Sport

Mick and Maria shine

MICK Clohisey and Maria McCambridge claimed the major titles at yesterday's AAI National Inter-Club Cross Country Championships at Kilbroney Forest Park in County Down.

Despite home advantage, only two Ulster clubs entered teams in the event with participation figures reaching an all-time low.

Maria McCambridge (far right) came into the senior women's race from an indoor season and her speed showed as she left the field for dead as early as the opening kilometre.

By the end of the six kilometres, the 39-year-old Olympian had built up a lead of almost a minute-and-a-half over Sarah Mulligan, with Michelle McGee making it a clean sweep of the individual places by Dundrum South Dublin athletes.

Not surprisingly DSD were easy winners of the team championship ahead of arch-rivals Raheny.

Mick Clohisey (above left), who ran the Barcelona Half Marathon just two weeks ago, was equally impressive in the men's race, enjoying a similar advantage over former champion Sergiu Ciobanu.

The latter will take some consolation from leading his Clonliffe Harriers squad to a successful defence of the team title.

DSD's Brendan O'Neill took the individual bronze medal, while Alan O'Hara in 18th led North Belfast Harriers to grade C team gold.

Kevin Mulcaire was the winner of the junior men's race, leading his Ennis Track Club squad to victory and breaking up the Dublin stranglehold of the team titles over the past number of years.

The only northern individual medal of the day came from Loreto, Cavan schoolgirl Clodagh O'Reilly, who chased home Clonliffe's Hope

Saunders in the junior women's race.

Elsewhere on the domestic scene, Paul Barbour wrapped up his fourth consecutive victory in the fifth and final race of the Sperrin Harriers Winter League over 10 miles at Lough Fea. Barbour broke the tape in 54:47, almost two minutes clear of runnerup David Simpson (56:25) with the consistent Pierce McCullagh (59:38) taking third spot.

Irish Masters' medallist Cathy McCourt, a surprise entrant in the women's race, controlled the race from the gun before going on to win in an excellent 62:10. Gillian Wasson (66:43) was second woman home while Natalie Hall (68:09) completed a consistent winter season by taking third.

The Run Forest Run Series also concluded with Castlewellan 10K trail race. Over 500 athletes turned out for event with Scottish athlete Lindsay Gordon taking the top prize in 34:53. Stuart Paulin was next home in 36:28, 16 seconds ahead of rival Matt Bell. Julie Murphy was a comfortable winner of the women's race in 43:19 with Jade Hegarty (44:06) and Helen Perry (44:32) taking the minor places on the podium.

Kent Swann was the winner of yesterday's Resolution 10K at QUB in a time of 35:55, with Gillian Logan the first woman home in 44:33. Gavin Campbell (18:18) and Amy Bulman (22:48) picked up the major prizes in the 5K event.

Meanwhile Brandon Arrey has been called into the Irish 4x400m relay squad for next weekend's European Indoor Championships following the withdrawal through injury of Paul Murphy.

The 19-year-old Blarney/Inniscara athlete finished fourth in the national indoor championships last weekend in a new personal best of 48.81 seconds.