Good Days Racing at the GloHealth Master & Int XC Champs
The GloHealth Master, Intermediate and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships took place in Palace Grounds, Tuam on Sunday, 8th of February. Almost 1,000 athletes were treated to a real cross country test over the rolling hills of the Palace Grounds.
Intermediate Men & Women
Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers AC) who represented Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships before Christmas was always to the fore in a highly competitive men’s intermediate race. Brady made his strength pay as he romped to an impressive victory in a time of 26.31, over 20 seconds clear of his nearest rivals.
In the battle for the minor positions Darragh Rennicks (Bohermeen AC) placed second in a time of 26.52 with Conor Duffy (Glaslough Harriers AC) third in a time of 26.57. Ben Thistlewood (Leevale AC) placed fourth in a time of 27.10
Danielle Fegan (Armagh AC) impressed many last December when she claimed victory at the GloHealth Novice Championships in Santry. Fegan continued the momentum in Tuam just getting the better of Mary Ann O’Sullivan (Tinryland AC) in second and Sara Doohan (Corran AC) in third. There was only eleven seconds between the top three athletes demonstrating how close a race it was.
Master Men & Women
There were over 200 finishers in a high quality men’s master race. Declan Reed (City of Derry AC) was back to defend his title he had won so impressively twelve months previous in Dunboyne. Reed showed his class as he secured a hard fought victory over Letterkenny AC athlete Ciaran Doherty. Reed crossed the line in a time of 23.15 only five seconds clear of Doherty who was timed at 23.19.
John Dunne (Donore Harriers AC) had to settle for third place as he crossed the line in a time of 23.49. Martin McEvilly (Galway City Harriers AC) won the 65+ national title in a time of 16.21.
Natasha Adams (Letterkenny AC) produced a marvellous display of cross country running to win the ladies master title in a time of 15.34. Adams didn’t have it all her own way as she had to shake off former Olympian Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers AC) who placed second in a time of 15.40. Cathy McCourt finished third in a time of 15.50.
Juvenile B Championships
There were over 450 athletes contesting the GloHealth Juvenile B championships in the U11, U13, U15 and U17 age categories. A mixture of thrilling sprint finishes and competitive races was the order of the day as hundreds of juveniles gave their all representing the various clubs.
Eoin Reidy (St Coca’s AC) won the boy’s U17 title with Finn Valley claiming the team title with a score of 29 points. Caoimhe Harvey (St Johns AC) battled hard in the girl’s U17 race to win the title as Sligo AC had strength in numbers to win the girl’s team title.
At U15 level Oisin Lyons (Craughwell AC) and Aibhe Morgan (Sligo AC) were the respective winners. Daire O’Sullivan (Carraig-Na-Bhfear AC) took a fine victory in highly competitive U13 boy’s race, Ava O’Connor (Emo/Rath AC) did likewise in the girl’s U13 race.
Both U11 races had big fields with over eight athletes competing in each race. Connor Meaney (Fergus AC) won the boy’s race with Hannah Murray (Finn Valley AC) first across the line in the girl’s U11 race.