The final race in the Finn Valley 5k series finished on a high note with a good turnout, just short of 200, for race 4. The weather was beautiful with the temperatures still high even with the 7pm start.

The single loop was a tough, fair and challenging track around the twin towns, starting just away from the Finn Valley HQ and finishing with 300metres on the tartan track to drag the final efforts out of the athletes.

With the Titanic 10k in Belfast and the national 10k in Dublin happening on the same weekend, the turnout was a great credit to the organisers and the fantastic facilities and friendly faces at the Finn Valley centre.

The race was a real ding dong battle up front between Finn Valleys James Speight and Ballyshannon athlete James Flanagan a member of Tirconnaill. Only in the last 500m did the Finn Valley student get away for victory. Foyle Valley travelled with a small team to test themselves ahead of the forthcoming Furey 5k series. There were PBs for Kieran Graham, Kevin Doherty, Declan Whoriskey, Francis Duffy and club stalwart Dessie McCourt. Cathal McLaughlin returning from injury was delighted with a run for 6th in 16.40 and Chris McGuinness maintained his recent great form with a time of 16.52 for 8th spot.Results here

Coach Gabriel Bell was pleased with the performances and said, ‘A consistent taxing training regime will bring results in races’. How right he is. Next up on the local North West scene is the NI 5k championship at the Bay Road circuit. The anticipation builds for another successful event!