At the time, Dromore Athletics Club was less than a year old.

The Leader reported that the club had achieved its first team success at the Seven Towers half marathon and five-mile road races in Ballymena.

The honour of becoming the first team winners went to the five-man half-marathon line-up of Brian McKee, Seamus McKeown, Harry Moreland, Derek Jess and Jackie Delaney.

There were over 500 competitors in the race.

It was a tremendous achievement by the Dromore men to collect first place against stiff opposition, said The Leader report.

Fourteen runners from Dromore took part in the event.

In the five mile race, Michael McGreevy and 15 year-old budding star, Owen Cull, also collected trophies when they finished seventh and eighth respectively.

Two of the club’s youngest members finished the course.

Ten-year-old Michelle Curran did the five miles in 42.20 minutes and nine-year-old Mark McGreevy finished in 40 minutes.

The club’s decision to send one of their top men, Nigel Grier, to the Florencecourt, Enniskillen eight-mile road race proved a master stroke, The Leader added.

Nigel returned the confidence placed in him by collecting first prize in a time of 46 minutes 17 seconds, over a very hilly course.

Said The Leader article, “This success completed a fantastic weekend for Dromore. Is it the first of many successes?”

The Dromore Club apologised for overlooking Dromore Motorcycle Club in an earlier list of appreciation notes.

Members conveyed belated gratitude to the motorcyclists.