Noel Collins had a great run winning the Finn Valley 5k on Friday night.  Taking on the seniors Noel won the race comfortablly from Martin OHalloran, Finn Valley and Ivan Toner, Letterkenny.

James Speeight had a good run finishing 2nd in the Junior mens race, while Martin Mc Laughlin also had a good run to finish second in the Male Over 45 race.  Marie Theresa Speeight completed a good night for the Harriers finishing 3rd in the Women Over 45 category.

Other Reports... (Includes pictures) | Results

Noel Collins won the 1500m steeplechase at the Tailteann Games and in doing so has set a new games record.

Other Reports... | Results

A strong squad of Harriers travelled to Lifford on Friday to compete in the 5k road race.

Marty Cox was first Harrier across the line finishing 7^th overall in the senior mens< category with Joe Corey also have a strong race.

In the senior womans race Michelle Sturm finished 3^rd overall and 1^st under 20 lady with club mates Hazel Mc Causland, Angline Mc Cain and Hazel A McCausland all putting in strong performances.

The junior mens race once again saw Conor Moore collect 1st position with Patrick Bogues 2^nd and Andrew Fisher 3^rd.

Other Reports.... | Results

Omagh Harriers Martin Mc Laughlin and Kevin put in strong performances in the Lisburnhalf with both athletes finishing well up in the field. How ever it was the Harrier females who shone on the day through Patricia Campbell and Patricia Templeton.

Patricia Templeton won her category in the masters section while Patricia Campbell claimed 2^nd in her section.

Half Marathoon Results | 10k Results

Four Harrier athletes Michelle Sturm, Stevie Duncan, Conor Moore and Ciaran Collins have been selected to represent Ireland at the European Mountain Running championships which will be staged latter this year in France. 

Results and Race Report

The second round of the Furey 5k series promoted by City of Derry got under way and once again saw fast times being recorded.  Omaghs Marty Cox took 2nd on the night while Conor Moore won the junior men section. Hazel Mc Causland maintained her come back by finishing strongly as did Patrick Bogues running in the junior men.

Results and Other Reports...

The Harriers were successful at the track and field championships with several athletes winning medals.  Noel Collins won the 2000m steeplechase, Barry Kelly won the under14 boys 1500m and Michelle Sturm won the u19 ladies 3000m. Ciaran Collins won silver in the under 19 mens 3000m, James Speight won silver in the under16 boys 3000m.

Omagh Harrier athletes were in action on two fronts over the weekend period.&nbsp; The senior men and ladies team were competing in the Enniskillen 10k while the age groups were staged at the Antrim Forum.

Stevie Duncan took 2nd overall in the 10k event getting narrowly defeated by Joe Mc Alister. The Harriers also took 2nd male senior team with Stevie Duncan, Marty Cox, Marty Mc Laughlin, Ciaran Collins, Kevin Smyth, Derek Sommerville, Mark Grey and Joe Corey.&nbsp; In the Ladies race the Harriers took 3rd place through Marie Speight, Patricia Campbell, Hazel Mc Causland, Deirdre Heagney and Patricia Mann

Report...

In the Northern Ireland age group championships, Omagh Harriers won a host of medals. In the boys under 14 age group young Barry Kelly won his first Northern Ireland title competing in the 1500m. Michelle Sturm won the ladies under 20 title while Noel Collins retained his title in the 2000m steeple chase.

Silver medals went to James Speight in the under 16 age group. James was competing in the 3000m.&nbsp; Also competing in the 3000m distance event was&nbsp;Ciaran Collins silver medal. 

Kesh Carnival 10k (by Karen Dolan)

The annual Kesh10k run has been a successful event on the local athletics calendar for over a decade. This year it is to be held on the 16^th August and many athletes who have already completed the Irvinestown and Enniskillen 10k runs this summer are expected to take part. The event usually attracts a broad spectrum of standards and ages. Some regular holidaymakers to Fermanagh now plan their holiday around the event. Entries will be taken from 6pm and the race starts from the Community Centre at 7pm. The organisers of the event, are advising anyone who would like to enter the race to be at the community centre in Kesh before 6.30pm. Entry costs £5 for adults and £3 for under 18s. The Northern Ireland Amateur Athletics Federation do not recommend children under the age of 15 running in 10k races. Therefore the parent/guardian of anyone aged 14 or under wishing to compete in the event will have to sign a waiver form available on the night.

Refreshments after the race this year will be in the community centre and will be sponsored by Jenning’s Fuels and Krusts coffee shop.

The organisers also added that this could be your chance to get your own back on that person who pipped you at the post in the Irvinestown or Enniskillen 10k races earlier this summer!

SNOWDON INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN RACE

Omagh Harrier Francis Orr running for Northern Ireland in the Snowdon International mountain race finished a very creditable 15th overall in the senior ladies international field in a time of 1hr 33mins for the ten mile course. Snowdon is considered to be one of the toughest mountain races in th UK and consists of a five mile ascent and then a very difficult five mile decent.  Well done Francis.

Good results for Harriers at round 4 of the Furey Insurance Series.

Marty Cox again led the Harrier charge in the Jog in the Bog 5k the penultimate round of the series.

City of Derry had a strong team and took 1^st three places in the mens event through Colin Roberts, Gregory Roberts and junior Marcus Christie.

Marty Cox took 7^th place which now puts him in a very strong position for the overall title.  Ciaran Collins ran one of his fastest 5k’s to date enabling him to claim 2^nd harrier home and taking 3^rd junior male. Marty Mc Laughlin followed close behind pipping Conor Moore.  Conor who was lying in 3^rd place in the series slipped back into 4^th place and will have to put in a good performance in the final race which is in Muff in a weeks time. Mark Gray returned a good performance to finish in the middle of the field.

In the female race a tremendous battle developed between Omagh’s Michelle Sturm and City of Derry athlete Aileen Morrison. Both these ladies out run the leader of the ladies series Cathy Mc Court (North Belfast). Morrison and Sturm both give it their all as they approached the finish with both athletes sprinting shoulder to shoulder. In the end Morrison got across the line first to claim victory.

Meanwhile Hazel Mc Causland continues her come back with another strong finish over the 5k distance.

Results

Omagh Harrier Noel Collins, running for Ireland ran a brilliant race to win the Silver Medal in the 2000m Steeple-chase at the European Youth Olympics in Belgrade.  A full report will follow.

Results | BBC Report | NI Athletics Report | AAI Report

Bogues in Spar Sprints.

Omagh Harrier athlete Patrick Bogues put in a good performance in the Spar Sprints held at Antrim Forum.  Patrick won the 100m and got a PB in the 400m in which he ran a 52.1 to take second place.

Good Results For Harriers at Lady of The Lake 10k

Marty Cox lead the Harriers home in the Lady of the Lake 10k. Connor Moore took 2nd overall and first Junior male while Marty Mc Laughlin finished 3rd and first male vet.

In the female race Marie Threrese Speight was the star performer for the female Harriers closely followed by Patricia Campbell and Hazel Mc Causland.

Collins Wins All-Ireland Title.

Noel Collins has won the mens under18, 2000m steeplechase title in the AAI championships at Tollymore. Despite a tumble on the first water jump, in which Collins found himself at the back of the pack, the young Harrier determined not to give up, put in a brave performance in catching up again with the leading athletes and then kicking to go ahead to win his race.

With a number of Harriers away on international duty in France a small number of the club athletes turned out for the Strabane 10k.  There was a good field of 150 athletes who turned out for the race that started in the town before heading out to the surrounding countryside before finishing back at Strabane’s Leisure Centre.

It was a good day for Sperrin Harriers with Delfim Pimentel winning in a modest 34.13 with Matt Wray, Ballymena & Antrim 12 seconds back and Donal Gallagher, Sperrin Harriers third in 34.35. 

Maria Speaght had the best finish of all the Omagh Harriers finishing 1st in the Female Over 45.  First Omagh Harriers home was Jason Walsh in 7th, next home was Derek Somerville in 27th, 6th Male Over 40.  James Speaght ran well over the tough course to finish well up in the Junior race.

Results

The Harriers will be going G0-Karting on Wed. 11th July.  All members who are interested should contact Bill or Martin before Friday 6th July.  Bus will leave Omagh Leisure Centre at 5.15pm and return to the Leisure Centre at 10.15pm

Mixed fortunes for the Harriers in this race. Michelle Sturm put in the best performance for the club by taking 2^nd overall just finishing behind winner Cathy Mc Court North Belfast. Michelle was the winner in the ladies under 20 category.

Marty Cox running in the senior mens race was well below par and did not look to be a series contender up front. Marty was leading the league series however with this poor performance he will have lost vital points and with only two races left he has give himself with a lot of work to do. Mark Gray returned to racing after a small layoff due to injury and he too was not running to his usual standard. The Junior men were not impressive either. Conor Moore ran one of his slowest ever 5k’s. on three previous races Conor had remained unbeaten in the Junior men, however on this occasion all race plans seem to have fallen apart as it did also for team mate Cairan Collins who also returned a lack luster performance on the day.

In the senior Ladies, Angline Mc Cain ran on her best races to date and finished strongly for the Harriers while her club mate Hazel Mc Causland, like her male club colleagues failed to impress returning a slow run on the day.

Results | Photos

International Call up for Harrier.

Congratulations to Francis Orr who has been selected to run for Northern Ireland at the International Snowdon Mountain Race in late July. Snowdon is one of the toughest mountain races in the British International racing calendar and consists of a five mile up stage and a five mile decent. This is the second international call up for Francis this season.

Other Reports...

All club members are reminded that the Harriers annual hike is on this Sunday (2^nd Sept) bus leaves the Leisure Centre at 08.30am

Harriers in Action

Derek Sumerville and Francis Orr were in action this week.

Derek was competing in the City of Derry promoted event Dessies Run, were he finished well up the field.

Francis Orr still with tired legs after Scrabo was competing in the Crawfordsburn 5k race in which she finished 3^rd female open.

WORLD  TROPHY  TRIALS

What a performance from Omagh Harriers at the World Trophy Trials today in Rostrevor. With a trip to Switzerland on the cards for the lucky few selected onto the Northern Ireland team, competition was always going to be tough.

Stephen Duncan was the star performer for the club in the Senior Mens event over a very difficult and hotly contested three lap course. Stephen and North Belfast’s Neil Carty were shoulder to shoulder for most of the three laps but it was Duncan who got the better of the North Belfast man on the closing stages, to come home just in front to secure his place on the plane.

Martin Cox finished in 8^th place overall with a very fine performance just missing out on selection.

Ciaran Collins gave the performance of his life to win the Junior Mens event in front of Pegasus A.C. athlete Jason Wilson with a fantastic run from Omagh Harrier James Speight in third. Conor Moore finished in fourth place and with Omagh Harrier Noel Collins already pre selected onto the N.I. Team means that Omagh Harriers have three athletes on the Junior Mens team, James is unlucky in that he is too young to travel to the Worlds but shows what a fantastic achievement he made.

Francis Orr also gave a brilliant performance in the Senior Female Race finishing third overall and also makes the N.I. Team.

Michelle Sturm dominated the Junior Female event with clubmate Angela Speight in third place with both girls securing their place to Switzerland.

Mark Gray also finished the gruelling course and was very pleased with his performance.

Omagh Harrier coach Bill Mc.Causland also makes the trip to Switzerland having been selected as a Team Manager to the junior squad.

Congratulations to all those who put in the hard work and will now represent N.I. in Switzerland.

KILLYBEGS 5K

The Speight family took control of the Killybegs 5K recently with each member picking up individual awards.

James started the ball rolling with a 7th. overall placing and first Junior Man, Angela followed up with 1st. Overall Senior Female and 1st in the Junior Female category with sister Kelly Anne taking 2nd place in the Senior Female.

Marie Therese continued her fine season with yet another win in the Vets category.

Angela and James are coming into form for the forthcoming international selection races. 

KESH 10 K 

Omagh Harrier Martin Mc. Lauglin was top performer for the club at the Kesh 10K taking third overall and 1st in the Male Open.

Tommy Farrell was 1st Vet and Dromore A.C. athlete Nigel Greer 2nd Vet. 

Derek Somerville fresh from his successful run in the Letterkenny 15K at the weekend was next scorer for the Harriers in 7th place and 2nd Over 40 with a time of 38 minutes, closely followed by Kevin Smith in 8th. Albert Law in 14th position took 1st in the Over 50 category.

The females were represented by Patricia Cambell who finished 4th. Lady overall and 2nd Over 40 with a time of 44 minutes, Marie Therese Speight in 5th place and 3rd Over 40 closely followed by Patricia Templeton who won the Over 50 category.

Mullaghmore 5K

Deidre Haigney had a superb 2nd place finish in the Mullaghmore 5K behind Theresa Mc.Gloin of Finn Valley.   

COLLINS SMASHES GAMES RECORD AT CELTIC INTERNATIONAL

Noel Collins has again set a new record, smashing the Celtic Games record for the men under 18  2000m steeple chase.  Robert Fitzsimons from Athletics Ireland set a new standard in 2006 with a winning and record time of 6.25.21 mins. This was a short lived record as Collins had his sights set from the gun to not only claim victory but to set a new record and this he did.  Noels race plan was to go out quick from the gun.  Indeed the young Harrier went through the first lap in a blistering pace of  1.02. Noel then clocked 2.06 at the 800m mark and at this stage he had opened up a huge distance of 30m from the chasing field made up of Irish, Scottish and Welsh athletes.  With only the clock to beat now Noel continued his impressive run and crossed the finish line in 5.59.76 smashing the previous record by a huge 25 seconds.  Noels next race is the AAA Championships in England.

Report | Results

Harriers in Action at the Final City Of Derry 5k Series.

Several Omagh Harriers were in action for the final race of the City of Derry 5k series which was staged in Muff Co. Donegal.

Muff proved to be a difficult and some what demanding course, making the athletes work hard for placings.

Omagh’s Marty Cox was again well placed finishing in 4^th position in the senior men’s section. Although the final standings are not officially published yet Cox must now be firm favourite to claim the overall series title.

Ciaran Collins starting to hit form, put in a good run, winning  the mens under 20 category with Conor Moore claiming 2^nd under 20. Conor may well have done enough to clinch 3^rd overall in the series.  Mark Gray continues to improve over the 5k distance finishing well up the field in the senior men.

The Harriers will be in action again this weekend with several athletes competing in the Cookstown 5 mile road race and some athletes travelling to compete in the Lurig Challenge mountain race.

Results

More success for Harriers on International Front.

Three Harriers have been selected for the Northern Ireland under 18 team to travel to Wales for the British and Irish Hill Running Championships in October.

The three are

Noel Collins

Patrick Bogues

Andrew Fisher

Also young James Speight heads the Northern Ireland under 16 team after two very fine recent performances.  This will be the first time for young James in the Northern Ireland colours.

Another new face on the squad is young Barry Kelly.  Barry the current Northern Ireland under 14 boys 1500m champion, will compete in the individual under 14 event.