Sperrin Harriers

Ten Harriers made the short trip Brackaville on Saturday last for the 10K race. Christopher, Donal Gallagher, David O’Brien, Paul McLaughlin, Damian Galvin who was having his first run in six months due to a bad injury, Gavin Rushe, Kieran O’Hagan, Nicola Gillespie, Frances Cullen and Hannah Su.

There was almost a 100 athletes at the start line at noon and it was a fast start at they headed downhill for the first part before they got to all the hills. It was Conor Magill,Cristopher, Samuel Miller, Keith Dawson, Donal Gallagher & Damian Galvin in the leading group with Erin McDaid,Gavin Rushe, Enda McGuinness David O’Brien, Delfin Pimentel & Paul McLaughlin in the chasing pack.

By the time they reached half way with alot of tough hills behind them and a few more to come it was Conor that was out in front from McPeake, Miller, Gallagher with McDaid & Dawson. Next was McGuinness & Pimentel with O’Brien, Galvin & Mclaughlin chasing. The first of our Ladies at this stage was Nicola who was running a good steady race followed by Frances & Hannah.

Conor Magill came round the last corner and up the final 200 metre straight to cross the line in a new course record of 33-43 with Christopher 2nd in 34-50, Samuel Miller 35-32.

Followed by Donal Gallagher 36-30, in 5th & 6th were Miller & McDaid 36-42,7th Delfin 38-47 in 8th was David 39-01 and 1st O/50 in 9th was Enda with Damian in 10th Paul finished in39-39. These are the other Sperrin Harriers times Nicola Gillespie 52-35, Frances Cullen 54-47, Kieran O’Hagan 56-40 & Hannah Su 59-02.

Also there and who had a great run was Gavin Rushe who finished 13th in a great time of 40-17 and won the MJ race. Well run everyone on a very tough hilly course

Last Thursday evening ten Sperrin Harriers headed to Portglenone for their annual 5k road race. There was a big change to the course this year due to repair work in the forest. A top class field turned out for this race which is noted with the top finishers.

1st Scott Rankin Foyle Valley 15-43.2nd Jonny Steede Ballymena 15-54, Matt Wray Ballymena & Antrim 16-16.

First Harrier to cross the line and just outside the 16min mark was Pierce McCullagh in 17-07 next home and having his first outing since injury was Glenn Donnelly in 17-12, our 3rd across the line was Alan Shaw in 18-24 he was followed by Irwin Spiers in 19-44 and 1st in the O/60s.

Next was Trevor Dallas 21-11, Gerard McNally 21-34, Peter McKenna 24-47, next was our 1st lady and the 2nd part of the Husband & wife team Adele McNally in 26-09, then Michael Monaghan in 26-36 our final athlete of the night and the 3rd member of the McNally clan was Bernadette McNally in 27-56,Well done all

We had 1 athlete at the Eglish 10k.Pierce McCullagh had a great race to finish 2nd to top N.I. runner Stephen Duncan who won in 31min with Pierce coming home in 35-34.

The only results that I have from the Laganside 10K is that Irwin Speirs finished 2nd O/60 in a time of 40-22 and Oliver Murphy who was runner as a pace maker for his brother ran a steady 52 mins. The winner of the senior mens race was Stephen Scullion

Well done to Colly Gallagher who was competing in the Dingle Marathon on Saturday while there are some great sights on the course, Colly did’nt have much time to admire

the splendid scenery when he ran a great time of 3hr 21min25sec on a very tough course

Great running Colly only 26K in 2 weeks

Nine athletes took leave of their senses on Saturday past when they thought it would be a good idea to tackle the 5k road that leads to the top of Slieve Gallion. This road has in the past only been used by farmers and in more recent times by sheep & mountain goats.

This however did not deter the hardy souls of Karen Alexander, Wendy Walker, Joanne Bell, Keith Ruddell, Irwin Speirs, Darren Warnock, Alan Shaw, Trevor Dallas & Glenn Donnelly. The event wasn’t officially timed, each athlete simply had to reach the summit.

Six of the group had completed the climb at least once before & knew what to expect. Three however were completing it for the first time and did so without stopping to graduate from the Sperrin Harriers Mountain Goat Academy & join a very select group of Harriers.

hey are: Wendy Walker, Darren Warnock & Keith Ruddell - fully fledged Mountain Goats. Congratulations!

Sunday 11th Sept Waterside Half Marathon, Derry

Saturday 17th Sept The O’Brien Challenge 26 Kilomathon & 5 mile fun run Lough Fea Cookstown 1pm

Training continues every Tues/Thur Loughry College 6-30pm

Tue/Thur Rainey Rugby Club Magherafelt 6-30 Sunday 9am

Ladies Training only 7-30 Meadowbank Track