The annual NI & Ulster Junior/Intermediate and Masters cross country championship at Scotstown Co. Monaghan proved a happy hunting ground for North West athletics on Saturday.
Foyle Valley with a depleted team took silver with a herculean effort, in the main race of the day, the Junior/Intermediate. City of Derry had yet another successful outing, emphatically taking Gold in the male Masters race with Declan Reed retaining his masters title in dominant style.  Inishowen AC took silver in the Ladies Masters race ahead of City of Derry in third. The City of Derry Ladies also scored a bronze in the junior/intermediate race.
The cream of Ulster athletics gathered with squads from North Down, Lagan Valley, Finn Valley, North Belfast, Annadale, Willowfield, Ballymena and Omagh in the frame with the best from the North West and the rest.
In mid-winter, deep in rural Ireland with the local heavy loam soils and after persistent recent downpours the races proved a terrible test of endurance round a ‘mud bath’ of a loop. The going was heavy, wet and arduous and must rank as the most testing examination of the cross country season to date. This was fitting to match the stature of the meeting. Nothing but nothing was going to come easy on this track!
First up was the Male Masters race which pre-race favourites City of Derry, grabbed by the throat from the start and did not relent. Four to score for each team was the format. Declan Reed led the field from start to finish retaining his title and adding to his recent Malcolm cup victory for a stunning victory. Colin Roberts out sprinted Paul Carroll of Annadale Striders for an excellent second place after a ding dong battle throughout. Paddy Mhor Doherty was as solid as a rock in fourth and a storming run from Paul McCafferty in 15th finished the scoring to seal the title for the Spartans with plenty to spare.
Next up both Ladies races were run as one and both were very close affairs. In the junior/intermediate Catherine Lilburn led the way for City of Derry. Great runs from newcomer Sarah Mahon and Ciara Frazer secured bronze in a close scoring race where 8 points was the difference between gold and bronze.    In the Lady Masters Inishowen AC secured silver with a cracking run from stalwart Helena Crossan in 6th place the top North West lady, ably assisted by Evelyn McGinley in 10th and Elizabeth McDaid in 24th spot. For City of Derry Jackie McGinley led the way with Rosin Lynch next, also taking gold in the individual F60 category and Una Gavin fighting her way home to take the bronze.
The early races whetted the crowds appetite for the climax of the days racing; the Men’s junior/intermediate. This was the toughest race of the day; 10k over a churned up course. The format was six to score with a maximum twelve athletes per team. In a highly competitive race this takes the takes scoring deep down the field and makes every single place vital. Every place is paramount and is fought for tooth and nail. The City of Derry team struggled to match the quality of previous years and Foyle Valley with injuries and late withdrawals could only field seven athletes. Not listed amongst the pre race contenders Foyle valley nonetheless could field the core of the recent Ulster novice team that took gold and were quietly confident that they could land a medal ‘under the radar’.
From the off it was obvious that the team scoring would not be settled to the very end of this race. Jarlath Falls of Ballymena won the gold convincingly in the individual event but in a tremendous series of displays the Foyle Valley team score slowly accumulated. North Belfast started with the full complement of a crack 12 man squad and started with two top ten finishes. Pius McIntyre with an ultra- strong, controlled display secured 9th place for Foyle Valley. Scott Rankin was as ever to the fore relishing the competition and took 10th place. An ultra-emphatic run for 12th spot from the always impressive Chris McGuinness gave the advantage back to the North West. The Belfast outfit hit back taking 16th and 17th spots to regain the initiative and with finishes in 20th and 21st place secured gold. The advantage of the 12 man squad with strength in depth told on this occasion. The focus shifted to silver for the Valley. Finishes of 8th, 19th and 22nd had Belfast outfit Willowfield in contention now and meant that it was a straight fight for silver between the between the Belfast outfit and Foyle Valley. Immense performances under pressure from Declan Doherty and Ciaran Graham gave the North-West club the advantage. It was all down to the last man for both Foyle Valley and Willowfield. Foyle Valley’s Teague Whoriskey was ‘out’ on his feet with a lap to go. If this was a boxing match the ref would have stopped it! The big man was having none of that and he pulled together the inner strength to push on through the pain barrier and urged home by all the North West support crossed the line to a roar of jubilation to take a tremendous silver medal silver for Foyle Valley.
A tremendous effort by all associated with North West Athletics. Special mention also to Christy McMonagle in taking the M65 title to add to his already bulging haul of provincial and national titles.
Foyle Valley is an all ability club who value people above performance. The club welcomes all would- be or wannabe athletes. Please check out our website  (www.foylevalleyac.com) come join us at training, get fit and give an example for the next wave of athletes to represent the North West.

Results here