits.

He stormed to an impressive victory in Cork’s Ballycotton 10 mile road race on Sunday.

Sunday’s win was done in some style, the Londonderry athlete wisely not going with the frantic early pace, and going with the long sustained run for home over the last few miles. His 50 minutes and 16 seconds clocking gave him a 23 seconds advantage at the finish line, well ahead of the faniced Mick Cholissey of Raheny (50m 39secs) and Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harriers was third.

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A significant performance from Roberts, after a terrific cross country season and impressive half marathon runs in the national and Northern Ireland championships last September, he has been tipped to make a serious break through for some time now. He duly delivered that last Sunday and should now move into the national endurance group, a further boost to his athletics development.

Closer to home on Saturday the Larne Half Marathon attracted almost 1000 finishers with another Spartan Brendan Murphy coming home 13th in 76 minutes and 44 seconds, the first finisher from the North West. North Down’s Robin Brown won in 72 minutes and 35 seconds and Letterkenny’s Maria McCambridge posted 78 minutes and 56 seconds to claim the women’s prize.

The Larne race kicked off the 2010 NI Half Marathon series, which continues this weekend in Omagh, where another massive turnout is anticipated given the location there will be a much bigger local interest with significant input from both Foyle Valley and City of Derry Spartans.

There is an 11am start for walkers and 12noon for runners and race headquarters as usual is Omagh Leisure Centre.

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Staying with Half Marathon the final race in the series will be the local final race in the series will be the local Tesco Waterside event on Sunday, September 12 and given the recent massive increase in road running, like Waterside is expected to pull in well over 1000 participants this year.

Contact Derry City Council on (028) 71347695 for further information.

Meanwhile Easter Saturday, April 3, offers a great opportunity for local runners and joggers to kick start their spring season. Gransha hosts the Easter weekend 5K, with an 11am start time and complemented by a 1K fun run, start time is at 10.30am. Entries will be taken on site on the day from 9.45am and participants of all standards will be welcomed.

London’s Lee Valley Centre and Nenagh Indoor arena are this weekend’s venues for a contingent of local track and field athletes. A small group of local masters athletes will be in Lee Valley for the British Masters Indoor Championships with Declan McCarthy, Robert Bigger and Malcolm McCausland hoping to medal in their respective age groups.

Both City of Derry and Olympian have athletes qualified for the National Juvenile Spartans have a few relays squads with medal hopes and let’s hope the long trip will reap some success.

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