Springwell take part in Schools Cross Country

Weather was fine, but the already tough, hilly course was very mucky in parts, most notably on the dreaded University hill.

First up was Niamh Tweedie and Zara McLaughlin, Coleraine High School in the Minor Girls race which was won by Aoife Laverty, Thornhill College in 8:22 with Niamh who chased hard the whole race, second in 8:35 and Zara 13th in 10:03 a superb display from both girls.

In the Minor Boys Luke Dinsmore, Coleraine Inst was unfortunate not to win, when leading the race at the halfway point he lost a shoe, but ran on bare foot to take a brilliant second in 8:02, Ailbhe Kendall, Dalriada, came 57th in 9:47.

In the Junior Girls Robyn Ennis, Dalriada finished 53rd in 16:45 on her least favoured surface.

Conor Christie, Cross and Passion, once again led from start to finish in the Junior Boys race finishing in a comfortable first place in 15:31, Ryan Murray, Coleraine Inst had one of his best races to date, finishing ninth in 17:00, with Ryan Ennis, Dalriada, using this race as a warm-up for the Age Group Indoor races at the week end finishing 13th in 17:15, Brian Tweedie, Coleraine Inst had a good race to finish 18th in 17:28 and Chris Surgeoner, Dalriada finished 57th in 19:05, out of 120 runners.

The Intermediate Girls race saw Deborah Gilliland, Coleraine High School take the rest of the field on from the gun leading for the first lap, only to fade slightly in the second lap, holding on for a brilliant fourth in 14:34, Natalie Costello, Loreto has improved with every race and once again put in a well paced race to finish seventh in 15:40, whilst twin sister Shannon, running her first competitive race finished 22nd in 18:10. Club new comers Sarah McKinley and Mairead McKeague, Cross and Passion found the going tough finishing 29th in 19:08 and 42nd in 21:12 respectively.

A lot of the club;s runners have now qualified for the Ulster Finals in Mallusk on February 24 as either part of a team or as an individual, where they will compete along side primary school club mates, Danielle Graham, Helen Tweedie, Aine McKinney, Charlotte Parr, Leah Gillfillan, Ross Moore, Alex Conkey and Jamie Nolan, who had already qualified via the Primary Schools Cup.

All these junior athletes have trained very hard all winter and are now reaping the benefits of their hard work the Springwell Club would like to wish them the best of luck, come the day.

Jim Breen remains unbeaten in the MO55 age category at the Sperrin Harriers Winter League. The fifth race in the series was the Lough Fea 5K on Saturday. Jim won his age category in 19:33.