Whittle and McCormick Make it an English Double in Armagh

With Mary Cullen opting not to defend her title at the Armagh International Road Races, English visitors dominated the women’s 3km race.

Loughborough’s Laura Whittle , a former European U-23 5000m champion, was first home in 9:25.73, with Elle Vernon of Stockport a close second and Rachel Bamford from Leeds AC third. In fourth place was Letterkenny’s Anne-Marie McGlynn.

Visiting athletes also dominated the men’s 5km, with 2009 winner Nick McCormick from Morpeth holding off a strong challenge from Derby’s Richard Weir and Ieuen Thomas of Wales to win in 14 mins 11.90 secs. City of Derry’s Conor Bradley in tenth place was best of the locals. Next was Emmett Dunleavy of Sligo who just pipped Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock for 20^th place. Others in action from south of the Border included Darragh Rennicks of Bohermeen 30^th, Eric Keogh of Donore 69^th, and Rathfarnham WSAF pair, Robert Murphy and Kevin Danagher of Rathfarnham who finished 78^{th and 80th.}

Not running were DSD’s Ava Hutchinton, Kerry Harty of Newcastle, Clonliffe’s Mark Kenneally and Stephen Scullion, who had all had been mentioned in the pre-race PR.

Results –

International women’s 3km (97 finishers): 1 Laura Whittle (Loughborough) 9:25.73, 2 Elle Vernon (Stockport) 9:28.59, 3 Rachel Bamford (Leeds) 9:30.48, 4 Anne-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny) 9:40.48, 5 Laura Dunn (Edinburgh 9:47.14, 6 Ellie Stevens (Birchfield Hrs) 9:50.04. Other Irish: 10 Fionnuala Ross (Armagh) 9:59.32, 15 Deirdre Doyle 10:23.82, 16 Danielle Fegan (Armagh) 10:24.15, 17 Claire Connor (NBH) 10:29.68.

International men’s 5km (88 finishers) : 1 Nick McCormick (Morpeth) 14 mins 11.90 secs, 2 Richard Weir (Derby) 14.19.37, 3 Ieuen Thomas ( Wales) 14:13.92, 4 Lewis Moses (Loughborough) 14:14.55, 5 Krysztof Zebrowski (Poland) 14:14.71, 6 Kevin Schwab (Zap, USA) 14:15.63. Irish (under 15 mins): 16 Conor Bradley (City of Derry) 14:29.55, 19 Emmett Dunleavy (Sligo) 14:35.96, 20 Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) 14:35.97, 23 Andrew Agnew (Annadale Striders) 14:37.43, 26 Joe McAllister (St Malachy’s) 14:40.60, 35 James O’Hare (Annadale) 14:47.30, 38 Glenn Phair (Annadale) 14:47.30. 30 Darragh Rennicks (Bohermeen) 14:50.14, 41 Stephen Emery (Armagh) 14:50.61, 44 Scott Rankin (Foyle Valley) 14:53.66.