The 2026 cross country season kicked off on Sunday October 4th, with Mooreabbey Milers hosting the County Novice A Championship in Galbally. It was a lovely bright and dry autumnal morning for the event.
Again this season, the senior races were held before the juvenile programme after the format worked very well last year.
The women took on four laps of a 1k loop, while the men faced 6k. We had 13 athletes from the club competing.
The women’s race started at 10am, with three club athletes taking to the start line. First back for the club was Laura McCarthy Armstrong, who has just returned to racing this season and had a fantastic run to place 19th in 19:18.
She was followed by Emily Leahy in 20:16 and Mairead Julian in 20:45. Super running from our ladies in a very competitive field.
In the men’s 6k, Mikey Bergin had a very strong race and finished 3rd in 23:09. He was followed by Albert Maher, who has returned to cross country after an absence of 33 years and ran exceptionally well to finish 7th in 23:54.
Next across the line was Shane White, 13th in 24:13, followed by Paudie Coen, 14th in 24:18, Ritchie Bresnan, 22nd in 25:08, Darren Allison, 26th in 25:30, Val Farrell, 29th in 25:54, Darren Gayson, 30th in 25:56, John Donnelly, 33rd in 26:24, and Liam Butler in 50th.
Well done to all on great efforts, brilliant endurance and plenty of determination throughout.
Our men’s A team, consisting of Mikey, Albert, Shane and Paudie, won the Novice Cup. Huge congratulations to the men on a superb victory.
A brilliant start to the cross country season.
Thanks to Mooreabbey Milers for hosting a very well organised and enjoyable day with some incredible racing.
County Juvenile Cross Country Even Age Championships 2026
The juvenile cross country season kicked off on Sunday October 4th, with the even age championships taking place in Galbally and hosted by Mooreabbey Milers AC.
The course was in great condition on an excellent day for cross country.
The Girls U10 were first off and we had 14 athletes competing. With medals on offer for the top 10 individuals and the top three teams, our A team produced a superb performance to win silver.
Mary Kate Devane led them home in 5th, followed by Isla Ryan in 7th, Izzy Fogarty in 12th and Ruby Bergin in 25th.
They were followed by Ebha Hayes, Ella Dunne, Grace Forrestall, Treasa Croke, Alice Farrell, Anna O’Brien, Lucy Corley, Clodagh Kelly, Lucy Butler and Jamie McHugh.
In the Boys U10, our first athlete home was Gerard Devane in 15th, followed by Iollan Ryan in 27th, Darragh Leahy in 29th and Matthew Kelly in 30th. The team finished 6th.
Daniel Hartnett, Darragh Buckley, Edward Harries, Cathan O’Riain and Oisin Gayson also ran very well.
In a very competitive Girls U12 race, our A team did very well to win bronze medals. The scoring four were Sophie Lonergan in 14th, Fiadh Ryan in 15th, Evie Farrell in 16th and Aoife Ryan in 18th.
Caoimhe Browne, Lucy Bourke, Chloe Byron, Sarah Butler, Erin Ni Riain, Maya O’Connor, Emma O’Brien and Carmel McHugh also ran well.
In the Boys U12, we had our first individual winner of the day as David DeBurca produced a brilliant front running performance to take the gold medal.
Sean Fitzgerald also had a super run to finish 7th and earn a top 10 individual medal. Unfortunately, we did not have a team in the race.
In the Girls U14, we had eight athletes competing and some fine performances.
Ellen Maher led them home in 2nd place, with Beau Bourke producing a fine run while competing out of age to finish 5th. Bella Curling was 6th and Isobel Harthett finished 7th, completing our A team which won the gold medals.
Grace Butler in 9th, Ella Gayson in 19th, Isla McHugh in 20th and Shona Ryan in 23rd made up our B team, which won the silver team medals.
In the Boys U14, we had just one athlete, Philip Croke, running out of age. He had a great run to finish 4th.
Katelyn Shanahan, our only athlete in the Girls U16, finished a fine 5th.
Our second individual winner of the day was Albert Maher in the Boys U16. After a tough battle with a Nenagh athlete, he came home strongly to take the gold medal.
Well done to all our athletes. We now move on to Ardmayle for the uneven age championships, hosted by DBB AC, next week.
Cook Medical Mini Marathon 2026
The annual Cook Medical Mini Marathon took place on Sunday October 4th, on the grounds of the University of Limerick.
It was a lovely dry and sunny day for the non chip timed 5k and 10k event, with more than 3,600 runners, joggers and walkers taking part.
Dymphna Ryan competed in the 10k and was first across the finish line, winning the race outright.
This was Dymphna’s third time winning the event. Huge congratulations to Dymphna on another fantastic achievement.
The annual Lifestyle Sports Irish 3/4 Marathon was held in Longwood, Co Meath, on Sunday October 4th.
The certified 31.6km course is scenic and challenging, while providing an ideal distance for those preparing for a full marathon. It takes place on quiet country roads, is relatively flat and passes historical sites including Castleickard Church and Donore Castle.
We had one club member travel to Co Meath to take on the distance as part of her preparations for the Dublin City Marathon in three weeks.
Congratulations to Edel Hayes, who had a fantastic race and finished in a time of 3:11.
