Dundalk IT set for GloHealth Cross Country Festival

Big numbers set for Dundalk

It’s set to be another action-packed day at the GloHealth Intermediate, Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships in Dundalk IT on Sunday (January 24).

There were some intriguing battles and excitement at the Novice championships in Dungarvan last December and there promises to be more in store in the Intermediate races in Dundalk.

Stephen Lawlor (St Abban’s) caused a stir when winning the Novice 6km title but will have to step up in distance to 8km in Dundalk to make it a double. Other individual contenders look likely to be Dunshaughlin’s Thomas Moran who ran the in the U23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in December, Jason Broderick (Craughwell), third in the Novice, Mark O’Sullivan (Bandon) and Sligo’s Dermot McDermott.

Ennis Track, St Abban’s, Liffey Valley and Clonliffe Harriers all have strong squads. Ennis Track count Dara and Kevin Chesser among their ranks along with Karl Fitzmaurice. Similarly St Abban’s include cousins Cormac and Brian Kelly along with Stephen Lawlor and Danny Lawler.

Dundrum South Dublin has a strong team in the women’s 5,000m Intermediate race with Clare McCarthy and Meghan Ryan leading the charge. McCarthy and Ryan ran for Ireland in the Celtic Nations U23 race at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country earlier this month.

There may not be big standout names in the women’s race but there are plenty of strong squads Crusaders, Clonliffe Harriers, Galway City Harriers, Rathfarnham WSAF, Shercock, Sportsworld and St Finnbarr’s.

Juveniles to get the day underway

The Juvenile B Championships and Relays, rescheduled due to poor weather conditions, gets the action underway and should set the scene with keenly contested races along with vibrant energy the Juveniles always provide. The start lists for the Juveniles is HERE. The course map is HERE

Masters

The Masters will come en masse in pursuit of mud and glory with medals hotly contested on a true cross country course that has hosted the Inter Clubs and the Inter Counties.

The M50 race could be one to savour if Mick Traynor (Raheny Shamrock) and Pauric McKinney (Inishowen) toe the line in full fitness. The pair have been putting in some top quality performances over the last 12 months.

In the M40 section, Ciaran Doherty (Letterkenny), Declan Reid (City of Derry) and Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham) will be among those in the mix while the M45 category includes the likes of Brian McCloskey (North East Runners Dundalk) and Kieran Carlin (Finn Valley) looking to make an impact.   

The M60 category could be another great battle with John Cullen (Liffey Valley), Paul Elliot (North Belfast Harriers) and Brian Lynch (North East Runners Dundalk) the leading lights if they all show on the day. Tommy Payne (Tinryland) and Martin McEvilly (Galway City Harriers) should feature strongly in the M55 and M65 category respectively.

Top quality women’s Masters

The women’s Masters are still amongst the best runners in the country and Teresa Doherty (Finn Valley) will be one of the favourites in the F35 age group. Elizabeth Egan (Bree), who finished 10th at the Inter Clubs in Kilbroney Park in March, should also feature.

Leevale’s Nollaigh O’Neill will be looking to impress in the F40 category. O’Neill was part of the Leevale squad that struck team gold at the Inter Clubs in Santry Demesne last November and will be hoping for individual success in Dundalk.

The F45 category oozes class with national marathon champion, and Beijing 2008 Olympian, Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers) heading a field that also includes Carmel Crowley (Bandon) and Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock)

Other names to look out for include Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht) in the F50 category and Mary Sweeney (St Finnbarr’s) in the F55. Both runners are now combining coaching to great affect O’Sullivan is coaching international cross country runner Shona Heaslip while Sweeney coached Aoife Cooke to the Novice title in December.  

Other regular to names that should feature prominently include Rose Lambe F55 (Carrick Aces), Carmel Parnell F60 (Leevale) and Ann Woodlock F75 (Donore Harriers). 

Provisional Startlists HERE

Event timetable HERE

Course map for Intermediate and Masters HERE