County Athletic News by Niall O Sullivan, County PRO

Moycarkey Coolcroo AC hosted the Munster Masters Cross Country Championships last Sunday. Conditions were demanding with a strong gale force wind to contend with on each lap. The underfoot conditions were mainly good throughout the course and great credit must go to the host club for having the course well lay out.

The first race was the 4k for master women as well as the master men over 65. Right from the start Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC went to the front and set a strong pace that saw her move well clear on the first lap. She maintained that strong pace to come home a very worthy and convincing Champion in 13 mins 52 secs. Dymphna was retaining her over 40 title won last year in St Flannan’s College. Then we had Eileen McCullough of Moyne AC also running a brilliant race when finishing 4^th overall to win the over 40 bronze medal in 15.43, brilliant to see Eileen back running well again. Hot on her heels was Linda Grogan of Dundrum AC in 15.50. Then we had Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC winning the over 45 silver medal when finishing 8^th 16.12. Martina Ryan of Thurles Crokes won the over 55 bronze medal when finishing in 18.04. Mairead Julian also ran very well when winning the over 50 bronze medal when finishing in 19.19.

We also had great performances, in such trying conditions, from athletes like, Karen Coughlan Dundrum AC 13^th 16.25, Lisa Quinlan Moyne AC 18th 17.02, Laura Burke Carey Thurles Crokes 19^th 17.13, Emily Leahy Dundrum AC 21^st 17.35, Aine Roche Clonmel AC 22^nd 17.40, Denice Touhy Thurles Crokes 28^th 18.40, Laura McCarthy Armstrong Dundrum AC 29^th 19.11, Joan Stakelum Thurles Crokes 31^st 19,48 and Regina Dorney Thurles Crokes 34^th 20.37.

The County over 35 team of Dymphna, Eileen, Linda and Catherine won the gold medals very impressively having their team in the top eight finishers. At Club level the Dundrum AC quartet of Dymphna, Linda, Catherine and Karen were crowned Munster Champions. The County over 50 team of Martina Ryan, Mairead Julian and Regina Dorney won the bronze medals.

This race also incorporated the men over 65 Championships. here Jim St John Clonmel AC ran very well when finishing 9^th in 17.45. He was followed home by Matt Alexander of Coolquill AC who ran very well when winning the over 70 bronze medal in 18.22. Then we had Ned O Brien Clonmel AC also running well when finishing 17^th in 21.08. Here the County team of Jim St John, Matt Alexander and Ned O Brien combined to win the bronze medals.

The Men’s over 35 7k race was also very competitive. Here the early pace was set by Michael McCarthy Fethard AC. Midway through the first lap he was joined by the chasing pack that included Barry Harnett of Dundrum AC and Dermot Gorman of Carrick on Suir AC. The pace was strong over the final laps of the race which saw Dermot move up to 4^th place and this performance saw him winning the over 40 silver medal in 23.07 with Barry winning the over 40 bronze medal in 23.24. Eugene O Keefe Carrick on Suir AC ran a great race to win the over 55 title impressively in 25 mins 34 secs with Fintan Rice of Fethard AC winning the over 55 bronze medal in 26.54.

We also had good performances from athletes like Michael McCarthy Fethard AC 9^th 23.41, Patrick Davoren Clonmel AC 20^th 25.08, Denis McCullough Thurles Crokes 22^nd 25.12, John Fogarty Moycarkey Coolcroo 33rd 26.25, Peter Madden Templemore AC 34^th 26.36, Gerard Hanley Mooreabbey Milers AC 36^th 26.45, Patrick Roche Carrick on Suir AC 41^st 26.59, Pat Ryan Dundrum AC 45^th 27.54, Dariusz Gazwodicz Mooreabbey Milers 52^nd 28.42, Gerry O Neill Dundrum AC 53^rd 28.50, John Fitzgerald Thurles Crokes 54^th 28.50, Ruaidhri Devitt Dundrum AC 57^th  29.20, Austin Ryan Thurles Crokes 58^th 29.27, Liam McCullough Thurles Crokes 59^th 29.34, Damine Holian Mooreabbey Milers 60^th 29.41, Michael Moore Dundrum AC 62^nd 29.54, Jim Hally Dundrum AC 63^rd 30.07, John Butler Thurles Crokes 64^th 30.12, Sean Bryan Dundrum AC 65^th 30.48 and Neilie Hall Fethard AC 66^th 32.49.

The County over 35 team of Dermot, Barry, Michael and Denis won the silver medals. At Club level Thurles Crokes were 4^th. The County over 50 team of Patrick Davoren, Eugene O Keeffe and Peter Madden won the silver medals. At Club level Mooreabbey Milers were 4^th with Dundrum AC 5^th.

National Novice Cross Country Championships

These Championships takes place at Tramore racecourse on Sunday 1^st December. The County Board would like to wish all our athletes taking part the very best of luck