MASTER athletes Declan Reed and Julie Butler grabbed the respective titles at the Northwest Cross Country Championships at Gransha Park in Derry. Both showed all their experience by waiting until the final stages of their races before claiming impressive victories on a muddy two-kilometre circuit.
Foyle Valley’s Chris McGuinness was the clear leader at the end of the first lap of three. He was pursued by a bunch headed by club mate Scott Rankin, two Spartans, former winner Allan Bogle and defending champion Declan Reed.
Willowfield’s Brian Campbell as well as Newcastle’s Seamus Lynch, who was on a hat-trick following this month at Ballyclare and Cookstown, and Springwell’s Neil Johnston were also in contention.
Bogle had moved to the front by the end of the second lap with Reed breathing down his neck followed by Campbell and Lynch. Rankin was now fifth, just ahead of Johnston, while the early leader McGuinness had slipped back to sixth.
But it was the 42-year-old NI/Ulster champion Reed who proved strongest on the final circuit as he pulled away to win by 40 metres in 18:59. Seamus Lynch claimed the runner-up spot seven seconds back after out-sprinting Brian Campbell on the short home-straight.
Bogle, Rankin and Johnston made up the top six finishers. City of Derry took the team award, while neighbours Foyle Valley look to have done enough to maintain the position as ANI League leaders. The host club, City of Derry Spartans, decided to run both senior races together meaning the intricacies of a very exciting women’s race were lost on most of the spectators.
Newcastle’s revelation of the season to date, Shalene McMurray, looked to be heading to be heading for a comfortable victory after leading through both the opening and second laps.
Her clubmate Joanne Mills and Rachel Gibson led the chase at the bell, but a storming charge over the last two kilometres saw 44-year-old Omagh Harrier Julie Butler come through late on to take the victory by six seconds in 22:33.
A shell-shocked McMurray held on to take second and add to earlier runner-up spots at Bobby Rea and McConnell Shield meetings. Joanne Mills took third to give Newcastle two runners on the podium.
North Down’s Rachel Gibson ran well for fourth with Ballymena & Antrim’s Pauline Thom and the host club’s Jackie McMonagle were the next two women home. Newcastle looked to have topped the team listings.
The Mourne Runners club completed a double at the Run Forest Run Tollymore 10K with William McKee and Laura Graham scoring a hat-trick of victories in the series. McKee had a comfortable win coming home over a minute clear of runner-up Gerard Heaney, with Paul Carroll in third.
Laura Graham was equally dominant in the women’s race, finishing over a minute ahead of reigning NI & Ulster Masters’ cross country champion Louise Smith with Catherine O’Connor filling the final spot on the podium.
Leitrim’s Liam Feely was the winner of yesterday’s Jungle Bells 5K in Donegal Town in 16:26, 16 seconds ahead of Karl Griffin. Margaret Sweeney (21:31) was the first woman home.
