Mark McKinstry and Laura Graham will be ones to beat in Ards

Mark McKinstry and Laura Graham will start favourites for Friday night's Ards Half Marathon which is promoted by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Jun 2016, 20:37 BST

Updated 23rd Jun 2016, 21:52 BST

McKinstry won at Dundrum and Comber and was 2nd in the Senior Cross Country and will be hard to beat.

North Belfast club mate Marc Jennings 2nd in Newry and Andrew Annett runner up in the SSE 10 Miles at Derry can challenge for medals.

Bangor winner Francis Marsh, Mark Cornett, Aaron Woodman, Brendan Grew and Newry marathon winner Don Travers will all go well.

Laura Graham has been on a fantastic winning streak coming 1st in Larne, Omagh, Banbridge, Newry and Lisburn.

She should notch up another victory here.

Louise Smyth runner up at Omagh and Newry, if recovered from injury, Diane Watson winner of the Newry marathon and Susan Smyth 3rd in the Dundalk/Newry race will be disputing top positions.

The race and nine miles walk start from Ards Leisure Centre.

The action starts at 10.30am.

Laura Graham Newry