Paddy Hamilton retains Dune Half Marathon title

The race which included the first round of the Pure Running/ChampionChip Ireland Series attracted a field of 536.

The Slieve Gullion runner looked cool and composed throughout as he cruised round the slightly altered course to win in 68:13 considerably faster than last year.

He was almost three minutes in front of Brian McCluskey who repeated his last year’s second place with Joe McKevitt third.

Barry Shanks was top M40 with Vincent McMath M45, Marty Cox M50, Paul McCullagh M55 and Terry Eakin M65 all winning their groups.

The Ladies race was billed as a duel between Laura Graham and Judith Lonnen but it was Mourne runner Laura who has been dominating the Forest Series who stormed away to win by seven minutes in a very useful 79:45.

Judith was an isolated second with Brenda Reed third in front of last year’s bronze medallist Susan Smyth.

Alan Bogle had a comfortable success in the Northern Velocity Roe Valley Trail Race at the Country Park.

The City of Derry runner crossed the line four minutes before Martin Gallagher of Foyle Valley with Diarmuid O’Kane of Acorns third.

Springwell’s Ciara McSherry took the Ladies ahead of Kerrie McIlmoyle Foyle Valley and Kirsty Bogle of Ballydrain.