by Perri Williams
Storm Ashley caused events to be cancelled throughout Ireland as it wreaked havoc across the nation. On a weekend where provincial cross-country championships typically take place this put into question the ability to maintain the normal calendar. The Northern Irish, Leinster and Munster Championships did go ahead with Connaught being the only province to cancel.
Starting with Leinster, where a dry but windy Dunboyne played host to the provincial championships. Irish 800m runner Rob Hewison (Kildare) was the winner of the Leinster Novice as his speed over the final 400m proved too hard to match. Mullingar won the team title. The ladies novice title went to Aoife Carroll (Sportsworld) with Sportsworld claiming the team gold.
David Williams (KCH) braved the high winds as he battled strongly to win the men’s u20 title. The ladies title went to Grace Byrne (Mullingar). In the u18 races Noah Harris (Parnell) was an impressive winner of the boys u18. Proving strong enough to battle the windy conditions, he looked fit and strong and surely a contender for the Euro cross u20 team. Dearbhla Allen (St Peters) was equally impressive in the girls u18 as she won her race by a decisive margin.
Juvenile winners that impressed were Ethan Bramwell (Greystones) in the boys u16. Bramwell has been in the top three in every age group since he started running. Newbridge AC were one of the standout clubs winning the u16 girls and boys club team. The Kildare-based club also produced two individual winners; Jack Brennan in the boys u14 and Rachael Keaney in the girls u16. Keaney looked every bit of the athlete that her famous uncle Ray Flynn was as she moved effortlessly further and further ahead of the field. Lily Walsh (Mullingar) took the u14 title with renewed confidence and vigour.
In Conna, Cork, the Munster championships took place. Despite early morning rain, conditions remained somewhat dry. Conor Kissane (Killarney Valley) took the Munster Novice title after a battle up the home straight with Mossy Bracken (Moycarkey Cookroo). West Waterford won the club title. The ladies novice was won by Aoibhinn Lawton (Durrus) with a tightly packed Togher to take the team prize.
St Nicholas AC athlete William Verling was the u20 winner from Leo Murray (Togher). Gemma Galvin (Ennis) was an easy winner of the u20 ladies. Juveniles that impressed were All-Ireland u14 1500m winner Darragh Whelan. Whelan looked at ease throughout the 3,000m race as he bade his time until the final few hundred meters when he outkicked Eoghan Looney over the final few hundred meters. Another athlete to have an easy but impressive victory was Emma Haugh (Ennis) in the girls u16. Haugh ran very similar to the 3000m she won on the track this summer. Luke Merrigan (Leevale) won the boys u16 and can look forward to renewed battles with his competitors. Middleton AC were impressive in the girls u14 as they won the club team having three athletes in the top twelve. Ferrybank AC have made great progress in this age group and but for a bad fall by their third athlete, may have put it up to Middleton.
The Bobby Rea International Cross Country and Northern Ireland age group championships took place at the Billy Neal Playing Fields, Belfast. It was blue skies and sunshine all the way as the athletes battled it out for the honours. Vincent Mutai was the winner of the men’s international race with thirty-three seconds to spare over Northern Ireland’s Nick Griggs. Griggs has recently returned from a stint at altitude in Font Remeo, as he hopes to make the Irish u23 team for the European Cross Country in Turkey. Jamie Battle (Mullingar) was third. Frank Buchannan (St Michaels) won the u20 race from Beechmount’s Finn Diver.
Danielle Donegan (Tullamore) proved too strong for Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR) in the ladies race. U20 athlete Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen) finished 3rd and also won the u20 race. Showing considerable improvement ahead of the national u20s to be held on her home turf in Enniskillen next month.
Emer McKee (Willowfield) won the girls u18 getting ready to have another battle with Emily Bolton (Clonliffe) at next month’s nationals. She pulled away from Ana Diver (Beechmount) to win by a margin of 16 seconds. Caolan McFaddan (Cranford) blazed a trail behind him as he retained his title from Harry McKenzie (Enniskillen) and Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley). Finn Valley as expected won the club title.
Maddison Welby (City of Lisburn) had a decisive victory in the girls u16 as she demonstrated a display of front running to take the title with 16 seconds to spare over a much improved Emma Stewart (Dromore). Rory Armstrong led his Lagan Valley team mates to a club title as he won the individual title. Cranford have another up-and-coming athlete in Oisin McBride. McBride out sprinted Cormac Leheny (North Belfast Harriers) to take the u14 boy’s title. Kate Kelly (Enniskillen) took the girls. Overall Lagan Valley and Finn Valley between them were prolific medal winners in the club team categories.