Young Spartans make it four in a row

THE talent and ability of the City of Derry Spartans impressive Juvenile squad was brilliantly demonstrated at Antrim last Saturday when the young red vests swept aside the opposition to post their fourth successive NI Young Athletes League success and book their place in the UK Finals next month in Manchester.

The combined points total accumulated by the 72 strong U13, U15 and U17 boys and girls squad gave them a comfortable 200 plus margin over former winners Lagan Valley, Regent House, North Down, the other local finalists Olympian, City of Lisburn and Mid Ulster and confirmed their domination of the three qualifying rounds.

Junior club captains Dale Kelly and Hannah McGowan stepped up to the podium to accept the Jimmy Murray Memorial Trophy on behalf of the squad and there were also Athlete of the Match awards for Boys U15 Hurdler Michael Cartin, Girls U15 High/Long Jumper Claire Dougherty and Girls U17 Triple Jumper Anna Barr.

Meanwhile on the roads Richard Johnston continued his excellent racing form with an emphatic win at Friday nights NFU Mutual 5 mile road race in Ballymoney.

Formerly the Riada 5, the testing Ballymoney race saw the Spartan post a 25m 50s clocking to cross the line in front of Ballymena Runners Johnny Steede on 26m 21s with Ballymena/Antrim M40 Matt Wray third on 27m 11s.

Letterkenny's Ciaran Doherty ran 14m 59s to win last Wednesday's Dungloe 5K, Finn Valley's Teresa McGloin was the leading woman with 16m 38s. Patrick Brennan also of Letterkenny won the Cranford 5K on Saturday night and again on Sunday in Malin where his 15m 25s gave him a comfortable cushion over Joe McKinney as Helena Crossan yet again took the female honours.

City of Derry's JP Williamson had a very good track 3000m run last Thursday night on the Mary Peters Track, destroying his previous PB with an exceptional 8m 56s as the promising teenager continues what is proving to be a break through season for him.

This weeks road race action locally continues with tonight's (Wednesday) Clonmany 5K, the Ramelton 5K on Friday evening, both at 7.30pm and its Letterkenny on Sunday morning at 11am for the Danny McDaid 15K.