Andrew Hicks scored a smashing victory in the City of Lisburn promoted cross country on a heavy course around Moira Demense.
The former cycling champion from Dromore has finished runner up to Connor Magill last year but looked very determined this time as he went straight to the front from the start.
It was Hicks from Eddie Cooke and Aidan Magowan at half distance with Paul Blaney and Chris Madden, in his first race for a year, following.
Coming to the bell Hicks was absolutely on his own with Cooke, Magowan and Blaney disputing second and Andrew had no-one in sight as he blasted down the final hill to clinch the victory by sixteen seconds.
St Malachy’s star Aidan Magowan timed his effort to perfection to take runner up position with Blaney a good third ahead of Cooke, Madden and Michael Magee.
Stephanie Hambling has been a revelation this season. The North Down athlete, a brilliant sixth in the Northern Ireland and Ulster Championship at Greenmount took control from the start.
She completed the first of the three circuits ahead of a closely knit quartet of Rachel Gibson, Julie Murphy, Catriona McCorkell and Shileen O’Kane.
Next time it was Stephanie opening a gap over Rachel, Julie and Catriona and the leader increased her advantage to ten seconds as she crossed the line looking very comfortable.
Catriona McCorkell won the battle for second with Rachel Gibson, Julie Murphy, Shileen O’Kane, Anne Sanford, Ruth Magill and Mary Mackin making up the top eight. Lagan Valley had five of the leading seven.
Odhran Copeland and Lorcan Magee gave Beechmount the first two places in the Under 18 Men with Caitriona McGloin, the daughter of multi middle distance champion Ursula, taking the Girls.
Patrick McNiff and Madison Bowyer had runaway wins in the Year 9 and 10 races with Rory McNiff making it a Banbridge family double in the Year 8 event.
Katie Wills gave Willowfield the Girls race with the Primary Schools events going to Josh Patterson and Rebecca Wallis.
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