Welcome to Foyle Valley AC

Reed & Mc Cambridge wins Jude Gallagher Round the Bridges 10 Mile

Declan Reed was on fine form once again to win in the northwest’s top 10 miler event! Maria Mc Cambridge had a comfortable win, finishing 4 minutes clear of her opponents! Foyle Valleys Scott Rankin had an excellent run, after racing the previous night in Carndonagh, Scott then travelled to Limavady and then took 5^th in a time of 59:02!   Results

McGinty and Doherty wins Carndonagh 5K

 Emmet McGinty & Theresa Doherty took top honours at Wednesday evenings Carndonagh 5k. It was round 5 of the 2009 Furey Insurances 5K Series. Marty Gallagher of Foyle Valley took 2^nd place and Scott Rankin won the male 20 category. The race was kindly sponsored by local firm Athlanfish (Declan McCarthy). A total of 87 athletes finished the race! Results. Race photos from Gabriel Bell here and here Cathy McDermott here and Dermot Sweeney here.

Declan Reed Wins Culmore 5K

Declan Reed was the winner of race 4 in the Furey Insurance 5k series, taking the race in the winning time of 15:42. Marty Gallagher of Foyle Valley had an impressive run to come 2^nd in a time of 16:31, Foyle ValleysScott Rankin had a good run to win the Male under 20 Category in the time of 16:58.The women’s Race was won by Springwell’s Gillian Wasson in 19:25, Results

                                                            Hillview Four

Foyle Valleys Marty Gallagher continued his recent good run of form by winning the Hillview Four Mile race on Wednesday evening last, run in hot and humid conditions over a testing hilly circuit. Indeed this occasion was a double win for Foyle Valley as Deirdre Quigg was first lady home with an excellent 29:39 posting. Gallagher began the race at a blistering pace followed by City of Derry’s Gavin Stevenson and Gerry Duddy however Valleys Gallagher managed to maintain pace and soon created a sizeable gap to cross the line on 22:10 followed by Stevenson 23:09 and Duddy 23:14. The race was organised by Brooke Park Manager Martin Mc Callion and this years benefactor was Derry City Council employee Paddy Nicell for his Ben Nevis Challenge to raise monies for the Foyle Hospice in memory of Paddy’s late mother who died in 2008. Foyle Valley as usual had strong representation at this race and other notable finishers from the club are as follows Ryan Snodgrass 24;02 Brian Kelly 24:40 Paddy Nicell 24.56 Seamus Mc Callion 25.37 Tony Grant 26.32 Micheal Huston 26.33 Mark Mc Clintock 28.38 Packy Deehan 28.40 Kevin O Neill 30.49 Damien Mc Dermott 31.28 Tony Morrison 34.07 Sinead Mc Keever 35.31 and to close the door on the Foyle Valley road show was the evergreen Kate Meehan 42.08

McKinney and McGloin win in Buncrana 5K

                                                                 Wilkies Classic 5mile run

                                                         Results

There was a strong turn out again amongst the running fraternity in Derry on Thursday 21st May last as the annual Wilkies Classic 5 mile race/5K walk organised by Foyle Valley A.C in memory of the late Colm Wilkinson got underway. Well done to all the walkers who tackled the 5 kilometre distance and did themselves proud (although we would like to see you in larger numbers next year folks as this is a great trainer in particular for the Foyle Hospice Female Walk and the Men's Two Bridges). The run took place as usual over a five mile out and back flat course where personal bests were anticipated by some of the runners. Mother Nature shone as weather conditions were superb and rain stayed safely up in the clouds. Race official Packy Deehan got the runners on their way after a short Race brief and his prediction of a great race before the off certainly came to fruition. First to cross the line is upcoming star City of Derry’s Emmet Mc Ginty with a superb 26:08 timing closely followed by M.35 champ Declan Reid (COD) 26:18. First lady home was City of Derry’s Bridgeen Byrne Moore 33:28 its great to see the return of form for this local athlete as she is a veteran of many an athletic campaign throughout Ireland. Other Category winners were James Crampsey M: 40 28:31, M.45 Damien Mc Ginty 27:17 (Father of race winner Emmet) M.50 Gerry O Doherty 29:14 & U18 winner Mathew Doherty 33:29. In the ladies section Female 35 winners Sandra Mc Keever 44:48 F: 40 winner Denise Doherty from Foyle Valley 40:40 & City of Derry’s F.45 winner Bernie Ryan 39:12. Foyle Valley would like to thank Brian Mc Menamin & Janice for use of their excellent facility and refreshments at Long Tower Club on race night. John Mc Cready & St Johns Ambulance for their excellent supervision of this race and again show our sincere gratitude to the Wilkinson Family in particular Colms wife Bernadette. The Wilkies Race Sponsors who were Gerard Mc Daid & Prime Decor, Seamus Mc Callion & Mc Lean Bookmakers, Martin Sheehan & Celtic Bar, Gabriel Bell & The Home Service, Michael Clifford & C&C Ireland Ltd and last but not least all of the Foyle Valley members, families & friends who helped in anyway to make this race the great success it annually is.        

                                             Belfast Marathon

The purple Vests of Foyle Valley were again presented at the 28th staging of the Belfast City Marathon on Bank Holiday May 4th last. Runners were blessed by weather conditions as it was overcast throughout the duration of the event with the odd shower to cool down the runners. First home for the Northwest club was that man Jackie Doherty with a superb posting of 3.06 followed by School teacher Garvin Doherty who continues to practice what he preaches as he came home with a personal best timing of 3.19, next past the post was Brian Baker who ran a terrific race to come under the 3.30 barrier with a posting of 3.28. Next home for Foyle Valley with another personal best timing was Mark Mc Clintock 3.37 followed by big Packy Deehan 3.41 to and the multi marathoner Damien Mc Dermott on 3.59 to break the sub 4 hour barrier all the more remarkable as Damien had done very little training due to injury and had only accomplished one 20 mile run in training. To close the curtain on the lads day out to the Belfast City Marathon was Kevin O Neill who crossed the line with an excellent time of 4.07 well done to everyone in Belfast and its great to see that this little dot/club called Foyle Valley in the Northwest of Ireland continues to be represented throughout the world at marathons.

                                                     Foyle Valley at the London Marathon

An undoubted highlight of the long distance running season is the London Marathon.  Sixteen Foyle Valley runners made it there this year, most under the auspices of the Foyle Hospice Fundraising Team with Noel McMonagle again playing a central role in  the organisation of this trip.

The running of Foyle Valley athlete  Marty Gallagher has been a revelation in 2009 so big things were expected of him at the London Marathon on Sunday last . Marty, running in support of the Foyle Hospice, didn’t disappoint getting round the London course in a magnificent 2.46, taking 22 minutes of his previous London time in 2008.  City of Derry veteran James Crampsie with whom Marty had put in the hours around the roads of Inishowen managed the course in an even faster 2.43. Hats off to James, the fastest Derry man in London!

Fire chief and Foyle Valley runner Billy Orr scorched home in 3.09 finishing alongside the first celebrity runner home, Nell Mc Andrew.

Foyle Valley then had a posse of runners finishing with personal bests within minutes of each other- Brian Kelly completed the course in 3.12, Ryan Snodgrass and Barry Smith both in 3.13, with Tony Grant a minute back with 3.14. John Carton may have been a wee bit disappointed with his 3.20 finish!! Tom Doherty competing his fourth London Marathon finished in 3.23 while his wife Denise tackling her first ever marathon, in London, finished with her running partner Pauline Laverty exactly an hour after Tom in 4.23. This is another magnificent effort for these debut marathon runners and indeed late entrants. Derek Harkin was pleased with a steady 3.46 while Deirdre Quigg, running in tandem with seasoned campaigner, Hugo Hegarty, made it round in 4 hours.

And what about Gerry McDaid? Gerry successfully completed his 97th marathon-you read it right; that’s 97 marathons since 1996 pushing him within sight of the holy grail of 100 marathons this calendar year- in 5 hours 7 minutes running side by side with the tenacious Pat Feeney who was taking on and sometimes struggling with the challenge of his first ever full marathon.   “Gerry stuck by me and got me round. Only for Gerry I don’t know…” reported a clearly elated and still exhausted Pat Feeney after his run.

It was tough weekend for Foyle Valley’s Michael Clifford and Seamus McCallion who both, sadly, had to withdraw because of injury and sickness respectively but who nevertheless was still to be heard from the sidelines cheering on their fellow runners.

Condolences

                       Wilkies Classic 5mile run / 5km walk

Foyle Valleys’ annual run/walk in memory of their deceased colleague Colm Wilkinson takes place on Thursday 21st May.  The course for both run and walk will be the same as previous years, along the cycle path along the river at Brandywell.

The five mile run is an accurately measured, flat and fast course which will appeal to both the serious runner and fun runner who would like to measure their progress over a fixed distance.

The course records are held by City of Derry’s  Gregory Roberts 25min 30secs, male category and Belfast runner Cathy McCourt 30min 04secs, female category.

Registration for the event opens at 6pm at the Long Tower Youth Centre which is beside the Brandywell Stadium. Both the walk and run will be set off at 7.30pm along the traffic free routes. Please allow 15 minutes to walk from the youth centre to the start area along the cycle path.

Entry fee of £6.00 will include a tee-shirt for the first 100 to enter and a goody bag for all entrants. Prizes will be awarded for the categories in the run only. All money raised will be distributed between three nominated charities, Foyle Hospice, Foyle Disability Resource Centre and Marie Curie Cancer Care N.I.

Over the past few years the Wilkies Run has helped raise several thousand pounds for a range of local charities including Foyle Hospice, Children in Crossfire and Action with Effect with usually over 60 runners and 30 walkers taking part. Foyle Valley hopes that many newcomers will participate this year to maintain the great success of the event and to support these good causes.

Foyle Valley AC would like to thank once again all our sponsors of the event: Prime Decor, Home Service, Celtic Bar, C&C Ireland Ltd and A. Mc Clean Bookmakers for their continuing support.  Also a big warm thank-you to Brian Mc Menamin and his staff at the Long Tower Youth Centre especially Jacinta and her team who provide both the registration venue and the welcome refreshments for the competitors after the events.

Foyle Valley AC hope to see a good turnout on the night for this enjoyable and worthwhile event

                                                              The Colour’s Purple!!

Ahead of the upcoming London marathon, twenty two Foyle Valley athletes, male and female made their way up to Omagh for the Half Marathon on Saturday. The race was run in almost ideal conditions with many Foyle Valley runners picking up personal bests, a tribute to the sterling coaching of Gabriel Bell who was delighted with the team’s successes.

Top of the bill, excelling himself, first man home for Foyle Valley and fourteenth overall from a field of 850 was the ever improving Marty Gallagher in a time of 1.15.33 – Marty was also the second Derry runner to cross the finishing line. 

First Foyle Valley woman to finish was gutsy Miriam McFadden running strong for her 1.41.11.

You could set your watch by Billy Orr who powered home in 1.21 .59 in the male O45 category.  Billy was followed in by Jackie Doherty achieving   an impressive1.23.38 finishing time.  Next home for Foyle Valley came Brian “Cuba” Kelly in 1.24. 49 with his running partner, Ryan Snodgrass literally

“ two seconds” behind on 1.24. 51.   Veteran Seamus Mc Callion clocked a very creditable 1.28.24 with Garvin Doherty just behind in 1.28 .46. Foyle Valley male athlete of the year, 2008, Tony Grant  was agonisingly close to breaking 90 minutes for the first time with his personal best of  1.30.02 and hot on his heels came former Bam Bam and  the Calling stickman, Tom  Doherty, drumming up another  personal best of 1.30 .18.  John Cartin finished in 1.30.45, yet another personal best with Brian Baker completing a tough run for 1.31. 55. Gareth Doherty went round the hilly course in 1. 32. 39 with Packy Deehan achieving 1.37.38 and   Mark Mc Clintock finishing in 1.41 07.  Michael Cartin went round in a steady 1.41. 48 while Derek Harkin, Mickey Clifford and Martina Mc Mullan eased round together in 1.46.17.

After her frustrating run in Omagh last year Maura Henry was more than delighted with her time of 1.52. 48 as was Denise Doherty with her 1. 52. 58 

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“Wee” Pat Feeney, with 1. 55. 25 achieved another personal best  and goes into the London for his first ever marathon in good spirits.

                                       St Patrick’s Day 5K

City of Derry’s Emmett McGinty and Jackie McGinley were the winners of Saturdays 5k in Gransha in aid of the Foyle Hospice.

Foyle Valley had 9 runners representing the club with young Patrick Doherty leading the way in his debut for the club and distance in a time of 17:26, finishing in 10th position, followed by Declan Doherty (19:11), Chris Ryan (19:46), Tony Grant (20:05), Sean Mullan (20:14), Packie Deehan (21:52), Kevin O’Neill (23:04), Kevin Doherty (23:33) and Deirdre Quigg (23:34)

Photos by Malcolm mcCausland and Dermott Sweeney