The Connacht Primary Schools Cross Country Finals were held on Saturday, 18th October last in Bushfield, Loughrea, across four races, with close to 600 athletes competing from across the province, and there were some notable Galway medallists in the course of events.
Galway athlete Hana Fara Gheziel won the 3rd and 4th Class Girls race for Scoil Caitriona in Renmore, as did Dylan Devitt in the Boys race for Boleybeg National School. Gaelscoil de hIde claimed team gold in the Girls, while Scoil Einde Salthill won silver in the Boys team event.
Hana Faraj Gheziel, winner 3/4th Class Girls race at Connacht Primary Schools Cross Country, for Scoil Caitriona Renmore
In the 5th and 6th Class races, Grace Tighe of the Quay Ballina won gold, while Galway success came via Scoil Iosa Oranmore, who won team silver in the Girls event. The first Galway girl home was Grace Keaveney for St Nicholas NS. In the Boys section, Philip Griffith of Mayo Abbey claimed the title, with Jack Heneghan the best-placed Galway athlete in fourth for Belclare NS
The Connacht Senior League was also held in Loughrea on Saturday, and there were wins for Siobhan Egan of Galway City Harriers in the Ladies race, just ahead of clubmate Aine O Farrell, whilst Alan Dunne of Swinford won the Men’s race.
National Cross-Country Relays
There was great Galway success at the All-Ireland Juvenile Relay Championships held ahead of Sunday's Autumn Open at the National Sports Campus in Dublin. Castlegar AC won a superb Silver team medal in the U13 event, via the scoring four of Felix Stapleton, Ciaran Casey, William Duggan and Adam Faraj.
Clare River Harriers secured a great bronze medal win at U15 level, with the quartet of Sean Howley, Patrick Lee, Thomas Byrne and Fionn Creaven racing superbly to claim a podium place.
Autumn Open Cross Country
The traditional season opener of the National cross country calendar, the Autumn Open, was held last Sunday in Abbottstown, Dublin.
Fiona Everard, formerly of University of Galway , was hugely impressive in claiming victory in the Ladies race over 6km, storming clear early on the last lap to win by a clear margin. Callum Morgan of Candor Track Club won the Men’s race, and he was followed home by a superb run from William Fitzgerald of Craughwell AC in second.
The event included the Masters Cross Country trials ahead of the Home International in Leeds next month, and selected for Ireland post-event were Eimear O Leary and Christine Kennedy of Galway City Harriers in the Ladies, with Gerry Carty of GCH, and Greg Lundon of South Galway AC in the Men’s section.
Fixtures
This weekend sees the Connacht Cross Country championships take centre stage, with the Even Ages Juvenile races and Day 2 of the Connacht Senior League being held in Enniscrone, Sligo, on Sunday next.
The Dublin Marathon, including the National championships, is the major road racing fixture this weekend, with close to 20,000 expected to compete. Galway athletes will travel in force, with the GCH Ladies team, which includes the likes of Mila Geldenhuys, Maebh Brannigan and Sarah Collins in with team and possibly individual medal chances.
