National Cross Country Championships
The highlight of the cross-country season, the National Even Ages Juveniles and National Senior Championships will be held in Templemore Sports Centre, Derry on Sunday, November 23rd next, with close to 1,500 athletes qualified across the programme.
At Senior level, the event is a qualifier for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal, and a stacked field full of internationals, such as Nick Griggs, Efrem Gidey, champion Keelan Kilreehil, Darragh McIlhenny and Brian Fay are expected to feature in the Men’s race. Galway hopes rest on Craughwell athlete William Fitzgerald, who made last year’s team and is again in flying form. Fitzgerald’s club will also be in with an overall team medal chance on the day, backed up by the likes of Jamie Fallon, and Jack Miskella among others, Galway City Harriers also field a strong Senior Men’s team including new recruit Jamie Walsh and former Intermediate champion Cian O Reilly, while Castlegar AC also have a quartet racing led by Elix Sundberg and Rupert Claisse
In the Ladies event, defending champion Ann Marie McGlynn is likely to feature along with Ava Crean, National Marathon Champion. Galway hopes rest with Fiona Everard, a University of Galway alumni coached by Matt Lockett of GCH.
At Juvenile level, Galway has over 100 qualifiers, with a strong U18/ Junior representation including Luke Walsh and Ciaran Considine, Declan O Connell, Claudia Coyle and Keilah Murray. Club teams such as Castlegar, Clare River Harriers, Craughwell, Tuam, GCH, Athenry and South Galway have all qualified at various age levels, U12 to U16.
The first race goes at 11.30 am, with the finale, the Senior Men, at 2.50 pm.
British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships
Galway were well represented on the Irish Masters Cross Country team that travelled to Leeds last weekend to compete against Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and hosts England at the British and Irish Masters International event. On a very hilly and testing course in Roundhay Park, all four competing Masters secured medals across the programme.
Christine Kennedy of GCH won her W70 race outright and helped the Irish team clinch the gold medal, a rare event given the strength of the English teams.
Greg Lundon of South Galway made his debut for Ireland and brought the M50 team home to a silver medal, with Lundon third scorer. GCH star Eimear O'Leary's 14th place saw her as the fourth Irish runner home and enough also for a team silver at W40 level.
Finally, Gerry Carty's similar finish in the M55 category earned him and his team a brilliant bronze.
Ballinderreen 10k
The annual Ballinderreen 10k hosted by South Galway AC was held on November 16th last, incorporating the Galway 10km road championships. Race winner on the day was Shane Eades of Limerick AC, in 34.37, with Ger Hartnett second for Tuam in 35.46 and the first Galway athlete. Third place went to Louis Coyne of GCH in 36.01. In the Ladies, Jane Ann Meehan took the Galway title, clocking in 38.24, ahead of second Clare Rowe, also GCH and third place Sinead Oates Higgins for South Galway AC.
IUAA Road Relays
Emma Moore of GCH and DCU led her University team home to victory at the IUAA Road Relays in Maynooth last Saturday with a storming final leg.
The UG Men’s team secured a fine silver via the squad of Roland Surlis, Oisin Davis, Oisin Murray, Padraig Faherty and Kyle Moorhead. The UG Ladies team were fifth overall, anchored by Mila Geldenhuys, Neasa ni hAinifean, Holly O Boyle and Caitlin Hughes.
ATU Men’s team also performed strongly with 21st place, anchored by a super finish by Eoin Staunton, following on from Jamie O Donnell, Darren Newman, Serhii Sylenko and Manuel Martinez.
Emma Moore of DCU and Galway City Harriers, with the trophy, along with the DCU team - University Road Relays winners
