National Cross Country Championships
The National Even Ages Juveniles and National Senior Cross Country Championships were held at Templemore Sports Centre, Derry, on Sunday, November 23rd, with conditions very muddy and constant rain a factor in what was a successful championship for Galway athletes.
At Senior level, the event was a qualifier for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal. A stacked field full of internationals such as Nick Griggs, Efrem Gidey, Cormac Dalton, Darragh McIlhenny and Brian Fay produced an epic battle, with Fay just winning out on the finishing straight with a last gasp sprint for victory. Best of the Galway athletes was U23 Oisin Davis, in 25th place, leading Craughwell to 9th club team overall. Clubmate William Fitzgerald went out hard early on and finished in 37th, and Jack Miskella and Jordan Walsh were the club's scorers, with Anthony Boyle next home among others. Galway City Harriers also fielded a strong Senior Men’s team led home by Feidhlim McGowan in while Castlegar AC also featured, and were led home by Elix Sundberg and Rupert Claisse.
In the Ladies event, Fiona Everard, University of Galway alumni and with Bandon AC, produced a masterclass of cross country running, biding her time early on, before storming home to victory by some distance with a great last two laps.
At Juvenile level, Galway enjoyed individual and county medal success, as a fantastic David Frazer Silver medal win was the highlight for Craughwell AC, in the U16 Boys race. A superb finishing kick saw Frazer move from fourth to second late on, and as an added bonus, he qualifies for the Celtic Cross Country event in February 2026 at the famous Parliament Hill, near London.
Tuam AC athlete Darragh Steede had the race of his life when he finished a magnificent 5th place in the U12 race at the All-Ireland Cross Country Championships. The Galway and Connacht Champion ran with the leaders throughout the race before showing strength and resilience to finish in 5th place out of 176 starters.
Steede led the Galway team to the bronze medals behind Clare and Dublin, and the Connacht team to third in the provincial competition, and was backed up by Castlegar duo Ciaran Casey and Adam Faraj Gheziel, Athenry’s Shane Higgins and Eoghan Shrayne and Ryan Byrne of East Galway AC on the Galway team.
Darragh Steede, Tuam AC on extreme left, Mid race, 5th overall U12
Niamh McWalter of Tuam had another outstanding race in the U18 race, finishing in 24th position and leading the Galway team home in 6th place.
At U12 Boys club level, Castlegar AC finished sixth overall, via the squad of Ciaran Casey, who led the team home in 24th position. Adam Faraj Gheziel was next in 31st position with a fine run. Conor Deeth improved on his last All-Ireland run with a brilliant 84th place, and Adam Carr was next over the line in 85th. Also, Athenrys four of Shane Higgins, Eoghan Shryane, Cian Casserly & Tadhg Delmer delivered a super 11th place club team.
Galway City Harriers had two medallists, with Oisin Maher superb with a placing of 12th U18 overall and Elliana Magnetti taking a bronze team medal as the second highest scoring Connacht runner and the 18th overall. Caitlin Mulkerrins of South Galway and Leah O Toole of Craughwell also scored on the Connacht team at U12.
Oisin Maher, GCH 12th overall U18
At U14 Girls, Roisin Fogarty medalled on the Connacht team for South Galway, as did Calum Deeth for Castlegar at U14 Boys level.
The Galway U18 Boys squad won Silver with Oisin Maher of GCH leading the way in 12th spot, with Athenry’s Rian Collins second Galway athlete home, backed up by Luke Walsh of South Galway and Craughwells Declan O Connell, Cathal Gallagher and Sean Danker of GCH, the sixth scorer.
The Galway U20 Men’s team also medalled with Mathys Bocquet first home in 23rd spot, and the U18S of Maher, Collins, Gallagher, O Connell and Walsh all counted as the team won bronze.
Next up is the National Novices Championships, along with the Uneven Ages Juvenile events on December 7th in Dublin.
