They retained the Mens title with a runaway victory and also took the Womens crown after a duel with Lagan Valley.

Simon Taylor lead for Abbey after the first stage then Andrew Agnew put them well clear before Owen Carleton and Paul Pollock produced the fastest clockings of the day to bring them home three minutes ahead of Annadale with East Down third.

The Ladies race was exciting. Bangor winner Suzanne McCormick lead on the first stage for Lagan Valley then Gladys Ganiel-O’Neill blasted Abbey into a twelve second lead over Lisburn’s Judith Lowry with Lagan Valley girl Kirsty Kee a further ten seconds down.

Judi Graham then put the issue beyond doubt as she sped round in seven minutes thirty eight the quickest of the race to cross the line thirty one seconds before Catriona McCorkell who had brought Lagan Valley into second.

Dave Morwood put North Belfast ahead on the opening leg of the veterans when he came in before all the senior runners.

Nigel Grier got Dromore to the front on the third leg before Eddie Burns got North back on the final circuit.

St Malachys helped by a great last stage from Stephen Rooney won the under 19’s from Lagan Valley, North Down and Dromore with Ryan McDermott of Dromore having equal fastest with Rooney at six minutes twenty six. St Malachys also took the under 16’s.

The girls under 16’s were close. Katie Kirk of Lagan Valley led from a determined Emma Mitchell of Dromore initially, Eva Laverty and Robyn McKee ran the second legs and Sophie Magee of Lagan Valley took off with Lorna Fitzpatrick in hot pursuit for Dromore. Lorna took the lead on the back straight but Sophie responded to get a seven second victory.

Katie Conn won the under 14 girls race from Laura Grier and Yasmine Wilson with City of Lisburn winning the team.

The boys race went to Rory Hampton ahead of Glen Willis and Conall Kirk with Coleraine Inst taking a very close team race.

n CATHY McCourt came home ahead of a field of six hundred runners to win the Runher 8k Womens Only Race at Ormeau Park yesterday. The race organised by Up and Running was held in perfect conditions.

Cathy took the lead from the start and was well ahead of Belmont 5K winner Roberta Dornan as they passed the games for the first time with Judith Lowry, Julie Turley and Jill Shannon who was making a welcome reappearance after leading the warmup next.

The gap had increased slightly on the second circuit with Cathy going on to win by thirty eight seconds from Roberta. Judith Lowry was a good third with Julie Turley holding off Jill Shannon and the fast finishing Shileen O’Kane and Ruth Magill for fourth.

Paralympic rowing fifth placer Karen Cromie covered the distance on a hand cycle and came in well ahead of the runners.

Blind World Water Ski Champion Janet Grey acted as starter and then completed the course along with Olympic Gold Medalist Dame Mary Peters.