22nd November 2009 - Results and Fixtures

Offaly Ladies Take Bronze in Inter Counties Cross Country

The Inter Counties Cross Championships took place last Sunday on a cold and windy Kilbeggan Racecourse. These championships bring together the best cross country runners in the country with places for the upcoming European Cross Country Championships also at stake for the top finishers.

The ladies race was run over a distance of 8000 metres that was mucky in places and the athletes also had to contend with a strong wind. Mary Cullen from Sligo went into an early lead and totally dominated the race and won by almost a minute. Offaly’s Edel Mooney was always in the top twenty and was closely followed by Maire Triona O’Connor and Liz Cuskelly with Pauline Lambe battling hard close behind. Edel Mooney ran on strong and finished a very credible 20th place. Maire Triona O’Connor finished very strongly and was pleased with her 23rd placing. Liz Cuskelly also ran very well and came home in 26th position. Pauline Lambe dug deep to finish in 37th place while Mary Daly completed the Offaly scoring with a 47th placing.

In the team competition Dublin took the honours with 31 points, Meath in second place on 66 points and the Offaly women took the bronze medals with a total of 106 points which was a great achievement.
The mens race was next up and was run over 10,000 metres. In a very competitive race Barry Minnock was the first Offaly finisher in a fine 13th place. Ferbane’s Paul Buckley was next home in 46th place. Catch Grennan was the best placed Harrier runner in 80th place and he was closely followed by the improving Eddie Garry in 93rd. Martin Carroll also ran strong to finish in 96th position with Johnny Feery (106th) and Mark Serviss (113th) completing the Offaly scoring. The Offaly team finished in fourth place in Grade B.

Results :
Women’s 8,000 metres : 20 Edel Mooney 30.50 ; 23 Maire Triona O’Connor 31.16 ; 26 Liz Cuskelly 31.23 ; 37 Pauline lambe 32.19 ; 47 Mary Daly 35.34.

Mens 10,000 metres. 13 Barry Minnock 31.07 ; 46 Paul Buckley 33.06 ; 80 Catch Grennan 35.08 ; 93 Eddie Garry 35.44 ; 96 Martin Carroll 36.20 ; 106 Johnny Feery 37.13 ; 113 Mark Servis 38.00.

Harriers Athletes Run for Ireland
Four of our athletes represented Ireland in the Masters Home Countries Cross Country Championships in Birmingham , England last Saturday week.

These championships are for the best masters athletes in England, Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and Ireland who compete for individual honours as well as running for their countries in the team competition.Weather conditions were atrocious with strong winds and heavy rain and this combined with a muddy hilly course made it difficult for the athletes.

Catch Grennan who was representing his country for the first time was the fifth placed Irish runner on the team that won gold. Johnny Feery finished in 15th place in his race and was the second placed Irish runner and was a vital member of the Irish team that took the silver medals.
Liz Cuskelly finished in a fine 7th place in the womens over 35 category and helped her team to the silver medals. Mary Walsh also ran well in her category to come home in 10th place and here the Irish team also took the silver medals.

Winter League
The Winter League which is run over three legs kicks off on this Thursday with a 3000 metre race on the track and tarmac combined. Three teams have been picked and any runner who is not on a team but wishes to run is more than welcome to run and will be added to a team on the night.

Sympathy.
Tullamore Harriers extend it’s deepest sympathies to the Beatty family on the death of Paddy Beatty, Dillon Street, Tullamore.

Fixtures.
November 26th : Winter League round 1. 3k track and tarmac.7pm
November 29th Winter League round 2. Cross Country in Charleville.
December 6th : National Novice Cross Country.
December 10th. Winter League round 3. 3k Tarmac. 7pm.
December 13th : European Cross Country Championships, Santry, Dublin.

Training: Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm, Sunday morning at 8.30am Except on a race day. New members always welcome.

With the dark evenings now here it is important to be seen on the roads so reflective gear must be worn while training on the roads