Two-time champion Pauline McGurren is second at Carrickmore for Sperrin Harriers

Almost 240 competitors travelled to Carrickmore for Carmen Runner's 7th annual Carmen 10K road race.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2016, 18:00 BST
Some Sperrin Harriers at the Carmen 10KSome Sperrin Harriers at the Carmen 10K
Some Sperrin Harriers at the Carmen 10K

Thirteen Harriers were in attendance on a cold and blustery day, among them Pauline McGurren who was the winning lady at the event in 2014 and 2015.

This year she produced yet another great performance coming second with a time of 39:03, and was joined in success by Angela O’Neill who finished a tremendous first in the female 35-44 category with a time of 43:37.

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Brian Bradley was the first male Harrier to cross the line in 43:14, followed by Dean Corey who completed the course in 43:40.

Deirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 MilerDeirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 Miler
Deirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 Miler

Malcolm McCullough and Toirleach Gourley were separated by a solitary second, finishing in 43:52 and 43:53 respectively.

Laura Mitchell was the third female Harrier to finish in 45:06; and was followed by Patsy Hughes (45:22); Kieran Campbell (46:29); Barry O’Neill (47:21); Stephanie Henry (50:59); Kellie Anne Quinn (52:30); and Stephen McWilliams who continued to improve on his 10K times with 64:11.

Saturday saw a large turnout of over 1,000 runners at the Carlingford Half Marathon and 10k event, which took place just over the border in Co. Louth and was held to assist St. Brigid’s Special School in Dundalk.

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The course included views of the Cooley peninsula, Ballagan Point, Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough; a scenic route consisting of several hills in the first five miles, with a headwind that challenged the half marathon runners in the latter stages.

Deirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 MilerDeirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 Miler
Deirdre Conway and Stephanie Henry at the Gortin Mad 5 Miler

Taking part in the half marathon and finishing under the 1h 30min mark were Harriers Sean O’Gara (1:25:31) and Paul Conway (1:27:32). They were ably followed by team mates Gareth Cardwell in 1:31:36; Paul McLaughlin in 1:34:01 and Kevin Devlin in 1:34:02.

Tanya Quinn put in another great run when she came home as the first female Harrier with a personal best of 1:36:36. Mark Thom was the next to finish in a time of 1:40:59; to be followed by Martin Donaghy (1:46:04); Steven Fearon (1:48:18); and Joanne Bell (1:52:44).

A mere second divided Russell Bell (1:54:27) and Jane Thom (1:54:28), and hot on Jane’s heels was Ciara Coyle (1:54:47) who was in turn pursued by Michael McCrory (1:56:37); Alison Colgan (1:59:23); Thomas McDonald (2:07:23); and Fiona Devlin (2:11:20).

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The Harriers also attended the 10K event on a route which was a curtailed version of the half marathon. The all female contingent was headed by Louise Kelly who completed the course in 51:53.

She was followed by Maureen Mallon in 59:15; Joyce McMullan in 1:02:30; Jacinta Morgan in 1:03:32 and Briege McCann in 1:04:26.

Contending with the tough hilly course and strong winds was Harrier Mark Reid who crossed the line in a characteristically formidable time of 1:30:46, made all the better as it scored him 2nd place in the male over 45 category.