ANI XC League comes to a close
10 March 2017
The final event of this season’s cross country league was held last Saturday (4th) at Lurgan Park in conjunction with the NI and Ulster Senior Championships. With double points on offer it meant that a good team performance could make a significant difference to the final placings. In the event this proved to be the case in the Men’s section where Newcastle and District A.C. just managed to hold off North Belfast Harriers with only 3 points separating them (179 to 176) after the eight rounds of the league. North Down A.C. finished third on 140 with last season’s winners Foyle Valley A.C. fourth on 123.
Things were more clear cut in the Women’s section where North Down A.C. were runaway winners on 195 with Acorns A.C. second on 138 and Foyle Valley (champions last season) third on 117. Ballydrain Harriers finished fourth with 101 points.
The numbers participating in the league from all clubs showed another significant uplift from last season with a total of 30 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams scoring points. Special mention must go to both North Down and Acorns who finished teams in both men’s and women’s sections of all eight rounds despite having the option to sit out of two rounds.
Feedback on this season’s format will be sought from Clubs before next season’s league rules and format are finalised.