The Irish Masters squad heads for Leeds this weekend for the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Roundhay Park. It is the thirty sixth staging of the event, widely regarded as the crown jewel of masters cross country. More than eighty Irish athletes will line up in the green vest with every intention of bringing the silverware back across the water.
Teams from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland compete in five year age brackets from thirty five through to eighty. The honour of hosting rotates each year and recent editions have taken place in Dublin, Glasgow, and Belfast. Roundhay Park last held the event in 2010 so Leeds has been waiting a fair while for another crack at it.
Ireland enjoyed a fantastic outcome last year, lifting the overall title after taking six of the eight women’s team events and four of the nine men’s contests, edging England who finished with five and two. The individual standings were equally tight, Ireland securing nine golds to England’s eight, with Wales and Scotland taking one each.
There is considerable strength within the Irish selections. Trial winners Dymphna Ryan in W45 and Conan McCaughey in M35 will be viewed as serious medal prospects. Annette Kealy in W55, Christine Kennedy in W70, Margaret Glavey in W75 and Pauric McKinney in M60 are also expected to feature prominently in the individual standings.
Men's Teams
🏃♂️ M35 Conan McCaughey, Emmet McNamara, Kevin Minnock, Kevin Moore, John Black. Reserves: Dan Morris
🏃♂️ M40 Pierce Geoghegan, Gavin Sweeney, John Lenehan, Niall Shanahan, David Power. Reserves: Dermot Gorman
🏃♂️ M45 Barry Twohig, Ronan Toland, Chris McGuinness, Paul Smith, David Kirwan. Reserves: Bryan Renton, Karl Lenihan
🏃♂️ M50 Barry Minnock, Michael Harrington, Paul Flemming, Liam O Connor, Greg Lundon. Reserves: Ciaran McCarthy, Paul Blaney
🏃♂️ M55 Ronan O Reilly, Anthony Doherty, Patrick Culleton, Gerry Carty. Reserves: Des Tremble, Des Kennedy
🏃♂️ M60 Sean McCreery, Fintan Rice, Pauric McKinney, Derek Hunter. Reserves: Eddie Newman
🏃♂️ M65 Liam Lenehan, Philip Doherty, James Kenny, Martin McDonald. Reserves: Conor Nolan, Rob Bryan
🏃♂️ M70 Eammon McEvoy, Paul Elliot, John Jennings, Nicky McCabe.
🏃♂️ M75 Pauric Sweeney, Ken Higgs, Sean McMullin, Michael Smith.
Women's Teams
🏃♀️ W35 Sinead O Connor, Edel Gaffney, Ashley Ryan, Sharon Rynne, Aileen Arthur. Reserves: Jennifer Martin, Sinead Whitelaw
🏃♀️ W40 Noeleen Scanlan, Helen McCready, Rachel Murphy, Caroline Harney Ayton, Eimear O Leary. Reserves: Gillian Clyne, Michelle Cox
🏃♀️ W45 Dymphna Ryan, Norah Newcombe Pieterse, Michelle Kenny, Catherine O Connor, Caoimhe Kilroy. Reserves: Emma Boland
🏃♀️ W50 Brenda Gaffney, Ann Marie Connellan, Catriona Devine, Adele Walsh, Michelle Lannon. Reserves: Mary Leech, Yasmin Canning
🏃♀️ W55 Mari Johnston, Carmel Crowley, Colette Tuohy, Annette Kealy. Reserves: Jacqueline McMonagle
🏃♀️ W60 Niamh O Sullivan, Shanon Cahill, Maura Dervin, Kay Byrne. Reserves: Orla Gormley, Michelle O Mahoney
🏃♀️ W65 Pauline Moran, Mary Browne, Sheelagh Jones, Grainne Greenan. Reserves: Noreen Bonner
🏃♀️ W70 Jo Martin, Brigid McCabe, Christine Kennedy, Mary Lynch. Reserves: Carmel MacDomhnaill
🏃♀️ W75 Phyllis Browne, Eileen O Brien, June Comiskey, Margaret Glavey.
There is an exciting weekend ahead as Ireland look to retain the overall title once again. We wish the best of luck to everyone pulling on the green vest in Leeds. We will have reaction and results once the mud has settled.
Image: Ronan Gately
