Catherine Whoriskey wins thrilling Gold as City of Derry Spartans claim double bronze at NI Championships

Catherine Whoriskey stormed to a thrilling victory at Saturday's NI/Ulster Senior Women's Cross Country championships in the Gransha grounds, outsprinting North Down's Jessica Craig after the duo had battled each other for around half of the 6K distance.
By Michael Wilson
Published 28th Feb 2022, 10:41 BST
Updated 28th Feb 2022, 10:42 BST
City of Derry's Catherine Whoriskey who won a thrilling gold at NI\Ulster Cross Country Championships at Gransha on Saturday.City of Derry's Catherine Whoriskey who won a thrilling gold at NI\Ulster Cross Country Championships at Gransha on Saturday.
City of Derry's Catherine Whoriskey who won a thrilling gold at NI\Ulster Cross Country Championships at Gransha on Saturday.

The red vested Spartan and Craig, in yellow and blue, went clear of Newcastle's Kerry O Flatherty on the second of the three strength sapping laps and it was a real battle of attrition from there to the finish, with the spectators on the side-lines absolutely enthralled by the unfolding duel.

Craig was surging, trying to get away, but Whoriskey matched every move. Closing in on the end of lap three Craig eked out about five metres as the final 200 metres loomed. Whoriskey loudly encouraged by the local supporters dug deep and as the finish came into view, produced a late, late sprint to burst up to and past her rival for a two second advantage and the championship gold medal.

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A brilliant win and with support from club mates Angeline McShane, Jacqui McMonagle and Paula McGilloway, the Spartans claimed a surprise team bronze medal performance behind North Down and Newcastle.

There was another team bronze performance from the local Spartans in the Men's 12K championship race which followed.

Like their female counterparts, the men toed the line seriously under strength but a gutsy collective effort saw them also on the podium six gruelling laps later.

Led home by the evergreen Declan Reed in an excellent 8th place, the backup from Sean Melarkey, Allan Bogle, Conal McGinley, John Lenehan, and Peter Melarkey was good enough to clinch championship team bronze and maintain the red vests top three team finishes of recent years.

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The resurgent Annadale Striders pipped their city rivals North Belfast Harriers for the team gold despite the latter's Conan McCaughey racing home an emphatic winner.

All in all a terrific afternoon's racing with the course holding up well despite the huge volume of rainfall in the preceding period. Credit to landowners, the Western Health and Social Care Trust for allowing the event to go ahead and Gransha once again demonstrated it is the perfect location for top class XC racing, both runner and spectator friendly.