Malcolm Cup Meeting in Ballyclare

The Malcolm Cup meeting was promoted by Annadale Striders on Saturday in Ballyclare with bright and firm conditions and comprised Round 3 of the ANI Cross Country League. North Down girls again won the ladies team race with Jessica Craig 2^nd, Stephanie Hambling  4^th  and 1^st vet and Rachel Gibson 6^th. Julie Balmer and Ali Robinson in 8^th and 15^th were useful back-up and what could prove a priceless extra bonus point came from Catherine Roberts and Sarah Benton in their league debut, Sarah already having won a parkrun beforehand. North Down may have won all three league  rounds but the continuing ability of City of Derry and North Belfast to collect maximum bonus points makes the overall lead uncomfortably close. (The updated team results allow more breathing space). The club mens team had some big hitters missing due to injury and in the circumstances did well to get 6^th place, outside the team scoring zone. However a good effort from the Monday night group boosted the finishers to 10 and 5 bonus points to keep us in the game.

The ladies race was another excellent duel between Jessica and Patricia O’Hagan who never seem to finish far apart, whatever the surface. This time it was the Lurgan girl’s turn to edge it it in what first shaped up as a re-run of the McConnell Shield race at the same venue a few weeks ago. Together for 2 laps, then Jessica looked to have taken it after breaking on the 3^rd. Patricia came back at the finish and just shaded it with a male vet sandwiched in the middle. Stephanie was a good 4^th and first vet, collecting the F35 prize and Rachel and Julie were not far behind. In the simultaneous male vets race, David Seaton and Fred Murdoch were 1^st at M65 and M70.

The men ran over 4 miles with North Belfast winning the Malcolm Cup from City of Derry and Brendan Teer the first individual for East Down. Dennis Scott defied a cold to lead the North Down team home in 18^th with Mark Weir opting for the open race and taking 19^th. The scoring four was completed by the in-form Nick Irvine in 40^th and Gerry Coy in 50^th. Gerry was doing the double, having ran in the previous race as a vet.  David Gray, John McGarvey, Michael Roberts, Stephen Mulvenna on debut, David Balmer and Frank Dillon all helped save the day.

North Down had a good turn-out too in the age group races with Lauren Hamilton, Craig McMeechan, Charlie McNutt, Corey Brown, Jamie McMeechan and Ciaran Farren all featuring.

Updated Results

North Down Results

Malcolm Cup:  4 miles: Open Men

Horwell Cup: 3 miles: Women and Male Vets

Age Group Races