[Not a valid template]North Down runners took the individual titles in both of the main races on Saturday in the McConnell Shield meeting in Ballyclare. Jessica Craig won the 3 mile ladies race in 18:01 min and Niall Robinson won the 5 mile mens race in 26:27. For good measure Terry Eakin won the mens over 60 race which was held in conjunction with the ladies race in 18:38.
In bright but very cold conditions, the meeting was the second round of the NI cross country league. [Not a valid template] Jessica was part of a leading trio of herself, long time rival Patricia O’Hagan of Lurgan and Claire Connor of North Belfast. It was just Jessica and Patricia after one lap and Jessica surged ahead during the final lap. Jessica was backed up by Stephanie Hambling in 6th, Melissa Eccles in 12th, Debbie Matchett 13th and Ange Perrott 14th. Stephanie was 1st F40 and Ange 1st F35 while it was Melissa’s first time in the scoring team, appropriately a team win. After 2 wins in the opening rounds of the ANI League, North Down are ahead of City of Derry and North Belfast but not decisively as bonus points for finishers also come into play.
In the mens race, the leading group was bigger and tighter and Niall was only 4th at the bell but he had enough in hand to break for the finish. The scoring quartet in the mens race was Niall 1st, Michael Dyer 13th, Francis Marsh 14th and Dennis Scott 21st. Useful bonus points came from Nick Irvine 50th, Thomas Simpson 51st and John McGarvey 81st. Annadale Striders won the McConnell Shield from City of Derry. North Down were 3rd and also stand 3rd in the league after 2 rounds behind City of Derry and North Belfast.
Francis was 1st M45 with Terry Eakin and Fred Murdoch 1st M60 and M70 in the 3 mile race. Corey Brown and Ciaran Farren were 3rd and 4th in the U16 boys and Katie Moore 4th U16 girl.