by Richard Hawkins
The County Cross-Country Championships kicked off last Sunday 28th October in traditional fashion, the familiar undulating course in West Muskerry a sharp introduction but pleasant weather providing some compensation to the athletes and spectators. Our U10 girls team got us off to a great start, the girls packing together well and moving through the field. They were desperately unlucky to be just two points off the bronze medal behind Leevale AC. Well done to Ella Melican, Emma Lynch, Aoife Mackey, Edel Murphy, Olivia Pierse, Fiadh McSweeney, and Nia Gorman. The U12 girls team met a similar fate, excellent running with five girls in the top 21 places so extremely unlucky to again be just two points off the medals in 4th place. Great running from Cliona Collins, Laura Hosford, Isabel Browne, Edie Mae Browne, Kate Lynch, Emily Bablena, Saoirse O’Neill, Ivy Forde, Florence Twomey, Caoimhe Allen and Eabha Lynch.
The Boys U10 team of Oisin Allen, Cian O’Neill, Ethan Dineen and Harry Ryan put in a great effort and placed 11th of 14 teams in a large field of athletes. Our boys U12 team is another squad with great potential, finished as 6th team overall. The team was Aidan Walsh. Dara Quinlan, Sean Collins, Liam Walsh, Darragh Keating, Barry King, Ted Pierse and Conor O’Reilly. We didn’t have an U14 girls’ team on the day so credit to Bella Quinlan (30th) and Rosin Murphy (41st ) who gave a great account of themselves. Similarly U14 boys, running up in age, Cathal Walsh (12th) and John Forde (34th) battled with distinction. The U16 girls’ team of Allie Phillips, Emma Johnson, Hannah Coffey and Rebecca McCarthy were all running up in age so a 5th team place a very creditable result, the 4k distance will stand to them over the coming weeks.
Fresh from her success as East Cork Senior cross-country Champion, Laura Moore completed the 5k distance in the Junior women’s race in a solid time of 23.47 to finish 21st overall. Following 4 consecutive team wins in the Junior men’s competition, it wasn’t to be this year but good opening performances from Aidan Maher (8th) and Brian Hawkins (13th) to keep the Carraig flag flying.
In Summary, a very positive start to the season with many athletes running up in age, good team performances and plenty of smiles. Thanks as always to the coaches and Tony Johnson for the photos which are so valuable to the club.
Look Ahead: We will do it all again next Sunday in East Cork for the Juvenile uneven-age and Novice Championships. The adults are putting in a shift this weekend and this Carraig Na BhFear AC in the mix in County Cross Championships!
The County Cross-Country Championships kicked off last Sunday 28th October in traditional fashion, the familiar undulating course in West Muskerry a sharp introduction but pleasant weather providing some compensation to the athletes and spectators. Our U10 girls team got us off to a great start, the girls packing together well and moving through the field. They were desperately unlucky to be just two points off the bronze medal behind Leevale AC. Well done to Ella Melican, Emma Lynch, Aoife Mackey, Edel Murphy, Olivia Pierse, Fiadh McSweeney, and Nia Gorman. The U12 girls team met a similar fate, excellent running with five girls in the top 21 places so extremely unlucky to again be just two points off the medals in 4th place. Great running from Cliona Collins, Laura Hosford, Isabel Browne, Edie Mae Browne, Kate Lynch, Emily Bablena, Saoirse O’Neill, Ivy Forde, Florence Twomey, Caoimhe Allen and Eabha Lynch.
The Boys U10 team of Oisin Allen, Cian O’Neill, Ethan Dineen and Harry Ryan put in a great effort and placed 11th of 14 teams in a large field of athletes. Our boys U12 team is another squad with great potential, finished as 6th team overall. The team was Aidan Walsh. Dara Quinlan, Sean Collins, Liam Walsh, Darragh Keating, Barry King, Ted Pierse and Conor O’Reilly. We didn’t have an U14 girls’ team on the day so credit to Bella Quinlan (30th) and Rosin Murphy (41st ) who gave a great account of themselves. Similarly U14 boys, running up in age, Cathal Walsh (12th) and John Forde (34th) battled with distinction. The U16 girls’ team of Allie Phillips, Emma Johnson, Hannah Coffey and Rebecca McCarthy were all running up in age so a 5th team place a very creditable result, the 4k distance will stand to them over the coming weeks.
Fresh from her success as East Cork Senior cross-country Champion, Laura Moore completed the 5k distance in the Junior women’s race in a solid time of 23.47 to finish 21st overall. Following 4 consecutive team wins in the Junior men’s competition, it wasn’t to be this year but good opening performances from Aidan Maher (8th) and Brian Hawkins (13th) to keep the Carraig flag flying.
In Summary, a very positive start to the season with many athletes running up in age, good team performances and plenty of smiles. Thanks as always to the coaches and Tony Johnson for the photos which are so valuable to the club.
Look Ahead: We will do it all again next Sunday in East Cork for the Juvenile uneven-age and Novice Championships. The adults are putting in a shift this weekend and this year we have assembled men’s and women’s squads with strength in depth so will look forward to seeing Carraig Na BhFear singlets in the mix in the Novice races which are shaping up to be very competitive as in recent years!
Report by Richard Hawkins year we have assembled men’s and women’s squads with strength in depth so will look forward to seeing Carraig Na BhFear singlets in the mix in the Novice races which are shaping up to be very competitive as in recent years!