Success at Gosford, NI & Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country

From athletics NI. Photography by Bob Given.
Athletes from across NI & Ulster took to Gosford Forest Park on Saturday 25th January 2020 for the NI & Ulster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country.
The new venue and the good conditions made for a perfect day of cross country, with the park’s own inhabitants providing some extra entertainment for the runners.First onto the course, which took in a large section of the Deer Park, was the Intermediate Ladies. Inishowen AC’s Sarah Kelly took the top spot in a time of 18:02, with Armagh Ac’s Natalie Hall finishing in 18:17 to take Silver and Mari Troeng (Newcastle AC) claiming bronze in 18:24.

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In the team competition, it was Finn Valley AC who won the Intermediate Women’s trophy, with a total of 31 points. In 2nd place was Armagh AC with 53 points, while Lagan Valley AC came 3rd with 56 points.

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The Masters Men were the next to take to the course, with last year’s Champion, Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) victorious in defending his title. Mark finished 1st in a time of 26:32, with Omagh Harriers’ Eoin Mullan just behind in 2nd place in 26:51. In 3rd place was Finn Valley AC’s Patrick Brennan, who led his team to victory in the Team Competition, with a total of 31 points to collect the Masters Trophy. They were followed by Newcastle AC who came 2nd with 52 points, while North Belfast Harriers claimed 3rd place with 58 points.

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Lifford Strabane AC’s Claire McGuigan won the Masters Women’s race in a time of 17:54, followed by Rosses AC’s Helen MCCready in 2nd in 18:02. Newcastle AC’s Shalene McMurray came 3rd with a time of 18:11. In the team competition, the top spot went to North Belfast Harriers with a total of 61 points, while Lagan Valley AC came 2nd with 65 points and Ballydrain Harriers came 3rd with 74 points.

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The Master’s Women were also joined by the Men O65+, with 1st place going to North Down AC’s Terry Eakin, who finished in 20:18. Milford AC’s Martin Kerr came 2nd in a time of 20:30, with Paul Spick (AthleticsNI Unattached) in 3rd place in a time of 20:58.

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The Intermediate Men were the last race of the day and victory went to Newcastle AC’s Patrick McNiff, who finished in 25:41, closely followed by Annadale Striders’ Eskander Turki in 2nd place in a time of 25:56 and Russell White (Dromore AC) in 3rd place in 26:05.

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The Team victory went to Annadale Striders, who claimed the Bobby Rea Memorial Cup with a total of 72 points. Acorns AC came 2nd with a total of 79 points, while last year’s winning club, Newcastle AC came 3rd with 104 points.

Full results are available here: www.athleticsni.org/Results

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