Mark Carberry wins NI & Ulster Intermediate Cross Country Championships, Templemore Sports Complex, Londonderry
Mark Carberry led home a triumphant North Down AC team in the 8k mens’ cross country race at the NI & Ulster Intermediate XC Championships in Derry on Saturday 18th January. Returning to NI after recent excellent university XC performances in Scotland, Mark led the field through the race finishing a convincing 38 seconds ahead of the second placed North Belfast man. NDAC’s Ashley Dixon joined Mark on the podium finishing 3rd.
This is only the second time the mens’ team have won the championship, the last occasion being in 2011 and Mark becomes the 4th North Down man to win the race following in the footsteps of Francis Marsh (2004,) Niall Robinson (2011) and Craig McMeechan (2018.) Davie Seaton also won the event in his North Belfast Harriers days.
Such was the dominance of the NDAC men that their scoring 6 all crossed the line before the first finisher from the second placed Armagh team!
Mark Carberry’s winning time was 26:40. The other scoring team members were Ashley Dixon 3rd 27:24, then a close trio of Matty McParland 7th 28:04, Daniel Dines 8th 28:04 (and 1st U23M) and Ollie Playfair 9th 28:06, narrowly ahead of 10th placed Dale Murray 28:14. Garry Morrow 13th 28:36 was 2nd M40 followed by James Graham 29:03, Josh McDowell (2nd U23M) 30:14 and Dean Varley 19th 31:49.
In the Masters Race Alex Donald finished in 29:08 followed by Chris Moran 29:45, Steven Donegan 29:51, Francis Marsh 30:15, Dennis Scott 30:40, Simon Boyle 32:41 and Philip Mulligan 33:48.
The Master’s women’s team were not to be outdone by the men’s team silverware as they picked up team silver. The scoring members of the silver medal winning team in the 4k race were Valerie McDonough 17:19, Sarah Gibson 17:52 and Glynis Boyle 17:54 , Abby Andrews 18:37, Claire Scott 18:47 and June McMinn 19:12 with Paula Simpson finishing in 20:34.
Mark Carberry and proud grandfather, Brian Smith
Jessica Craig, Valencia 10k 12/01/25
Jessica Craig was back in action at the Valencia Ibercaja 10k on Sunday 12th January where she finished 57th in a strong international field in 34:04.