Gareth Turnbull turned in a masterclass of distance running to come home a clear winner of the Green Castle “5” Miles Road Race in Tyrone sponsored by Rocwell Mineral Water. The former World University Games 1500 metres silver-medallist took advantage of the cool and still conditions to register a time of 24 minutes 24 seconds taking almost a minute off Paul Rowan’s two year old course record. Turnbull was already prominent at the front of the 300-strong field by the end of the first mile reached in a swift four minutes 49 seconds. Piling on the pressure with a 4:40 second mile the St. Malachy’s athlete had a narrow five seconds margin at the halfway point over tenacious junior Paul Pollock. Another twenty seconds back Paul Rowan was hauling in last year’s winner Pat Cassidy to take third while Allan Bogle, Alan McCullough and Simon Taylor were still in contention for a podium place. Turnbull was still moving strongly as he turned up the hill a mile later but Pollock was visibly starting to wilt as Rowan took up the chase behind him. The strength of the Loughborough graduate continued to tell as he pulled further away on the steep ascent before cruising the final kilometre down hill to the finish outside the Greencastle GAA grounds. At the line he built up his advantage to 42 seconds as Pollock had to use his track speed to see off the determined challenge of Rowan. After the race Turnbull expressed himself satisfied with the performance. “I ran 24:48 for a five miler in Central Park last month but I think this is a much better performance, it’s probably worth sub 24 on a faster course. “It was as well I’d never run here before because if I had I would have given that hill a lot more respect and slowed down a bit on the second or third mile to save myself for it. “As it was I attacked it but it never seemed to end and even the run-in was tough as the finish never seemed to get any closer. “But it shows that I should have a real good 3000 metres indoors in me and if I run well in that I can get into the big meeting in Boston.” The former St. Malachy’s College pupil also confirmed that he will tackle that distance at the World Indoors in March. “With Commonwealths now off the agenda I can concentrate on the 3000 metres indoors and I will be hoping to take the Northern Ireland record for the distance when I go back to Gainesville next Monday,” added Turnbull. In contrast, a man bound for the Commonwealths in March, James McIlroy found the going tough and came home in only ninth position. Nevertheless, a good conditioning session for the NI 800 metres record holder who has ambitions of a medal at that distance in Melbourne in March. Julie Butler was an easy winner of women’s race that lacked any real quality in depth. The Omagh Harrier was in control throughout and had built a up massive 61 seconds gap by the time she crossed the line in 29 minutes 38 seconds. The mother and daughter duo of Helena and Karen Crossan must have created some sort of history by taking second and third respectively. See Results