Rosie O Brien(F40) and Cathal McLaughlin (M40) travelled to Glasgow for the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International on Saturday as reserves for the Northern Ireland teams, competing in the Open race scheduled as the last race of the meeting.
No amount of training at St. Columb’s Park could have prepared them for what they faced on Saturday.  The first clue was the view from the plane of waterlogged fields and flooded areas all over Greater Glasgow. The strong winds hit them as they left Glasgow airport and the cold driving rain soon made its appearance as the athletes gathered at Bellahouston Park.  
The 6k course was a two lap circuit around the waterlogged park, ploughed up by the 500 runners in the earlier races with some tough, tough climbs, slippery steep descents and always the relentless ankle deep mud, some deep lying water and the cold driving wind and rain. The weather was so bleak that the pre-race warm up was restricted to some stretching inside the leisure centre, then a quick run to the starting line, spikes on, couple of quick strides and away for what was a real battling slog. Every step was a struggle and every sinew strained on the steep climbs and free falling descents. The searing pain in the knees and legs during the climbs were nearly intolerable and all athletes found it hard to understand how slow they felt they were running, stumbling from one step to the next with no sense of rhythm,  only grim determination to keep them going.
The Northwest was well represented with Jackie McGinley(F40), Una Gavin (F50), Paula McGilloway (F45), Oran McBride(M40) and Dermot Connelly(M50) from city of Derry all representing the North. Roisin Lynch (F60) also turned out for Ireland.  Great performances helped secure a team bronze with F40 team for Jackie and a silver for Roisin in the F60. The men’s highlight was the silver in the M40 which was some comfort to Oran who had to pull up during the race, a victim of the perilous layout. 
Northern Ireland are hosts next year at an earlier date of 10th November, with the qualifier likely to be 4-5 weeks ahead of this. This should be a target for all Foyle Valley Masters athletes to participate in an event with a unique friendly atmosphere but with ultra keen competition.

Results