SLIDESHOW: Brennan retains Twin Peaks title

Alex Brennan of Ballymena Runners retained his Twin Peaks Cross Country title in last week’s race at Glenravel Festival.
Alex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JCAlex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JC
Alex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JC

The veteran runner held off a stern challenge from team mate Connor Reid to win the popular event.

Reid, who live within 50 metres of the course, made a great start and was leading Brennan when the runners came through the village to start the Cargan Rock ascent, but Brennan gradually closed him down and pulled clear and opened up a bit of a gap in the steep decent back into the village to take victory by thirteen seconds.

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Reid did however win the Local Open event ahead of Declan Scullion who was runner-up. Another Ballymena Runner Emmet McAlister came in third with yet another one, Mark Alexander finishing fourth.

Alex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JCAlex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JC
Alex Brennan of Ballymena Runenrs celebrates as he crosses the line to retain his Twin Peaks Cross County titlte at Glenravel Festival. INBT 36-133JC

Local teenager Connor McAllister finished fifth overall and took the U-18 trophy ahead of fellow local Dylan McIlwaine.

It was another Ballymena Runner Paula, Arthur-McCarthy, who took the ladies prize in a time of 20 minutes 21 seconds which saw her finish 10th overall while local runner Maire Donnelly turned in a fantastic performance to finish second in the ladies event in her first attempt at the event.

Perhaps the most remarkable performance of the evening however was turned in by nine year old Cormac McKeown who is a pupil at Glenravel Primary School. Cormac, who is just starting P6 this week, finished 8th overall in a time of 20 minutes and 9 seconds which won him the Under 15 Boys section, a display that must surely bring him to the attention of athletic coaches in the area.

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Michaela McAllister, sister of U-18 boys winner Connor McAllister, won the U-15 girls race while Aisling Mulholland, who finished side by side with her dad Paul, was U15 runner-up. Brigid Quinn of Ballymena Runners took the Female Vets category while John Stuart (Ballymena & Antrim Athletic Club) bid farewell to competitive running. The former St Louis Grammar School principal had the honour of leading the runners off the line to mark his retirement.