by Richard Hawkins
The East Cork Uneven Age Championships were held on Bank Holiday Monday 27th October on the familiar course set up on the lands of the Buckley family in Ballinahina. Following a successful County Novice Championships our adult squads had more honours in their sights. Timmy Hawkins led from gun to tape in the Men’s race to claim the title and lead the team to Gold. Tadhg Crowley claimed individual bronze with Joseph Daly and Sean Gorman completing the scoring. We had impressive squad depth with Paul Ryan, Matthew Browne, James O’Neill and David O’Riordan all doing a job for the club. In the women’s race, we didn’t have the numbers on the day in the team competition, however we had two great individual performances with Siobhan Walsh storming through in the closing stages to take the bronze medal and Isobel O’Meara who is normally a sprint specialist showing the results of a lot of hard work this year with an impressive 7th place overall. Congratulations to both squads.
Our juveniles also performed with distinction with some excellent individual performances. Edie Mae Browne won individual gold while leading the U11 girls’ team to victory. The U13 girls team won team silver in a close battle with Midleton. Allie Philips had a breakthrough performance to claim victory in the U15 girls’ race, the team also winning gold. Faye O’Riordan won individual bronze U19. In the boys’ races, Oisin Allen won silver in the boys’ U9 race. The boys U13 team placed 2nd and Cian Ryan won individual silver U17. Unfortunately, we don’t have the names of all athletes who competed to hand, but every athlete and their efforts are greatly appreciated and made the day so successful. Thanks to coaches and parents who helped with course set-up, parking and also competed, it is greatly appreciated.
Onwards to Munster Championships and several athletes made the trip to Two-Mile-Borris on 2nd November for the Uneven-age Championships. Our U11 girls team gave a great account of themselves finishing 10th of an incredible 24 teams competing. Great running from Edie Mae Browne, Darcey Brosnan, Megan Prendergast, Edel Murphy, Ivy Forde, Sadbh Power and Caoimhe Allen. Hannah Coffey ran well placing 76th in the Girls U15 race. Aidan and Liam Walsh competed well in the U11 boy’s race. Cathal Walsh and John Forde were as consistent as ever in the Boys U15 race. Thanks to all who travelled and represented the club so well.
Other News
Congratulations to our two club members who ran the Dublin City marathon. Denise Maher completed her first marathon, no doubt employing the trademark Maher sprint finish to squeeze under the five-hour mark, 4:59:59 couldn’t have been timed any better! Dave Mullins completed his 4th Dublin Marathon, a great run to finish in 3hr 35m in windy conditions.
In New York Helen Roche joined an elite club of marathoners who have completed the six Majors to receive the coveted Abbot 6-star medal! Starting in Boston 2022 and subsequently completing Tokyo and Berlin in 2023, Chicago in 2024 and London and New York in 2025 running 3:59:03 this weekend. Massive congratulations to Helen who has battled many a niggle and wouldn’t be denied the holy grail of marathon running!
Look Ahead
The Cross-Country season rolls on with the Juvenile ‘B’ and Novice ‘B’ Championships in the Showgrounds. Hopefully we will see plenty of Carraig na bhFear AC athletes toeing the line once more!