West will be awake with cross country action
The West will be awake with action at the Irish Life Health National Intermediate, Masters & Juvenile B Cross Country Championships in Kilcornan Estate, Clarinbridge, Co.Galway this Sunday (February 11).
Dublin City Harriers’ women are fresh from retaining the Irish Life Health National Indoor League crown and will take to the country with a strong team. The Dublin club have a rich cross country heritage and with Alison Armstrong and Cliona Murphy among their ranks they should make a good challenge for the team title over 5km.
Potential individual contenders listed on the entry list include Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise A.C.), Siobhra O'Flaherty (St. L. O'Toole A.C.) and Sorcha McAlister (Westport A.C.).
In the men’s 8km Donore Harriers have a strong team listed including Malcolm Du Quesney, Elliot Slade and Ray Hynes.
DSD also have a good team entered with MacGabhann brothers, Jack and Patrick, and Paul O'Donnell.
The Juvenile B sees uneven age competition from U11 to U17 and 4x500m relays for boys and girls U12 and U14.
Cross Country Club of the year at stake and the Masters
The event will also complete the competition for Cross Country Club of the Year. It is currently headed by Leevale – one point ahead of DSD. You can view the full table HERE
There will be all to play for with the intermediate and Masters races adding to the interest and potential to make up a lot of points and ground in the competition.
The masters men O35-64 will do battle over 7,000m with Raheny Shamrock, Rathfarnham WSAF and Sportsworld having strong teams.
Sean McGrath M35 (East Cork A.C.) will be one of the lead runners at the head of the field with the indefatigable Pauric McKinney (Inishowen A.C) in the pack and surely to the fore in the M50 section.
An interesting entry is Frank McNally (Donore Harriers) M55, chief writer of An Irishman’s Diary in The Irish Times, who will get the inside scoop on the Masters’ cavalry charge.
The masters’ women and men O65 will run over 4,000m with leading ladies including Sara Doohan (Corran) F35, Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock) F50, Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht) F55 and Christine Kennedy (Galway City Harriers) F60 who will be hoping to land a home win.
It should be a fun-filled day of action and healthy competition. For full details of entries and timetable of the event click HERE