Sport

'The mother of all 10ks' starts series

THE first fixture of the sixth Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series kicks off another busy weekend with the Davagh 10k tomorrow at 12pm.

The race has been described as "the mother of all 10ks" with a testing course laid out in the mountainous Davagh Forest near Cookstown.

This year's format for the league remains the same with five races in four venues, each with its own challenge. The choice of distances is also unchanged with a 5k, two 10ks at different venues, a five-miler, and a 10-miler. The final league standings are determined on the entrants' three best results.

One change is that hosts Sperrin Harriers are introducing bonuses for record-breakers. Anyone setting a new fastest time will receive £25 on the day, as well as their points for the league. Last year's Davagh course records were set by City of Derry Spartan Allan Bogle (36:46) and Acorns athlete Karen Alexander (41:24) respectively. Bogle does not compete tomorrow but Alexander is a possible starter.

In contrast, the Athletics NI Cross Country League is already up and running with the University of Ulster playing fields in Coleraine the venue for the third fixture tomorrow afternoon. Points are again the order of the day after Newcastle (29) overtook City of Derry Spartans (23) after the Bobby Rea Memorial last Saturday. Leaders North Belfast Harriers (22) slipped to third after a desultory performance at Jordanstown.

There was a remarkable turn-out of 91 runners in the last week's women's race with North Down (29) increasing their lead over Springwell (26), while City of Derry Spartans (25) stayed well in contention another point back in third place. Juvenile action starts at 11am with the senior women's race schedule for 12.50pm and the men starting 40 minutes later.

On Sunday the attention switches to the roads with big fields expected for the Decathlon 10K & Half Marathon which have an early 9am start for both races. The races start and finish at Holywood Exchange. All finishers are promised a medal and there will be Decathlon vouchers for the first three finishers in both the men's and women's races as well as the various age-group winners.

Registration opens on the morning of the event at the Decathlon store from 7am to 8.30am. Race numbers and goodie bags will be given out at registration. Chip timing will be in use. Pre-registration is also available tomorrow from 5pm-7pm in the store. The focus in Donegal will be on Stranorlar where the county's senior cross country championships take place. The local Big Firm Finn Valley and Letterkenny will be fighting out both men's and women's titles. Finn Valley's Gerard Gallagher is favourite for men's individual gold while Letterkenny's Ann-Marie McGlynn should be a class apart in the women's race.