National Masters and Intermediate Cross Country
The National Masters and Intermediate Cross Country championships were held on a testing and muddy course in Dundalk IT last Sunday.
Congratulations are due to Marie Hyland of Galway, now running with Dublin based club Crusaders AC, who won the National Intermediate cross country ladies title in what was a fantastic front running performance . A native of Salthill, Hyland has shown great form this season, having won the Fields of Athenry 10k at Christmas in a super time of 36.36, and she proved her class yesterday in winning by a big margin from Catherina Mullen of Shercock AC. Having placed sixth in the same event two years ago, her continued improvement is a testament to very consistent training and racing, and bodes well for next month’s National Senior event in Tuam.
There was a fine run also from Jason Broderick of Craughwell AC who came a great 12th in the Intermediate men’s event in extremely heavy conditions , running against a top class field. Broderick was in the lead group early on in the race, but could not stay with winner Cian O Reilly when he pushed for home. However Broderick will be well pleased with this effort, a very good performance in what was by then a complete mudbath in the last race of the day .
At Masters level, Martin McEvilly of GCH took the silver medal at O65 level, and the masters men’s team anchored by Gerry Carty, Brian Furey and Brian O Connor ran well, with Furey first home in 40th place in what was a huge field of well over 250 starters.
A strong masters’ ladies team competed for Galway , just missing medals, with Galway Bay half marathon champion Grainne Ni Uallachain of GCH first home in 46th, her clubmate Jean O Connor next in 55th, backed up by Anne Burke of Ballinasloe and Mags Sheridan GCH who were next scorers home.
Galway Indoor Championships
The 2016 Galway Indoor Championships were held in the superb surroundings of Athlone IT last Sunday. Over 600 athletes from all Galway clubs competed at both juvenile and adult level, and a huge crowd of parents and supporters were in attendance for a great days action. There were numerous multiple medal winners at Juvenile level and all clubs came home well satisfied with their performances.
At adult level, Damien Larkin of Craughwell AC won the Men’s 3000m from Eamon Hornibrook and Sean McDermott in second and third respectively.Dearbhaile Walshe of Craughwell took ladies 3k gold. At 800m , Peter O Sullivan ran 2.04 to claim the Men’s title and Aoife King of GCH won the ladies gold. In the sprints, Irish international Conor Duggan won Senior Men’s 60m in 7.15, and GCH’s Laura Ann Costello won the ladies in 7.76. Brendan Lynch of Loughrea won the sprint hurdles. Nicole King of GCH won the ladies 200m while Cillin Greene ran a great 22.38 to win the Men’s 200m.
At juvenile level, GCH had impressive wins via Emma Moore at U13 hurdles, Joanna Healy in U13 Girls 600m, Sean Dunne over 60m hurdles at u12 , Sarah Agboola in the U14 girls 60m, Shauna Brennan U14 girls 800m, Seren O’Toole at U15 girls hurdles, and Jennifer Hughes ( U15 800m), while at U16/17 ages , Kacper Poniatowski won a 60m and 200m double in the sprints, and Aoife Sheehy ( 800m), and Lydia Doyle won 200m gold.
Craughwell AC winners on the track included Lewis Ryan over U14 hurdles, Shaun Gilligan in the U14 boys 60m, , Danny Morrissey U13 60m, Conor Hoade at U13 60m hurdles, Eve Ayo Girls 60m U13 , Liam Leen U14 Boys 800m, At U15 level, they had winners including Kyle Moorhead 800m U 15 Boys , Sean Connaughton U15 Boys 60m sprint, Freya Bohan in the girls 60m, and at U16/17, Oisin Lyons claimed the 800m title
Loughrea AC winners included at U10 Boys 60m, Darragh Fahy, and in the Girls U14 hurdles Aoibhin Farrell .
Athenry AC were also title winners, via Cian McNelis at U11 Boys over 600m, Sabdh McDonagh in the U1 girls hurdles , Ballinasloe and District gold medalists included Ava McKeon U12 600m . East Galway AC winners included Saoirse Coleman U11 girls over 600m, Oisin Keane U13 Boys 600m
There were also a large number of field events at Long Jump , Shot and High Jump. Brendan Staunton and Mary Barrett claimed the Senior shot titles. At Juvenile level, Adam O’Connell of Corrib ( U12), Darragh Jennings GCH ( U13), Cian King of Corrib at U14, Eoghan Jennings of GCH at U15 and Ryan McNelis of Athenry U16/17 were victors in the boys, while Aoibhe Ford of Craughwell at U12 , Peggy Ford , Corrib AC at U13, Maebh Ford Corrib at U14 , at U15 Chloe Casey of Loughrea, and Elaine Nee of Connemara AC at U16/17 were victorious.
Brendan Staunton and Mary Barrett claimed the Senior shot titles. At Juvenile level, Adam O’Connell of Corrib ( U12), Darragh Jennings GCH ( U13), Cian King of Corrib at U14, Eoghan Jennings of GCH at U15 and Ryan Mcnelis of Athenry U16/17 were victors in the boys, while Aoibhe Ford of Craughwell at U12 , Peggy Ford , Corrib AC at U13, Maebh Ford Corrib at U14 , at U15 Chloe Casey of Loughrea, and Elaine Nee of Connemara AC at U16/17 were victorious in the girls events
Brendan Lynch of Loughrea and Aisling Keady of Craughwell claimed the Senior Long Jump titles. At Juvenile level, Daragh Kelly ( U10) , Oisin Phelan of Tuam at U11, Evan Hallinan of Craughwell ( U12), Luke Dahler GCH ( U13), Padraig Martin at U14, Ciaran Connaughton at U15 and Daniel Callanan Forder U16/17 ( all Craughwell) were victors in the boys, while Sophie Mcilrath Craughwell ( U10), Grace Lynch , Craughwell at U11, Katie Scully of Craughwell at U12 , Gillian McGrath GCH at U13, Sinead Duggan GCH at U14 , at U15 Leanagh Gilligan of Craughwell and Lorraine Delaney also Craughwell at U16/17 were victorious.
Brendan Lynch with his second field title and National champion Caitriona Farrell won the High Jump at senior level. At Juvenile level Evan Hallinan of Craughwell ( U12), Darragh Jennings GCH ( U13), Lewis Ryan of Craughwell at U14, Ryan Gallagher Craughwell at U15 and Jerry Keary of Craughwell with a 1.80m leap at U16/17 were victors in the boys, while Aoibhe Carr of Craughwell at U12 , Emma Moore of GCH at U13, Ellie Cronin at U14 , at U15 Leanagh Gilligan, and Ciara Reidy at U16/17 ( all Craughwell ) were victorious in the girls events
There were also series of very exciting relays on the programme, which saw multiple wins for GCH and Craughwell ,as well as wins for South Galway and Ballinasloe
Ballinderreen 10k
The rescheduled Ballinderreen 10k was held Sunday 24th January last in the South Galway town . There was a familiar winner in GCH athlete Matt Bidwell The ever consistent Claregalway man clocked 32.27 and just held off Kenny Rogers of St Johns AC by three seconds for the win. Deirdre Brophy of Athenry AC took the ladies honours in a time of 41.42
Fixtures
Coldwood 4 miler
The annual 4 mile Coldwood run takes place on Sunday the 31st of January at 12pm.
This will be the 4th year of the run, and as always, Red Tag Timing will be doing the timing on the day. There will be a children’s run at 11am preceding the main race with spot prizes and goodie bags , same format as last year which was a huge success.
Registration for the 4 mile race can be done on the day or on-line on Active Network/Run Ireland