A win for Jessica Craig in the Ladies Race at the Malcolm Cup Meeting at Ballyclare on Saturday was the North Down highlight. Amended results are on the Annadale Striders site. As the girls were first in the team race and the men were 4th they are respectively 1st and 2nd in the ANI Cross Country League standings at the half way point. The senior races also counted in the Masters League.
[Not a valid template][Not a valid template]Jessica had a well-paced run in the icy wind and trailed Lorna Fitzpatrick in the early laps but pulled steadily away in the last one. Stephanie Hambling was the next club finisher in 5th and the North Down team of Debbie Matchett ( 9th), Julie Balmer (13th), Rachel Gibson (14th) and Ange Perrott (16th) were well clear with bonus points for 6 finishers. Veteran men ran with the girls for the Horwill Cup with Terry Eakin North Down’s category winner in the M60’s. The girls team now has 3 straight wins in the league with probably a comfort zone of a round in hand. Lagan Valley and City of Derry were 2nd and 3rd teams. In the Horwell Cup veterans race, Terry was 1st M60, Gerry Coy 4th M50, Brian Smith and Ean McClure 2nd and 8th M65.
[Not a valid template][Not a valid template]The senior men ran for the Malcolm Cup with the North Down team lacking a few of the top rankers but with a big turnout from the Monday Night lads bringing in lots of bonus points. City of Derry were clear winners of the Malcolm Cup from Willowfield, North Belfast and North Down but North Down maintain their their 2nd place to North Belfast overall. Chris Bryan had a great run to be first club finisher along with Francis Marsh, Mark Weir, Dennis Scott, Thomas Simpson, Douglas Grant, Michael Aumonier, Simon Robinson and David Balmer. This was sufficient to claim the extra bonus point for 10 finishers and maintain the overall 2nd place..
Claire Francis was the only cub runner in the early age group races, running in the U15 event.