from Athletics Northern Ireland David O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) and Karen Alexander (Sperrin Harriers) were the winners of the Slieve Gallion race in the Sperrins on Saturday. The Mid Ulster AC promotion covered a 4.5 mile course with 1200 feet of climb
and was the final race of NIMRA Grand Prix Series. NI International O’Flaherty set the pace on the opening section up through Iniscarn Forest as Ballymena’s Johnny Steede and junior international James Speight chased hard. Brian Ervine of Mourne Runners came past on the steep climb then O’Flaherty got into the lead again after the first descent, with the first four all closely bunched. Former winner Ervine was first to the summit but O’Flaherty took off on the descent with Steed in hot pursuit.
The pair scorched along the forest track in a downhill duel and the Newcastle man’s heels were starting to burn as he hurtled across the line to win by 10 seconds from Steede, clocking 36.07. Speight’s third place against senior opposition was a good boost for the young Omagh Harrier ahead of the British and Irish Junior Championship. Ervine was first over 40 in fourth with North Belfast Harrier David Tweed and Andy Gregg of Larne AC completing the top six.
Karen Alexander clocked an impressive 39.40 for a good win in the women’s race. The road running specialist showed she is equally adept on the hills as she finished 47 seconds ahead of British over 40 bronze medalist Alwynne Shannon with former NI champion Shileen O’Kane third in 41.49.
The event was the last race of the local Mountain Running season, although the Turkey Trot on Boxing Day provides one race in the off season. However, a dozen leading junior athletes will be representing Northern Ireland at the British and Irish Junior Championship in Scotland on 12 October.
Slieve Gallion Race
4.5 miles /1200 feet climb
Men
1 D O’Flaherty Newcastle AC 36.07
2 J Steede Ballymena Runners 36.17
3 J Speight Omagh Harriers U20 36.50
4 B Ervine Mourne Runners M40 37.35
5 D Tweed North Belfast Harriers 38.20
6 A Gregg Larne AC M40 38.23
7 J Wilson Pegasus AC U20 38.41
8 G O’Doherty Springwell M50 39.14
9 S Hughes Glens Runners M45 39.30
10 C Bailey Mourne Runners 39.36
11 W Marks Mourne Runners 41.05
12 S Wilson 41.09
13 J McCormick North Belfast Harriers 41.12
14 K O’Boyle 41.45
15 S Herron Mourne Runners 42.41
Women
1 K Alexander Sperrin Harriers 39.40
2 A Shannon Mourne Runners (ind) W45 40.27
3 S O’Kane BARF 41.49
4 G Wasson Springwell 45.51
5 K McCloy Mid Ulster AC U20 52.03
6 M Speight Omagh Harriers W50 52.49