The first Ulster cross-country finals were held at the Billy Neill playing fields in Comber, Co. Down last Saturday. Despite the rainy start, the clouds cleared for a sunny afternoon’s racing.

Local athletes started brilliantly in the U-12 races. Kate Kelly from Enniskillen RC struck for home with 500 metres to go to win gold on the line. Her team mate, Meadh Donnelly, followed soon after in eighth place for another superb individual medal.

They led their team to a fine silver and qualification for the All Irelands in a months time.

The U-12 boys of St. Michael’s AC also claimed an Ulster team silver in their first race at this level. Mr. Shaw will build on this potential and target school medals at Mallusk in the spring.

Enniskillen RC had two girls teams at U-14 level. While most girls are a year young and eligible for U-13 level, the young girls ran superbly to claim a team silver. Their focus will be the upcoming U-13 Ulster race in two weeks’ time.

There were three Fermanagh individual medallists in the U-16 boys race. Harry McKenzie for Enniskillen RC ran a mature, superbly paced race to finish strongly in fourth.

St. Michael’s Tiernan McManus came tenth and his teammate Charlie Rehill filled the individual medal winning positions in 12th place, leading St. Michael’s to team silver in the section.

The ERC medal winning run continued at U-18 level with 15-year-old Annabel Morrison claiming a terrific bronze in the girls race.

Nadine McIntyre collected her first Ulster medal after a great run to come seventh. They led their club to third and another Ulster silver medal.

In the boys’ U-18 race Ben Warnock, running for Monaghan, had his usual strong run, coming seventh, while Jamie McDonnell in the colours of ERC had a terrific Ulster debut to claim an individual medal.

The other individual medallists will have earned selection for Ulster team in the upcoming All Irelands.

The final local athlete competing was Edel Monaghan, who was selected to represent NI & Ulster Senior ladies in the Bobby Rea XC International.

Her selection was confirmed after a breakthrough performance in the Autumn International at Abbotstown the previous Sunday.

Edel followed this up with a solid 11th place and third team scorer for the Ulster team on Saturday.