[Not a valid template]The cross country season opened on Saturday morning at the Dub Playing Fields with an open two race programme which incorporated the Masters Trials for the upcoming International (this year its on 20th Nov at QUB Playing Fields). Jessica Craig took her recent fine form on the track and road seamlessly on to the softer surface, winning the early 5K ladies race in 22:49 min, by 8 seconds from Karen Alexander with Patricia O’Hagan 3rd in 23:18. Next and first of the masters was Roberta Dornan who booked her spot in the F35’s by winning in 23:20. Stephanie Hambling was 8th overall in 24:15 but will have to wait as she was 3rd in a very strong F40 category. Similarly Debbie Matchett in 25:29 was 4th (3rd NI) at F45 level. Ange Perrott looks fine for an F35 spot as she was 2nd to Roberta in 24:50. In the mens 8K race, Chris Bryan was 4th M35 and Terry Eakin and Michael Roberts were 1st and 5th M60.
In addition to Jessica in the open category Rachel Gibson was 4th in the category with 23:55 and Melissa Eccles ran a good 25:50. At F40 Valerie McDonough ran 26:09 and Jill Aicken 26:44 along with Sarah Benton 30:41 and Marie Devine 30:47.
The 5K race also incorporated the mens trials for the 65 plus groups. David Seaton and Brian Smith were 2nd and 3rd M65 with 25:51 and 25:55 respectively Fred Murdoch is now an M70 and was a clear category winner with 27:52. Norman Lellyett in the M65’s was 28:07.
The 8K open race for men incorporated trials for 35 to 64 year old men and North Down results were 14th Chris Bryan 14th, 4th M35 in 28:19: Dennis Scott MO, 22nd in 28:46: Mark Weir M40, 25th in 29:00: Gerry Coy M50, 51st in 30:45: Douglas Grant M40, 60th in 31:17: Terry Eakin 1st M60, 70th in 32:16: John McGarvey MO, 84th in 34:48: Michael Roberts 5th M60 in 35:47: Steve Wise M50, 89th in 36:11 and Paul Curran M35, 96th in 38:56.