Posted Date: 14-Nov-2007 Wednes

Inishowen A.C. athletes recorded a range of notable performances at the Ulster & Northern Ireland uneven ages and novice races at the Finn Valley Centre in Stranorlar on Sunday last.

Held in near perfect weather conditions, Grainne Hession and Deirdre Doherty were the first Inishowen athletes in action and raced well in the girls U 11 800m to finish twenty fifth and forty ninth respectively. Greencastle athlete Darragh Kelly led the U 11 boys’ team with a strong run in thirty fifth position. Fergus Cox was just two places behind in the 800m race, while Ethan O’ Kane and Tony Morrison completed the scoring team in fifty fifth and fifty sixth positions. The U 13 girls raced over 1000m and were led home by Clonmany athlete Connie Ann Hession in forty fifth position. There were creditable performances also from Aoife Bell (73rd), Kate Doherty (85th) and Paula Mc Laughlin (86th). First Year Carndonagh Community School student Declan Farran adapted well to the muddy sections of the course and was the Club’s first finisher in the U 13 boys’ 1200m. Primary school athletes Declan Donaghey and Aran Devlin both coped well in the older age group and finished sixty second and sixty sixth respectively. Ballylifin native Kayla Farran finished strongly in twenty six position in the U 15 girls’ 1500m while Caroline Kelly again showed that she is returning to her best form in recent weeks with a fifteenth place finish in the U 17 girls 2000m. Urris athlete Stephen Friel led the U 15 boys’ team with a strong finish to claim thirty first place. Patrick Mathews from Carndonagh showed that he is improving with a commendable fifty sixth place. Clonmany athlete Enda Mc Daid finished two places behind, while Conor Hession and James Griffin came through strongly over the 2000m race to claim sixtieth and sixty fifth positions.

It was an historic day for the Inishowen A.C. in the novice races as it was the first time that the Club has fielded athletes in both men’s and women’s races. The significant of the day was not lost on the athletes competing as they delivered a range of robust performances. Moville Community College teacher Brigid Moohan led the women’s team to fourth place with a strong determined run in tenth place over the 3500m course. Culdaff athlete Katrina Ruddy continued the good form that saw her take a bronze medal in the County masters’ race at the end of October with a battling performance in thirteenth position. Eilish Bell, who just three weeks earlier ran the Amsterdam marathon in 3.41 raced to sixteenth place, while Murial Bradley from Clonmany made a welcomed return to the competitive scene to finish in twenty first place.

In his first race since running the Amsterdam marathon, Finbarr Gallagher raced well in what proved to be one of the most competitive novice men’s races in recent times with a strong run for seventeenth place. Buncrana athlete Patrick Doherty showed no ill-effects of his 3.30 marathon effort in Dublin just two weeks ago by finishing nineteenth. Carndonagh triathlete Patrick Mc Laughlin came down in distance to race the 6000m event and was rewarded with twenty third position. Dublin marathon debutant Owen Mc Kinney used his strength to finish in twenty fifth place, while Buncrana athletes Seamus Mc Daid and Vinnie Hegarty worked hard and finished in thirty third and thirty fifth positions respectively.

Up-Coming Events

Inishowen Athletics Club will co-host with Springwell Running Club from Derry the Feet Across the Foyle 10k road race this Saturday 17th November at 12.00 noon. This event will be run in pairs. An athlete runs 5K in Magilligan. This athlete is paired off randomly with an athlete who runs 5K in Greencastle simultaneously and the two times are added together. The least accumulative time wins. Registration begins at 11.00 am in Greencastle Community Centre and Magilligan Refreshments and prize-giving afterwards in Greencastle Community Centre also. Entry fee is € 7 or 5 Sterling.

The Night at the Races will take place on Friday 23rd November at 8.30 pm. in Simpson’s Bar in Carndonagh. Horses are on sale from any Club member.

Juvenile training for all age groups in Buncrana continues at the Leisure Centre every Wednesday from 7-8 pm. Juvenile training for 8-12 year olds takes place every Thursday from 5-6 pm in Carndonagh Community School Gym. Training for juveniles aged from 12-18 takes place every Tuesday from 4-5 pm and on Thursdays from 3.20-4.40 in Carndonagh Community School also. New members are welcome to come along. Finally, training for senior athletes takes place every Tuesday at 6.30 pm from the Buncrana Leisure Centre also.