Athletics races in full swing over Christmas for Omagh Harriers
Well over 100 Omagh Harriers members in competitive races over Christmas, starting with Greencastle 5 on Boxing day with 800 runners and 300 walkers on a cold wet day. Paul Barbour best of the Harriers in 9th place with a time of 27.40min Next harrier over the line was Conor Meyler on 29min picking up 2nd U/20. In the other male categories Damien Cox 2nd O/40 29.55min, Chris McGuigan 2nd O/45 29.47min, Martin Mc Laughlin 2nd O/50 31.46min, Roddy Tierney 1st O/65 56min. In the female side Toni Moore was best with a 35.14min taking 1st U/20, Deirdre Haigney 2nd O/35 36min, Rosaleen McCartan 3rd O/35 36.14min, Patricia Campbell 3rd O/45 37min.
When all local harriers were racing in Greencastle Richard Shannon and Kevin Smyth was down in Finn Valley 5k on same day with over 1000 runners, Richard coming in with a 19.26min. Five days later it was switched to the Lough 5 with around 450 runners in better weather conditions with Paul the best of the Omagh Harriers again with 5th place in 27.25min and Conor again next best with 29.19min getting 1st Junior. Chris McGuigan getting 1st O/45 29.36min, Dominic McCartin with 32.04min getting 1st O/50.
In the female runners young Sara Moore was 1st Harrier over the line getting 1st junior prize in a time 33.38, Deirdre Haigney was 1st O/35 in time of 35.28 and Brid McCann getting 1st O/60in 46.27min. In the 3rd of three 5mile race, the 9th Annual Gortin Glen Handicapped 5mile in near perfect weather conditions on the 5th Jan organised by Omagh Harriers had record numbers of 53 runners with young Brendan Collins coming over the line in 1st place with Terry Canning 2nd, Paul Barbour 3rd, Richard Shannon 4th and Albert Law getting 5th prize. Paul Barbour last runner to start managed to pass all 50 runners finishing 45seconds behind winner Brandan in third place.
Next race up for the Omagh Harriers is the Junior Cross Country this Saturday 26th Jan in Lurgan Park with both male and female teams entered. The 4th Omagh Harriers winter league series races is in An Creggan Centre on Saturday 2nd February starting at 10am. Then there is a 5km race at Loughmacrory taking in two laps of the Lough on 3rd February starting at 2pm, registration at 1pm, with a good turnout expected at both. Later on in February 23rd there is the Omagh CBS 10k starting and finishing at Omagh CBS. This being the first spring 10k in Omagh for 15years. All building up for the 24th SPAR Omagh Half Marathon on the 30th March with well over 3500 expected participating.
