Road races dominate weekend athletics

The new Buncrana 5 miles road race kick-starts the action tonight (Friday) at 7pm from the local GAA clubhouse and is followed by a double header tomorrow in Drumragh and Dungannon and then its Holywood, near Belfast, on Sunday to cap a hectic few days.

The latest addition to an already overcrowded road race calendar is in Buncrana this evening and the 7pm start for the five miler. However, there may well be lots of takers for this one with entries being taken at the local Scarvey clubhouse prior to the race.

Two 10 Km races tomorrow, at Drumragh and Dungannon, will compete for attention. The Drumragh race has an 11am start whille its 12noon for the Felix 10 Kms in Dungannon. A bit of a dilemma for Tyrone runners but, hopefully, both events will do well.

Sunday’s race action moves to Holywood on the outskirts of Belfast and another addition to the fixture list, the Decathlon 10 Kms and Half Marathon will hope to draw on the big running fraternity in the Belfast area.

While September is always a busy period in the athletics calendar, the races come thick and fast and runners sometimes wonder just where its all going.Two new events in a single weekend does seem a bit much though.

Meanwhile back to Foyleside and the re-arranged Foyle Hospice Male Run/Walk is scheduled for next Sunday, September 30th, at 1.30pm.

This popular event appeals primarily to the jogger-cum-fun runner and race organiser Noel McMonagle is expecting the usual big turnout for the jaunt around the various bridges now criss-crossing the river Foyle.

Entries are being accepted at the Hospice Fundraising Centre on the Culmore Road or at the Hospice Shop in Waterloo Place, from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

A bit more detail on last weekend’s 26 Kms. O’Brien Challenge in Lough Fea where Allan Bogle finished second to emphatic winner David Simpson.

The Spartan is working hard to regain race fitness following the recent birth of his first child and found himself unable to stay with the winner’s pace, finishing over three minutes in arrears.

Interestingly he had to work hard to hold off a challenge from former Sparta star and St Columb’s College teacher, Donal Gallagher, who came within 20 seconds of him on the finish line.

Mention of some Multi Event success for local athletes as in Bangor last week there were medals for Naomi Morgan, Jenny O’Brien and Emma McCay in the very late season Ulster Schools Multi Events Championships.

Naomi has clearly fully recovered from a freak injury sustained in August and was a clear winner of the Intermediate Girls title with Jenny in bronze medal position.

Naomi was representing her school, Coleraine High and Jenny was in NW Institute colours.

In the senior age group Emma McCay of St. Cecilia’s did well for individual bronze. The girls competed in a total of five events, Hurdles, Shot, High Jump, Long Jump and 800 metres, a real measure of their all round ability.