from Athletic Northern Ireland website SEELEY CUP ROAD RACE 2008
(Incorporating Athletics NI 10K Championships) The top Northern Ireland road racing competition will once again be in a 500 strong field for the 27th Seeley Cup 10K on Saturday 6th December (2:30pm at Ormeau Park) with chipped timing being introduced for the first time. Organised by governing body Athletics Northern Ireland and Willowfield Harriers and with sponsorship from Mizuno plus Up and Running, the event will guarantee high quality competition for both individuals and team events. The race incorporates the Athletics NI 10K Championships.
The winner of the prestigious Men’s title could well be dependent on the priority attached by a couple of athletes to the European Cross Country in Brussels a week later. Abbey’s Paul Pollock has been selected for the Irish U23 team and may therefore give the Seeley a miss where he would have started as one of the favourites, especially following his Bangor 10K victory over current Seeley champion Gareth Turnbull and Joe McAlister of St. Malachy’s who is a reserve for the Irish Senior team in Brussels.
Other names in the mix include Annadale’s Eddie McGinley who had an impressive comeback win over the Ormeau Park course last week, Northern Ireland Cross Country champion Brian Campbell of Willowfield who was third in last year’s Seeley and St. Malachy’s Kevin Seaward who won the McConnell Shield recently.
While predicting the individual winner is something of a lottery, there should be no such uncertainty in the team event where Annadale will be calling on GB based athletes such as twice Seeley winner Paddy Hamilton, veterans maestro Steven Cairns and Andrew Dunwoody all of whom are in top racing form.
This trio along with McGinley, Paul Carroll and Mark Wright should be able to wrestle the title back from last year’s surprise winners Armagh. Willowfield’s team which includes Campbell, David Simpson, Dean Fisher and Alan McCullough will do well to capture runner-up spot.
In the ladies event Newcastle’s ever versatile Kerry Harty who is an Irish reserve for Brussels is firm favourite to retain her title from North Belfast’s Margaret Meade. North should have little difficulty winning the team title again as it will also include Louise McClean and Cathy McCourt. Lagan Valley’s Suzanne McCormick and Abbey’s Judi Graham and Gladys Ganiel should also be in contention following their recent good Inter Counties performances.
Entries for this event are being taken online at www.niathletics.org before 3rd December and at Ormeau Recreation Centre on Saturday 6th December before 1:30pm.
NB: Postal entries for the Seeley Cup have now closed.
[Pictured launching the 2008 Seeley Cup 2008 at Ormeau Parl are Brian Campbell (representing Willowfield), Kerry Harty (representing Athletics NI & Conor Flannigan (representing Up & Running)]