NI & Ulster Cross Country Championships – Lurgan

Another weekend in 2014, another tough race in poor weather conditions for OAC. With such a good turnout from the club to the NI XC League and the NI Masters events this season, it was logical that we’d head down on Saturday 25th January in numbers to Lurgan Park for this prestigious event.  The club had teams registered for the Masters 8k and the Intermediate/Masters Ladies and Masters Men 60+ 4k. In addition Graeme McNabb entered for the Junior/Intermediate Men 10k.  Before the start of the Masters race the conditions looked pretty inhospitable with heavy rain and mucky terrain, but it brightened up slightly just before the start.  There was a full team for the Masters event and some great times.  Thomas Leitch finished in 33m46s, Des Fahy in 36m38s, coming 4th in the M60 age category. Raymond Leitch finished strong with a time of 38m54s.

As was the case with Rostrevor earlier in the season it started raining heavily during the ladies event.  The ladies fared well in adversity though in the 4k.  Emma McWilliams finished with a great time of 21m52s with Liz Watt and Jacqui Maxwell not far behind with 22m10s and 22m18s respectively. Jim Harris did well in the Masters 65+ race finishing in 5th with a time of 23m12s

No prizes on the day, but great fun nonetheless. The next XC event for us will be the penultimate event in the NI XC League in Irvinestown