Posted Date: 23-Oct-2007 Tues

Five athletes from Inishowen Athletics Club competed in the ING Amsterdam marathon on Sunday last. Perfect running conditions greeted runners as they assembled at the start of the race to the south of the city. Carndonagh based athlete John Collins was the first Inishowen runner to reach the finish line in the magnificent surroundings of the 1928 Olympic Stadium in a lifetime best performance of 2 hours 58 minutes and 05 seconds. This was John third marathon in just over two years and in that time he has improved best by over 45 minutes. Stomach problems denied Glenties native Finbarr Gallagher from going sub 3 hours also as he was on schedule up to the 22 mile mark. In fact, both Inishowen athletes passed the halfway point in 90 minutes, Nevertheless, Finbarr recovered well in the latter stages and finished in 3 hours 10 minutes and 25 seconds, just seven minutes of his personal best set in Boston in 2006. Eilish Bell produced her fastest marathon in over two years will an excellent 3 hours 41 minutes and 40 seconds. The ever-consistent Culdaff based athlete ran a well paced race by finishing the second half faster than the first. Marathon debutant Peter White from Moville finished comfortably in 3 hours and 49 minutes and such a performance augurs well for the future. Margaret O’ Donnell who hails from Culdaff completed the Inishowen representation by finishing in 4 hours and 18 minutes. Margaret did well to complete the 26.2 mile event as a back injury at the 18 mile mark ruled out any chance of her running close to her best of 3 hours and 43 minutes. In the Amsterdam half marathon, Oliver Mc Geehan finished strongly in 1 hour 56 minutes.

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Up-Coming Events

This Monday the action moves to the streets of Dublin with Patrick Doherty, Anna Doherty, Shaun Mc Laughlin, Owen Mc Kinney Willie Mc Kinney, Chantal Busek, Karol Doherty, Noel Doherty, and Donal Doherty competing in the marathon. A day earlier, 31 juveniles from the Club will compete in the Ulster & Northern Ireland even age cross-country championships in Jordanstown, Co. Antrim. The action returns again to Donegal with the County senior cross-country championships taking place on Sunday 4 November at the Finn Valley Centre at 11.00 am. The Provincial cross-country championships conclude on Sunday 11 November with the uneven ages and novice races in the Finn Valley centre. Juvenile training for all age groups in Buncrana continues at the Leisure Centre every Wednesday from 7-8 pm. Juvenile training for 7-12 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.