McConnell Shield XC

The cross country action on Saturday was at Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare where Ballyclare-based club East Antrim Harriers hosted the 80th annual running of the McConnell Shield. A slightly weakened North Down ladies team was led by Jessica Craig who had another excellent race with a podium finish, placing 3^rd to triathlete Aileen Reid and Cathy McCourt. In the absence of Rachel and Kerry, Valerie McDonough, Rebecca Collins and Sarah Benton stepped up into the scoring four with Marie Devine and Gemma McAnirn adding points for 6 finishers. The mens team has settled look to it and Dennis Scott was 12^th, James Budde 19^th, Francis Marsh 21^st and Chris Speers 29^th. The men had 10 finishers and the mens and ladies teams teams were 3rd and 4^th.

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The heavy rain, the cold and the mud may have been fun for competitors but were miserable for onlookers. However there was still a good turnout. After U14 and U16 races, in which Holly McBride was 2^nd U14 girl, ladies and veteran men over 60 lined up over 3 miles. In the ladies teams, City of Derry and Springwell, both with big squads wer 1st and 2^nd and Orangegrove just pipped North Down to 3^rd by a single point. In the 60 plus race for men, Terry Eakin was 2^nd and celebrated a recent birthday by being 1^st M65. Michael Roberts was 11^th.

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The Men’s 5 mile race attracted 168 competitors, including many of the Province’s top athletes. Ryan McDermott won followed by Joe McAllister and Brendan Teer. The in-form Newcastle AC team won the McConnell Shield, followed by North Belfast.  North Down were 3rd and City of Derry  4^th. Both had 79 points but Chris was higher than his Derry eqivalent.

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Full Results:  McConnell Shield XC 2014 Results

North Down Results

Pos	Time	Cat	Numb	Name	M/F Pos	Cat Pos
U14 Girls 1 Mile
9	07:04	G14	375	HOLLY MCBRIDE	2	2
Ladies 3 Miles
3	18:33	FO	399	JESSICA CRAIG	3	2
32	20:44	F40	536	VALERIE MCDONOUGH	25	6
39	21:10	FO	409	REBECCA COLLINS	32	15
59	22:27	F40	531	SARAH BENTON	50	10
96	24:40	F45	539	MARIE DEVINE	82	19
98	24:44	FO	537	GEMMA MCANIRN	84	24
Men 60 plus 3 Miles
10	19:00	M65	388	TERRY EAKIN	2	1
61	22:32	M60	507	MICHAEL ROBERTS	11	7
Open Men 5 Miles
12	27:22	MO	814	DENNIS SCOTT	.	.
19	28:21	MO	547	JAMES BUDDE	.	.
21	28:32	M45	819	FRANCIS MARSH	.	.
27	29:32	MO	548	CHRIS SPEERS	.	.
90	32:37	M35	831	NICK IRVINE	.	.
123	35:11	M40	806	JONATHAN MCGRATH	.	.
128	35:23	M45	808	ROBERT MARTIN	.	.
139	36:30	M45	813	PAUL GALLOWAY	.	.
155	38:02	MO	817	JOHN MCGARVEY	.	.
161	40:54	M45	811	TREVOR PATTERSWON	.	.