JP Williamson wins 2023 North West 10k

JP Williamson won the 26th North West 10k on Bank Holiday Monday.

There were no May Day blues for City of Derry Spartans athlete Williams, who won in 32 minutes and 48 seconds.

Letterkenny AC’s Donal Farren was second with Rosses AC’s Declan Ferry in third.

Noeleen Scanlan continued her good form, winning the women’s race in 35:11 ahead of City of Derry Spartans’ Ciara Toner. Rosses AC woman Helen McCready was third.

Scanlan was second in 2017, the last time she ran this event, when the Drumkeen native clocked 39:42.

“I came here for the win,” Scanlan told Donegal Live.

“I may have gone out a bit too hard, but I needed to make up some time for the Port Road. Myself and Paddy Ryan had a bit of a battle and he out-sprinted me at the end.”

Noeleen Scanlan.

There were around 850 finishers, including the Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, SJ, a regular participant since his appointment as Bishop in 2017.

Double Olympian Danny McDaid, the Letterkenny AC man who ran in the marathon at the 1972 and 1974 Games in Munich and Montreal, was the special guest who got the race underway on Pearse Road at the Letterkenny Community Centre.

The Mayor of Letterkenny, Councillor Donal ‘Mandy’ Gallagher took part. There too was Eamon McGee, an All-Ireland winner with Donegal in 2012.

JP Williamson.

The three charities benefitting this year are Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch, St Bernadette’s Special School Letterkenny and the Letterkenny Community Development Project.

“This is one of the bigger races,” North West 10k chairperson Neil Martin told Donegal Live.

“We had 1,900 back in 2014, but while those days are gone we’re delighted with the numbers.

“We’re very lucky that we have a good committee. We work hard from November to May putting it all in place. It’s all about the charities and they’re so well supported.”