from Athletics Northern Ireland The 29th Waterside Half Marathon attracted a record entry to the Gransha Grounds on Sunday and in surprisingly favourable conditions produced a really brilliant overall event which catered for around 1200 Runners and Walkers plus another 300 in the supporting 3KFamily Fun Run. It was also the Athletics NI Half Marathon Championship.
Omagh Harrier Stephen Duncan retained his male individual title and City of Derrys ageless Anne Paul,won the womens race some eight years on from her 2002 victory and for good measure the local red vests claimed both the mens and womens team titles in convincing style.
The spacoius Gransha grounds were thronged with participants,spectators and event officials from well before 8am and at 9.30am Tesco, Irene Hewitt started the Walkers on their way.
The Mayor Cllr Colm Eastwood then got the Half Marathon runners and Relay runners away at 10.30am before starting the very well supported Family Fun Run some fifteen minutes later.With much of the first three miles within Gransha, spectators were treated to a close up view of the action as the huge field swept past and they were similtaenously able to cheer on the Fun runners.
Up front Duncan and Willowfields Brian Campbell were breaking clear of the pack as they sped up the Dual Carriageway past Gransha and on towards Temple Road and Strathfoyle.The Omagh man was forcing the pace and on down into the Invista/Du Pont complex he was already poised for back to back victories and came strongly through Maydown back to a solo run down the long finish straight on the Soccer Pitch back at Gransha. He won by over a minute,his 67m 41s comfortably clear of Campbells 68m 56s and another Omagh athlete Owen Gahan posted 70m 16s to repeat his third place finish of last year.
Next up was City of Derrys Declan Reed with a strong run for 72m 35s,Dungannon based Delfin Pimintel ran 73m 02s in fifth and Clonliffe Harrier Declan Power completed the top six on 73m 40s. Reed,s fine run laid the basis for the male Spartans team success as valiently supported by Brendan Murphy and Paddy Mor Doherty,9th and 10th respectively the red vests were to good in the three to score club team championship for the opposition.Omagh scoring 30 pts for silver,North Belfast taking bronze with 32 and the locals clear winners and new NI champions with 23pts.
Local Women do Double Gold
Anne Paul turned back the clock romping home in 84m15s wll clear of North Downs Julie Balmer on 87m 33s and another former winner,Monaghans Donna Evans who was just behind with 87m 37s.
The UU Coleraine Recreation Officer has had more than her fair share of injuries in recent years but Sundays win was impressive and well deserved. The female Spartans comfortably claimed team gold ahead of defending champions Inishowen and Springwell took bronze.