Spartan men’s team comes up trumps in Antrim

Like their 2006 achievement the men once again claim the much coveted Northern Ireland/Ulster senior team cross country championship crown.

The Spartans took full advantage of serious deficiencies in the St Malachy’s and Annadale Striders squads to place their six scorers inside the top twenty finishers in the provincial championship and finally made up for several near misses at the hands of their Belfast rivals in the years since the 2006 victory in Coleraine.

Huge belief and superb packing was the key to Saturday’s success and the red vests were dominant for all of the five lap 10K race, run on testing underfoot conditions but on a surprisingly bright and dry day in the Greenmount College grounds.

Declan Reed returned bravely from an injury induced layoff to lead from the front and typically pushed hard all the way for an inspiring 8th place finish. Chasing hard behind was the 21-year-old JP Williamson, on the eve of his return to his American College and the Waterside lad had a blinder for 12th.

In 16th was John Lenehan, with a run which belied the fact that a Wisdom tooth extraction earlier in the week had seriously threatened his participation and the win was cemented as a mere 18 seconds separated him from the last of the crucial final three scorers, Emmett McGinty 17th, Colin Roberts 18th and Allan Bogle 19th.

The phalanx of red vests told the story and despite Annadale’s talented Paul Pollock taking the individual title and Gary Murray and Joe McAlister of St Malachy’s finishing third and fourth, the Belfast clubs lack of depth on the day saw a rampant City of Derry storm to a facile team win ahead of North Down and North Belfast Harriers.

Three of the victorious squad, Lenehan, Roberts and Bogle were on the winning 2006 team and were absolutely delighted to return to the podium once again.

Colin Roberts is central to the Spartans senior coaching set up and rapidly heading for the M45 Masters ranks but he was supreme on Saturday.

John Lenehan is something of a lucky charm to the club teams and despite being London based with work he is a man for the big stage. Allan Bogle has got his mojo back this season and dug in well to bring the team home.

Declan Reed won his first Provincial senior Cross Country team medal on Saturday with a typical front running contribution, after almost six weeks battling injury and JP Williamson made his first ever run at this level one to remember with a hugely impressive effort behind the forty something Reed. Emmett McGinty delivered on the hard work he has put in over the last few years and can be delighted with claiming his first NI/Ulster senior team medal on the country.

Also in action were Aaron Doherty, 25th place; Masters duo James Brown 35th and Michael Murphy 42nd; the doughty Gavin Stevenson 51st and debutant at this level Paddy Mahon in 56th.

A terrific all round performance, marred only by the absence of the team trophy as defending champions St Malachy’s failed to bring it along with them.

This was very unfortunate as the outgoing ANI President and Spartans secretary Gerry Lynch was poised to present the team trophy post race but that pleasant and satisfying task will have to wait a while.

In other action there was an impressive showing from a quartet of the Spartans youngsters in the Girls Primary Schools race as Aela Stewart romped home to win. Cara Laverty was 5th, Lily Toorish 6th and Aishling Walsh 14th as the locals showed that their ongoing participation in the North West Primary Schools Cross Country League can reap wider benefits.

The third and final race in the local League is on Friday, January 24, at Templemore Sports Complex.