Ballyclare Malcolm Cup
Fri 1 December 2006--admin
In freezing, windy conditions, Kelly Reid of City of Lisburn AC won the senior lady?s event, run in conjunction with the Vet?s Horwill Cup, at Ballyclare Six Mile Water Park cross-country three mile event on Saturday. The muddy under foot conditions did not deter Kelly from dominating the race from start to finish, beating Teresa McGloin of Finn Valley. Christine Long, Kelly?s training partner who prefers track to cross-country, also produced a solid performance finishing in eighth place over the three mile course.
The Age Group races produced a number of great results with several first timers performing for City of Lisburn. In the Boy?s Under 13, Mark Tunstall and Brendan Mageean ran their first cross-country race over a distance of one mile. Brendan was tucked up behind the leaders at the half way stage with Mark happy to sit in at the back of the field, but by the end of the race Mark had overtaken Brendan to finish 31st with Brendan in 38th. Well done to both lads, a good indication of what is to come. In the Girl?s Under 15 two miles, Caira Mageean, Brendan?s older sister won her event by over one minute, demonstrating her dominance and natural ability for both track and cross-country. In the same race, run in conjunction with the girls, Aidan Burton, competing in Boy?s Under 15, in his first race, indicated great potential by running with the leaders for most of the race before fading a little, to eleventh . The Under 17 Boy?s three miles and Girl?s two miles race had two City of Lisburn AC runners competing. Caroline Brown?s return from the wilderness was demonstrated with a solid victory, leading from start to finish. Ross Griffiths second outing for the club give a wake up call to other runners in this category with a gutsy performance, slowly clawing his way through the field from the mid twenties to win a well deserved trophy in 7th place, with a really impressive run.
The final race of the day was the senior men?s four mile Malcolm Cup incorporating the Under 20 men. Chris Madden sealed another victory on this course in the U20?s, although he was disappointed with his overall finishing position 12th, after falling and losing a shoe in the thick mud. Having to recover and refit the shoe resulted in to much ground having been lost and so Chris?s ambition of a first three finish was dashed. New member, Jonathan Lockhart, first outing over the grass and mud in the senior men?s race, after only two weeks speed training was notable. Marathon runner Jonathan settled in at the back of the field and was suitably impressed with power and stamina required to compete in such events.