Richard Johnston won the latest installment of his season long battle with tenacious Foyle Valley rival Scott Rankin, at a wet and windy Carndonagh 5K on Wednesday night last and American visitor Hannah Davidson was much too good for the local opposition in the Womens race,as a record 179 finishers contested the penultimate race in the hugely popular Furey Insurances 5K Series.
Results here. Photos taken by Cathy Furey here.
A confident run from the red vested Johnston saw him break away around the 4K mark and storm through the hilly final kilometre for a 15m 55s clocking,comfortably ahead of Rankin on 16m 6s with Carndonagh man Joe Mc Kinney next on 16m 23s. The Spartan is now three to one up in their four Series head to heads to date. Rankin was an excellent fourth in the fast Buncrana race–which Johnston missed–back at the end of May and the final race on the Balliniska circuit ,on Wednesday 21st July should be another exciting duel between two fine young road racers!
Providence College athletics scholarship student Hannah Davidson,visiting her boyfriend David McCarthy in Derry,was a class apart in the womens race posting an impressive 17m 30s for ninth overall and a clear victory over the battling Inishowen F40, Helena Crossan who ran a gutsy 18m 29s on her home turf with another Series regular,Springwells Gemma Turley,third on 19m 26s.
The joint promotion between City of Derry Spartans and Inishowen Ac proved a real winner as a record 179 entry was attracted to the event,Runners of all abilities were involved,the finish times ranging from sub 16m to just over 43m,proving that running is indeed for everyone!!
Age Group Winners
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City of Derry,Foyle Valley,Tir Chonaill AC and Finn Valley mopped up practially all the age group prizes–the exception being another female visitor,young Emma McKinney who ran a qick 20m10s to lift the Female under 20 award.
Tir Chonaills Sean Kerrs took the Male under 20 with 18m 38s and his clubmate Richard McCarthy,brother of race Sponsor Atlanfish,s Declan,was the top M50 with 18m 33s. Foyle Valley pair Ryan Snodgrass and Billy Orr claimed the M35 and M45 prizes respectively with times of 17m 48s and 18m 26s.Valleys female trio,Sandra McKeever,Rosie O,Brien and Kate Meehan were the top F35, F40and F45 finishers.Their times were 3m 9s,21m 26s and 23m 49s.
Finn Valleys Gloria Donaghey ran 22m 49s for the F50 prize and Moville man Seamus McElhinney on 23m 18s took another M60 award.Inishowens Willie John McLaughlin produced a storming finish to pip Condy Doherty in the M65 grade and the Spartans Paul McCafferty M40 and Peter Lilburn M55 were worthy winners on 17m 35s and 18m 49s.
Awards Presentation
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Following the event and the very welcome post race refreshments the prizes were presented in the Carndonagh Community School by sponsors,Sean Furey of Furey Insurances and Declan McCarthy of Atlanfish.
Next Up
—— The road race action continues tonight Friday 2nd July with the Rathmullan 5K,start time 7 30pm and Saturday brings the Strabane 10K which has a12noon start time. The sixth and final Furey Insurances 5K is on Wednesday 21st July on the Baliniska circuit at 7 30pm with Templemore Sports Complex serving as race HQ–this one sponsored by the Donnelly and Taggart Group is not to be missed!
Looking further ahead the annual Dessies Run 10K is in the Gransha Grounds on Sunday 29th August–12noon start–and of course the real big one,the Tesco Waterside Half Marathon on Sunday 12th September,also in the Gransha Grounds.
Report, results and photos on www.sparta-athletics.co.uk