Last Sunday saw Tipperary athletes make the long journey down to Kinsale in County Cork to contest the Munster Juvenile B Cross Country Championships. The recent rain levels made underfoot conditions tough as athletes faced a test of true cross country. 

Isla Ryan Dundrum AC was the first Tipperary athlete home in the Girls U9 race as she claimed a brilliant individual medal while finishing in 7th place. The county team finished just outside the medals in 4th place behind Kerry. Two Tipperary athletes placed inside the top 12 in the Boys U9 race and won themselves individual medals. They were Benny Power Carrick on Suir AC and Donie Cawley Nenagh Olympic AC in 8th and 12th respectively. There was a very strong showing by Tipperary athletes in the Girls U11 race. They were led home by Aoife Ryan Dundrum AC while Clara O’Donnell Clonmel AC and Fiadh Ryan Dundrum AC finished in a tied 11th place which is a rare occurrence in cross country. These three girls claimed individual medals while Emer Dorney Thurles Crokes was just behind them in 13th position. These four girls alongside Clara Quinn Nenagh Olympic AC 21st and Ivy Mulcahy Clonmel AC 27th claimed a silver medal in the county team competition. The Dundrum AC team of Aoife and Fiadh Ryan, Evie Farrell 35th and Sarah Butler 78th also claimed a bronze medal in the club competition. Neighbouring clubs Nenagh Olympic AC and Newport AC had an athlete each in the top 12 of the Boys U11 race and claim individual medals. Cormac Hanrahan Nenagh 3rd and Evan Savage Newport 10th put in great performances and  in doing so led the county team to bronze medals as well. The county team consisted of Cormac, Evan, Tom O’Shea Moyne AC 16th, Tom Tierney Clonmel AC 17th, Daniel Clarke Templemore AC 33rd and Jacob Bourke Newport AC 42nd. Doireann Moloney Mooreabbey Milers AC was the first Tipperary athlete home in the Girls U13 race in a terrific second position. She was very closely followed by Ellen Maher Dundrum AC in 4th place. The two girls were key factors to the county team winning a bronze medal, only 1 point behind Cork. The team was made up of Farran Ryan Dundrum AC 16th, Bella Curling Dundrum AC 17th, Isobel Hartnett Dundrum AC 19th and Meadhbh Hall Moyne AC 22nd. The aforementioned four athletes from Dundrum AC (Ellen, Farran, Bella and Isobel) also claimed a spot on the podium in the club competition taking a sliver medal. Not to be outdone by his younger brother, Aaron Savage Newport AC claimed an 8th place finish in and an individual medal in the Boys U13 race while the county team finished outside the medals in 4th place. Aisling Carr Thurles Crokes AC ran a superb race in the Girls U15 competition to claim third place and was backed up strongly by Beibhinn Pamplin Thurles Crokes AC in 6th and Elise Kelly Dundrum AC in 10th. These three girls combined with Katelyn Shanahan Dundrum AC 16th, Katie Butler Thurles Crokes AC 18th and Sarah Carey Thurles Crokes AC 19th claimed a county team silver medal. A stunning performance from the Thurles Crokes club team of Aisling, Beibhinn, Katie and Sarah saw the take victory in the club competition with a margin of victory of over 40 points. A great run by Brendan Judge Thurles Crokes AC saw him claim 2nd place in the Boys U15 race while Cian Fahey Dundrum AC also took an individual medal in 6th place. The two boys combined with Harry Cahill Thurles Crokes AC15th, JD Treacy Thurles Crokes AC 17th, Cathal Heffernan Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC 20th and Evan Bourke Thurles Crokes AC 24th took the silver medal in the county team competition. Similar to their Girls U15 team, Thurles Crokes were once again on the club team podium only this time it was a silver medal. Belle Kelly Dundrum AC was the first Tipperary athlete home in the Girls U17 and was joined in the top 12 by Nina Donnellan Newport AC in 11th. Aaron Byrne finished 5th in the final juvenile race of the day, Boys U17, and claimed an individual medal in doing so. 

Well done to everyone who competed on Sunday. Next weekend sees the first day of the National Cross Country Championships take place in Derry. Tipperary will have representatives across many of the races and we wish them all the best of luck.