Plenty of action for Dromore athletes

Omeau Embankment, in Belfast was the setting last Wednesday evening for the popular Round The River 5k road race promoted by Queens University with the cream of the talent locally and from afar on show.

The womens race saw Julie Turley produce a fantastic performance as she overhauled the hot favourite, Gladys Ganiel, on the last of the three lap race for a brilliant win in a new PB of 17m 26s.

Julie’s good form of late earned her her first international vest last weekend as she represented Northern iIeland at the Home Countries Cross Country International in Mansfield where she had a great run to finish 17th in the senior womens 7k race.

With her in England was Ryan McDermott who had an excellent run in the junior mens 8k race, finishing in 18th place and being the first Irish athlete home.

Ryan continued his good form in the Queens 5k, having an outstanding run in a top quality field to finish ninth overall and first junior male in a PB of 15m 34s.

Dromore had a third prize winner on the night as Brian McKee had a cracker over the three laps with his superb run rewarded with first O45 in 16m 35s. Two more athletes gained personal bests in the race, again excellent performances from both from David Allen (21m 56s) and Annette Blaney (25m 28s).

Dromore had a good turnout in the Omagh Half Marathon and again top class running and personal bests were the order of the day for the athletes.

The squad was led home by Nigel Grier with a super run in 1hr 18m 48s followed by Gillian Burns taking first O35 with her great run in 1hr 25m 36s (PB) which also included a bad stitch in the last mile!

Damian Fearon again had a very good run for his PB in 1hr 29m 48s and the same for Colin Scott’s performance in 1hr 39m 37s. Ernie Hall, still being hampered with hamstring problems which gave him trouble throughout the race, came home in 1hr 43m 16s followed by three sisters from the Dromore club with Mandy Russell and Diane McKee both running superbly and finishing together with personal bests in 1hr 43m 24s.

Mandy was also the third O45 with Jill Gilliland also having a very good run, following home in 1hr 50m 01s.