Junior / Intermediate and Masters XC Championships

A record numbered of athletes had entered the NI & Ulster Junior/Intermediate/Masters Cross Country Championships in Lurgan Park and though the wild and squally weather on Saturday ept many away, the turnout was still impressive Driving rain before and during the event turned the course into a quagmire but some good racing followed with North Down well represented.

Full Results:  NI & Ulster Junior/Intermediate/Masters XC 2014 Results

North Down

Mens Masters

[Not a valid template]Stephen Duncan of Omagh topped the podium first, with the Masters Men 8k event kicking off proceedings Francis Marsh had a good run despite his dislike of mud and was 11^th. The scoring team was completed by Les Wilkinson in 54^th, Terry Eakin in 75^th and David McMeechan in 118^th.  Paul Galloway, John McGarvey and Trevor Patterson all had good steady runs. In the team competition, North Down were 7^th after North Belfast Harriers took the gold medal, with East Coast AC and Bailieboro taking 2nd place and 3rd place respectively

Intermediate and Masters Women

[Not a valid template]In a complicated affair over 4K, the women ran together in separate team races. Katie Moore and Melissa Eccles had outstanding top ten finishes of 7^th and 9^th in the Intermediate section and were well backed up by Nikki Heywood in 26^th. That was team podium form but they were let down by the absence of the entered Intermediate squad. Marie Devine was there and though eligible as an Intermediate was only entered as a Master. Marie’s 24:35 min run for 85^th in the Masters would have put the 4 girls at east 4^th positi0n in the Intermediate team standings.

Mens 65 plus Masters

The womens race also included the 65 plus race for men and was won by  David Seaton with 70 plus Fred Murdock 3^rd and Norman Lellyett 5^th with North Down top team  (of 3). As the field is small and North Down to date  have never have been challenged in this race, it is easy to downplay this race but the quality of the effort should never be ignored. It is only a couple of years or so that North Down were British Champions at this age group.

Mens, Junior Championship

[Not a valid template]Definitely not Junior in age, the blue riband 10K race looked very open and so it was with Ryan McDermott of Annadale holding off Mark Hoy of Finn Valley. Although the torrential rain had eased , the course was very cut up.  The North Down men had finished 2^nd in the Senior Championship earlier this month and 5 of that team would only be eligible this one time before Senior status kicked in. In the circumstances, an effort was called for but unfortunately Michael Dyer and Stuart Donald were unavailable. Stephen Wylie had a welcome return to fitness and led the team home in 18^th overall. Dennis Scott, although another mud hater, was next in 34^th while the ever dependable Mark Weir yet again inored his cances as a Master to support the club, coming 52^nd.

It was pleasing to see youngsters Corey Brown and Jamie McMeechan come next in 69^th and 71^st with Nick Irvine in 74^th heading ofg Lloyd Hannigan in 74^th for the 6^th club scorer. Oscar Sanchez and Ciaran Farren were 97^th and 98^th. The team finished a healthy 7^th overall after Newcastle Ac  had won from Finn Valley and Foyle Valley.

Particular thanks to all who missed out on the Masters Championship in order to race in the Junior Championship.