Conclusion of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships

The morning mist cleared and the course was perfect (11th Oct) for round 2 of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships, which was for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 years of age, and for men and women novice, senior and master.As in round 1 the previous week, the number of underage athletes taking part was well up on previous years. Another plus was the great number of senior athletes taking part, boosted by a good group from Athlone taking part in the Championships for the first time.Each underage race was keenly contested with everyone hoping to run well and impress Club officials and make sure of selection on Mullingar and Westmeath teams in the Leinster Championships.The last race of the day was a combined race for boys u/17 and u/19, girls u/19 and men and women novice, senior and master - with each group running over the same course but with different numbers of laps, so it was a great event for spectators.There were 48 men and women in the race, running along with the older juveniles, which made for some great cross-generational battles, in particular the one between Jake Byrne running 6,000m u/19 and Wayne Reid running 6,000m novice men, which came down to a very close finish with Jake just having the edge on the day. Wayne is with the Athlone Triathlon Club and new to cross country running, though you wouldn't think it to see him run and it took all Jake's experience as an international athlete to outrun him in the end.Thanks to all who helped on the day recording the results and stewarding on the course and to the parents who came and supported the competitors, but in particular to all the athletes who competed with such great enthusiasm.Round 2 resultsUnder 9 girls 500m - 1. Maoliosa Ni Leannachain (Walshestown), 2. Aoife Darby (Killucan), 3. Ciara Faulkner (The Downs), 4. Elysia Greene (Monilea), 5. Sarah Glennon (Coralstown), 6. Fiona Dunne, 7. Susan Glennon (Coralstown), 8. Vicky Carr (Kilpatrick), 9. Amy Higgins, 10. Derbhala NiGuckian, 11. Ciara Smith, 12. Adelisa Ojomoqmak (Mullingar), 13. Jennifer Fidgeon (Rathconnell), 14. Sarah Gorry (Kinnegad), 15. Rachel Darby (Killucan), 16. Elaine Gallagher (Milltownpass), 17. Chloe Molloy (Mullingar), 18. Aiveen Moore, 19. Chloe Crowley (Mullingar). Under 11 girls 800m - 1. Meabh McNulty (Killucan), 2. Niamh Quinn (Bracklyn), 3. Ellen Cronin (Killucan), 4. Nicole Gorry (Kinnegad), 5. Adesole Ojomoamaka (Mullingar), 6. Alana Bate (Mullingar), 7. Mary Dunne, 8. Daria Fidgeon (Rathconnell), 9. Ciara O'Looney (Killucan), 10. Megan O'Leary (Killucan), 11. Emma Derham (Beechdrive), 12. Katie Daly (Beechdrive), 13. Gemma Swords (Killucan), 14. Niamh Moore, 15. Andrea Brady, 16. Holly Walsh (Mullingar), 17. Olivia Glynn, 18. Laura Shaw (Mullingar), 19. Caitriona Kennedy (Collinstown), 20. Caoimhe Gaffney (Delvin), 21. Elena Pohl (Collinstown), 22. Ruby Murray (Bunbrosna). Under 13 girls 1,000m - 1. Aisling Moody (Gaybrook), 2. Aisling Bracken (Kinnegad), 3. Faye Walsh (Mullingar), 4. Rachel Glennon (Coralstown), 5. Laura Whitelaw (Mullingar), 6. Emma Glynn (Killucan), 7. Hilary Harris (Rathowen), 8. Lucy McCartan (Monilea), 9. Kelly Molloy (Milltown), 10. Rebecca Flynn (Mullingar), 11. Roisin Fagan (Crookedwood). Under 15 girls 1,500m - 1. Ciara Hewson (Maynooth), 2. Linda Conroy (Kilbeggan), 3. Lorraine Daly (Tyrrellspass), 4. Elizabeth Carr (Kilpatrick), 5. Edel Glennon (Coralstown), 6. Lorna Moody (Gaybrook), 7. Lauren Casey (Mullingar), 8. Victoria Harris (Rathowen), 9. Fiona Coyle (Rochfortbridge). Under 17 girls 2, 000m - 1. Amie Giles (Kinnegad), 2. Anna Ryan (Rathconrath), 3. Aine O'Reilly (Longford). Under 19 girls 3,000m - 1. Rachel Yorke (Longford), 2. Aoife Hogan (Moate).Under 9 boys 500m - 1. Andrew Daly, 2. John Whitelaw (Mullingar), 3. Charlie Drumm, 4. Liam Moran (The Downs), 5. Adam Bate (Mullingar), 6. Eoghan Quinn (Bracklyn), 7. Sean Cloonan, 8. Ronan McHugh (Tullaniskey), 9. Matthew Glynn, 10. Anthony Moran (The Downs), 11. Enda Gaffney (Delvin), 12. Tom Tuite, 13. Killian Quinn, 14. Ruairi Fagan (Crookedwood), 15. Sean Casey (Mullingar), 16. Jason Molloy (Milltown), 17. Andrew Shaw, 18. Mark Flynn, 19. Niall Murray (Bunbrosna), 20. Lee Crowley (Mullingar), 21. Paul McCool (Cloghan), 22. Emanuel Ojomoqmak (Mullingar), 23. Andrew Glennon (Coralstown). Under 11 boys 800m - 1. Simon Carr (Kilpatrick), 2. Jack Moran (Multyfarnham), 3. Joseph Moran (The Downs), 4. Jonah Kelly (Mullingar), 5. Conor McHugh (Mullingar), 6. Cathal Faulkner (The Downs), 7. Mark McCann, 8. Enda Daly (Mullingar), 9. Donal Coughlan, 10. Ciaran Nolan (Kilpatrick), 11. Craig Clinton (Mullingar), 12. Sam McCartan (Monilea), 13. Gregory O'Reilly (Tullaniskey), 14. Eoghan Fagan (Crookedwood), 15. Niall Derham (Beechdrive), 16. Andrew Kelly, 17. Josh Devanney (Mullingar). Under 13 boys 1,200m - 1. Oisín Quinn (Bracklyn), 2. Glen Gaffney (Delvin), 3. Cormac Dalton (Lynn), 4. Mervyn Harris (Rathowen), 5. David Mimnagh (Mullingar), 6. James O'Léannacháin (Walshestown), 7. Philip Doherty (The Downs), 8. Conor Coughlan (Mullingar), 9. Kevin Giles (Kinnegad), 10. Tom Molloy (Rathcoleman), 11. Tom Gavin, 12. Ciaran Bracken (Kinnegad), 13. Declan Brady (Delvin), 14. Jack O'Leary (Killucan), 15. Eoghan Gallagher (Milltownpass), 16. Jack Kennedy (The Downs), 17. Eoghan Sheridan (Irishtown), 18. Jonathan Raleigh (The Downs). Under 15 boys 2,000m - 1. Thomas Lynn (Milltown), 2. Liam O'Reilly (Gaybrook), 3. Odhran Daly (Ballinagore), 4. Jack Reid (Rochfortbridge), 5. Philip Giles (Kinnegad), 6. Eoghan Moore (The Downs), 7. Daniel Loughrey (Multyfarnham), 8. Leigh Walsh (Rochfortbridge), 9. Joe Walshe (Tyrellspass). Under 17 boys 4,000m - 1. Thomas Fagan (Mount Temple), 2. Robert Yorke (Longford), 3. Stephen Nea (Mullingar), 4. Shane Kelleher (Knockdrin), 5. Conal Ennis (Kilbeggan), 6. Jonathan Daly (Mullingar), 7. David Small (Mullingar). Under 19 boys 6,000m - 1. Jake Byrne (Rochfortbridge), 2. Adam Daly (Mullingar).Novice women - 1. Alwyn Kinane, 2. Breda Daly, 3. Laura Temple. Master women - 1. Michelle O'Halloran, 2. Paula Murray, 3. Vera McCool. Novice men - 1. Wayne Reid, 2. Paddy Kelly, 3. Colm Walsh. Master men - 1. Liam McGlynn, 2. Paddy Daly, 3. Matt Glennon. Senior men - 1. Tom McGrath, 2. Tomas Navickas, 3. Ben Vaitkavichius. Full results for men and women novice, master and senior can be seen at www.mullingarharriers.com.TeamsJuvenile Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships will now be picked based on the results from both rounds. A few juveniles were unavoidably missing last Sunday, but that's okay and they'll still be considered for team selection.It is absolutely vital that everyone keeps training between now and the Leinsters, at the Club on Tuesday and Thursday nights and especially at Belvedere on Sunday mornings. No training, no race.Mullingar athletes to the fore in recent road racesWith over 500 entered, getting away quickly from the start of the Donadea Forest 10km Race was top priority or the athletes risked getting boxed in on the narrow trail. The small group from Mullingar made no mistakes though and got away quickly and safely and settled in to run well. First in for Mullingar in an impressive 9th place finish overall was Eddie Newman in 37:45, a new personal best. Following closely behind and running well was Kieran Nolan (25th) and Enda Mimnagh (38th). PJ Ballesty elected to race walk the 10km and he competed well and finished well up with nearly 100 behind him at the finish. Congratulations to the small Mullingar contingent on their excellent performances.Last year, despite running the same time as the winner, Mark Christie was declared to have finished second in the Rathfarnham 5km Road Race. One year on, heading into the 2009 race on Sunday 4th October last, Mark was very focused on not repeating the result of 2008 and came away from the large field to record a convincing win in a time of 14:22, which was 20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. No doubt about the winner then! Mark's impressive winningtime over 5km on the road is proof indeed that Mark too is in great form heading into the cross country season.Congratulations to Sinead Roche on finishing a terrific 38th place overall in a large field of nearly 700 competitors in a time of 1:34:19 at the Galway Bay Half Marathon on Saturday 3rd October last, and taking a well deserved prize for 2nd senior woman. Given her obvious strength, Sinead will surely be an extremely valuable addition to the Mullingar cross country teams this season.While the Club was at the Star of the Sea AC cross country in Co. Meath a few weeks back on Sunday 28th September, over in Co. Galway, Maura Dervin was competing in the Loughrea 5 mile road race along with nearly 400 others in dry but quite breezy and blustery conditions but the weather didn't seem to affect Maura too much as she finished 62nd overall in 33:38 and won her master age category quite comfortably.Gerry Farnan Cross CountryA number of Club athletes will be competing in the Phoenix Park this coming Sunday in the Gerry Farnan Cross Country, including Jake Byrne who will use the race as part of his continuing preparations towards his target of selection on the Ireland junior men's team for the European cross country in Dublin in December. For the master athletes, there's the added incentive that the event is the trial for the Ireland team to compete at the Masters Home Countries Cross Country in the Isle of Man in November. We wish them all the very best of luck.Registrations for 2010Starting this Thursday evening and continuing over the next few weeks Club Registrar, Nuala Moran and her team will be taking registrations for 2010 and we encourage everyone to pay their membership as soon as possible. In order to improve notifications about competitions, we want all existing members to complete a new registration form to make sure we have the most up to date and complete contact details, particularly mobile phone or e-mail. Anyone who and paid membership recently is automatically registered for 2010, but please check that we have your details recorded correctly. The subscription rates for 2010 are unchanged from 2009.Club vestsAthletes must wear a Club vest in the Leinster Championships, so newcomers in particular are encouraged to buy their own vest any night at training.Road safety/reflective clothingAs it is now dark before 8pm, athletes running from the Club house on the roads on Tuesday and Thursday nights must wear reflective clothing.It might be bright when you leave but it is dark when you return.Important cross country dates25th October. Leinster Cross Country (even ages, Novice, Master) Adamstown, Co. Wexford8th November. Leinster Cross Country (uneven ages, Intermediate) Charleville Castle, Tullamore22nd AAI Cross Country (even ages, Inter-Counties) Kilbeggan Racecourse6th December. AAI Cross Country (uneven ages, Novice) Coleraine, Co. Londonderry13th European Cross Country, Santry Demesne, DublinFinally, the Executive and members of the Club wish to extend sincere sympathy to Ben Sayeh and the Sayeh family on the recent death of Ben's brother Stephen. May he rest in peace.Training continues each Tuesday and Thursday from the Clubhouse in Grange at 7pm and in Belvedere on Sunday mornings at 11am. The ground is still firm enough to train in flat running shoes, which provide much better support than spikes. For races, spikes should be at least 9mm.For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club's website at www.mullingarharriers.com.