Posted Date: 01-Jun-2009 Mon

City of Derry athlete Gregory Roberts lead home 112 runners in the Culdaff 5km on Friday night last with a stunning victory in a new course record of 15 minutes and 31 seconds. Roberts bolted to the front from the start and established a sizeable lead as he approached the 2k mark on the main Culdaff to Gleneely road. With the course record on his mind, Roberts continued his powerful front-running display as he made his descent of Bluebell Hill and turned on to the Shore Road. Undeterred by the wet conditions, the City of Derry athlete pressed on to the finish at Culdaff post office and crossed the finish line 63 seconds inside the old record of 16.34 set by Declan Mc Carthy last year. Significantly, Roberts was also under the time bonus target of 15 minutes and 40 seconds. Letterkenny athlete Ivan Toner was a gallant second in 15.59, with Dominic Bonner from Finn Valley A.C third in 16.21. Bonner also collected first place in the M 45 masters section. Other winners in the age group categories were Paddy Doherty (Moore), City of Derry, M 35, 16 .58, Joe Mc Kinney Inishowen A.C. 16.29, M 40 Paddy Doherty Inishowen A.C. 17.54, M 50 Malcolm Mc Causland 19.42, City of Derry, M 55 and Willie John Mc Laughlin (Inishowen A.C.) 27.14 M 60.

Rosemary Bogle from Finn Valley A.C. had a convincing 23 second victory in the women’s race in a time of 19.59, with Teresa Doherty from Inishowen A.C. running steadily for second in 20.22. City of Derry runner Bernie Ryan finished third in 23.01. Inishowen A.C. athletes Susan Mc Grath and Georgina Dixon were second and third respectively in the senior women’s category with times of 25.32 and 26.35. Finn Valley’s Gloria Donaghy took gold in the M 45 section with 23.11, while Karol Doherty was the winner of the wheelchair category in 23.19. Other Inishowen athletes to participate included James Browne 17.05, Martin Mooney 18.29, Owenie Mc Kinney 18.50, Willie Mc Kinney 19.13, Vinnie Hegarty 19.31, Mickey Collins 20.56, Charlie Mc Laughlin 20.56, Peter Mc Kinney 21.07, Breege Collins 25.06 and Mary Mc Namara 26.48.

Conor Morrison was an impressive winner of the juvenile 1 mile road race held prior to the 5k. The Letterkenny A.C. athlete raced to 5.45 and took the boys under 15 title in the process. Roma Doherty won the under 13 girls title in 8.09, while Christopher Carter won the boys’ race in 6.24. Moville girl Moya Doogan took gold in the under 15 girls’ race in 6.31. In the under 17 section, Jacob Sanchez, Inishowen A.C. won the boys race in 6.19 with Grace Cartin taking gold in the girls division in 8.24.

Clonmany athlete Kieran Devlin finished fifth in the under 17 boys triple jump at the Ulster Schools track and field championships on Saturday last. The Carndonagh Community School Transition Year recorded a best of 11.66m.

Karol Doherty placed second in the wheelchair section of the Belfast marathon on Monday week last. The Carndonagh based athlete experienced a puncture at the 11 mile mark and continued for over 4 miles before a replacement tyre was supplied. Despite this, Karol reached the finish at Orrmeau Park in a gallant 3 hours and 16 minutes. Shaun Mc Laughlin raced to his second marathon personal best in less than two months when he finished in 3 hours and 14 minutes and 38 seconds, an improvement of over one minute on his time in Barcalona in March. Finbarr Gallagher ran 47 minutes for the 7.1 mile relay section.

Up-Coming Events

The Finn Valley Centre in Stranorlar is the venue for the County Children’s games this Friday 22nd May at 6.30 pm. The Donegal juvenile and senior track and field championships wil take place this Saturday 23rd May at 12 noon at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. The Inter-Firms 5km road race takes place on Wednesday 20th May in Letterkenny at 7.30pm. The Furey Insurance 5km takes place on Wednesday 27th May in Buncrana at 7.30 pm also.