Sun shines for Athletics Westmeath Cross Country

Mullingar Harriers notes

We were absolutely blessed with a beautiful sunny morning in Belvedere last Saturday for day 1 of the Athletics Westmeath cross country. You’d never think there had been some very heavy rain during the week before, as the ground in Belvedere holds up brilliantly despite rain, so underfoot conditions were excellent.

We moved from our usual Sunday date to Saturday this year so as not to clash with a round of the National Cyclocross League in Belvedere on Sunday, which was hosted by our friends in Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club. It was an honour for them to be asked to host the event and is testament to their reputation in cycling circles. Mullingar Harriers was only too happy to move our date.

Competition on day 1 was for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age and for women and men under 18, 19, 20 and novice, senior and masters. There was great competition in each race and performances were very encouraging in the older age groups in particular, where the focus was on places on Club and County teams at the Leinster Cross Country Championships.

The boys and girls that ran in the non-Championship under 8 and under 10 races really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals, one for everyone that finished. In a change to the normal timetable, this year we held the combined race for women and men under 18, 19 and 20 years, and for novice, senior and master women and men between the under 8 and the under 10 races.

This is normally the last race of the day, so it was great to see the young underage athletes spectating the adult race and shouting encouragement as they warmed up for their own races.

All the women ran 4,000m, the older master men also ran 4,000m, the senior men ran 8,000m and the rest of the men ran 6,000m, with everyone starting together and running over the same course but with different numbers of laps. It was some spectacle to see nearly 50 runners racing hard out from the start and making their way around the rolling hills of Belvedere.

An added incentive to perform well this year was the chance to win one of the perpetual trophies for u/20, senior and masters women and men, generously sponsored by Apache Pizza, John Gavin & Co. Accountants, Bell Lane Coffee Ltd., Brigid & Nicky McCabe, and Eoin Clarke & Co. Solicitors.

Lydia McDonnell won the Apache Pizza u/20 woman trophy, Matthew Molly won the Apache Pizza u/20 men trophy, Orlaith Flanagan won the John Gavin & Co. Accountants senior women trophy, Vinny Connolly won the Bell Lane senior men trophy, Sinead Whitelaw retained the Brigid & Nicky McCabe master women trophy, and Kevin Moore won the Eoin Clarke & Co. Solicitors master men trophy.

The Club’s masters group was well represented and it was great to see a number of our most recent new members compete in cross country for the very first time after just a few training sessions over the last few Saturdays. The training continues each Saturday now, so further opportunities will become available as the cross country season gets into full swing in the coming weeks.

Moving on to the underage Championships, the course in Belvedere is a great test of cross country endurance and those that train there regularly will have no problem with any course at Leinster.

There were some very good individual performances but Championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was being closely watched by Club coaches, particularly the newcomers and those running out of their age. Cross country racing always throws up some surprises, and we saw some surprising changes in the finishing order down through the fields in some races, which we expect to see more of as the season progresses.

Some weren’t sure they’d finish in the medals and they surprised themselves on the day. It’s still early in the season and some will improve more than others as we near the Leinsters, so keep up the training.

Any of our juveniles who may be disappointed with their race on day 1 has a chance to make amends on day 2 this coming Sunday morning in Belvedere, when there will be races for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years of age.

The first race will be at 11am, so the younger runners should be in Belvedere before 10.30am to get ready and know where they have to run. The Athletics Westmeath Cross Country is an open competition and you don’t have to be a member of a Club to take part, so everyone is very welcome to compete.

The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks between each, so juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and can move up an age group to make up teams. Therefore, we expect all juveniles to compete on both days of the Westmeath Championships unless ill or injured or they might be disappointed if not selected. The results of both days and application in training will be used to select teams to represent the Club and Westmeath in the Leinster Championships. The results of the men and women races last Saturday will also be used to select Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships.

Thanks to all who helped to record the results, marshal and steward on the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, and to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent grounds, our generous sponsors of the perpetual trophies, but especially to the athletes who provided great competition.

Results from day:

Under 8 girls 500m – 1. Aoibh Spain, 2. Maisie Grehan, 3. Caoimhe Healy, 4. Casey Ryan, 5. Ailish Molloy, 6. Ellie Brennan, 7. Heidi Langtry, 8. Fiadh Gaynor, 9. Alicia Heavin, 10. Eve Morgan.

Under 8 boys 500m – 1. Luke Cummins, 2. Rory Coyne, 3. Jackson Daly, 4. Donnacha Byrne, 5. Odhran Byrne, 6. Daniel Sweeney, 7. John Long, 8. Conor Corcoran.

Under 10 girls 1,000m – 1. Tara Coyne, 2. Alana Spain, 3. Eibhlinn Reihill, 4. Laila Morgan, 5. Ciara Baker, 6. Evie Boyhan, 7. Grace Cummins, 8. Ciara Beirne, 9. Heidi Cleary, 10. Aida Keane, 11. Aoibhin Noone, 12. Charlotte Rochester, 13. Holly Cleary, 14. Ella McLoughlin, 15. Claire Reilly, 16. Shauna Nohilly.

Under 10 boys 1, ,000m – 1. Joe Hickey, 2. Aidan Buckley, 3. Louis Walsh, 4. Senan Byrne, 5. Tiernan Clinton, 6. Dylan Sheehy, 7. Jamie Smyth, 8. Senan Farry, 9. Donnacha Farry, 10. Padraig Savage, 11. Conor Gaffey.

Under 12 girls 2,000m – 1. Maisie Walsh (MHAC), 2. Cara Hickey (MHAC), 3. Mia Barry (MHAC), 4. Meabh Doyle (MHAC), 5. Zoe O'Donoghue (MHAC), 6. Laurie Keane (MHAC), 7. Kaia Daly, 8. Sarah Cummins (MHAC), 9. Shona Rice (MHAC), 10. Heather Kelly (MHAC), 11. Eanin Staunton (MHAC), 12. Sophie Whitelaw (MHAC), 13. Lillie Molloy (Athlone), 14. Aoibhinn Baker (MHAC), 15. Alannah Rice (MHAC), 16. Marie Harte (MHAC).

Under 12 boys 2,000m – 1. Rian Healy (MHAC), 2. Shay Gavigan (MHAC), 3. Jack Ahearne (MHAC), 4. Tadhg Smith (MHAC), 5. Noah Martin (Athlone), 6. Armandas Tavoras (Rochfortbridge), 7. Senan Whelehan (MHAC), 8. Rafe Murray (MHAC), 9. Liam McLoughlin (MHAC), 10. Tadhg McManus (MHAC), 11. Fiachra O’Cleirigh, 12. Conor Kiernan (MHAC), 13. Peter Ahearne (MHAC), 14. Luke Lenihan (Longford AC) GUEST, 15. Eoghan Savage (MHAC), 16. Aaron Crowley (MHAC).

Under 14 girls 3,000m – 1. Caoimhe Lynam (MHAC), 2. Helen McGrath (MHAC), 3. Farah Fox (Athlone), 4. Aoife Dunne (MHAC), 5. Isabelle Morris (MHAC), 6. Grace Farry (MHAC), 7. Lucrecija Jukneviciute (Rochfortbridge), 8. Nikola Szymanik (MHAC), 9. Katie Bohan (MHAC), 10. Caitlin Doyle (MHAC), 11. Abigail Nohilly (MHAC), 12. Alannah Rice (MHAC), 13. Saoirse Lynch (MHAC), 14. Ruth Conroy (MHAC), 15. Eimear Nohilly (MHAC).

Under 14 boys 3,000m – 1. Daniel Cummins (MHAC), 2. Mel Bohan (MHAC), 3. Donagh Bourke (MHAC), 4. Olly Loughrey (MHAC), 5. Ethan Byrne (MHAC), 6. Noah Morgan (MHAC), 7. Liam Ahearne (MHAC), 8. Conor Gavin (MHAC), 9. Michael Kiernan (MHAC), 10. John Healy (MHAC), 11. Fintan Harte (MHAC), 12. Gearoid Doyle (MHAC).

Under 16 girls 4,000m – 1. Lily Walsh (MHAC), 2. Chloe Bell (MHAC), 3. Siomha Leonard (MHAC), 4. Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 5. Muirin Dunne (MHAC).

Under 16 boys 4,000m – 1. Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 2. Sergio Solera (MHAC), 3. Rian Gavin (MHAC), 4. Antonio Bertolo (MHAC), 5. Robert Whelan (MHAC), 6. Gareth Glennon (MHAC), 7. John McManus (MHAC), 8. Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 9. Eoin Reddan.

Under 18 girls 4,000m – 1. Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), 2. Tianna O’Leary (MHAC), 3. Beibhinn O’Reilly (MHAC), 4. Emma Lagan (MHAC).

Under 18 boys 6,000m – 1. Conor Walsh (MHAC), 2. Daniel Glennon (MHAC), 3. Cian Hyland (MHAC).

Under 19 & 20 women 4,000m – 1. Lydia McDonnell (MHAC), 2. Camille de Harven (MHAC).

Under 19 & 20 men 6,000m – 1. Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 2. Donagh Carey (MHAC), 3. Luke Greene (MHAC).

Senior Women 4,000m – 1. Orlaith Flanagan (MHAC), 2. Lorraine Claffey. Novice Women 4,000m – 1. Fiona Healy (MHAC), 2. Catherine Gavin (MHAC), 3. Gemma Kelly (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/35) 1. Sinead Whitelaw (MHAC), 2. 2. Aine O'Reilly (MHAC), 3. Emer Gaffey (MHAC), 4. Arlene McGann (MHAC), 5. Ciara Dillon (MHAC), 6. Eithne Spellman (MHAC), 7. Linda Cunningham (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/50) 1. Anna Marie O'Dowd (Athlone AC), 2. Vera McCool (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Brigid McCabe (MHAC).

Master Men 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Charles Lawn (Athlone), 2. Michael O'Sullivan (MHAC), 3. Sean McMullin (MHAC), 4. John Bannon (MHAC), 5. Nicky McCabe (MHAC), 6. Paul McCool (MHAC).

Senior Men 8,000m – 1. Vinny Connolly (MHAC), 2. Conor Sherwin (MHAC).

Novice Men 6,000m – 1. Declan Claffey (MHAC), 2. Shane Lynam (MHAC).

Master Men 6,000m – (o/35) 1. Kevin Moore (MHAC), 2. Alan Crowley (MHAC), 3. Vernon Walsh (Athlone).

Master Men 6,000m – (o/50) 1. Eddie Lynch (MHAC), 2. Richard Carey (MHAC), 3. James Carton (MHAC), 4. David Fagan (MHAC), 5. Tom McGrath (MHAC), 6. Colm Walsh (MHAC), 7. Liam McGlynn (MHAC), 8. Paul Ginnell (MHAC), 9. Paddy Daly (MHAC) [ran 8,000m], 10. Kevin O'Brien (MHAC) [GD].

Delight for Orla and Ciara in Galway

A gentle breeze on a looped course on Salthill Promenade made running conditions ideal for the Galway Bay marathon and half marathon last Sunday morning.

Hoping to reap the benefit of all the work put in over the 14 weeks leading up to the event, Orla McLaughlin joined nearly 600 others to make her marathon debut with a target time of 3:30. With the most consistent run she has ever had, Orla was delighted to finish inside her pre-race target, crossing the line in 3:28.

Ciara Foy used the half marathon as part of her preparations for the Dublin City Marathon in three weeks.

Going out with a good pace plan set, she was feeling good in the last four miles and pushed on, running a negative split of nearly a minute to finish second woman in 1:20:21, a personal best by two minutes [EMcC].

Strong performances in Tarmonbarry

It was dull and overcast with occasional drizzle and a slight breeze last Sunday morning, ideal conditions for long distance running and the annual Tarmonbarry three quarter marathon, half marathon and 8k, which attracted big numbers to the area on the Longford/Roscommon border. The races were run primarily on country roads either side of the village with start and finish parallel to the main street.

The three quarter marathon was an ideal opportunity for any athletes among the nearly 190 entrants preparing for the Dublin City Marathon in just three weeks, including five from Mullingar Harriers.

Tom Byrne returned a time of 2 hours 30 minutes 39 seconds, Mary Stuart had a great run that saw her finish in 2 hours 38 minutes 39 seconds, followed by Dara O’Shea in 2 hours 45 minutes 26 seconds, with Criona Reid recording a time of 2 hours 52 minutes 17 seconds, and Joan Hickson finishing in 2 hours 53 minutes 44 seconds.

All five of them expressed satisfaction and are now into a tapering period for the big day at the end of October.

Meanwhile, in the half marathon that attracted an entry of just over 110 runners, Eddie Newman ran 1 hour 24 minutes 3 seconds, Maura Dervin ran 1 hour 42 minutes 9 seconds and Darragh O’Donoghue finished in 1 hour 46 minutes 26 seconds. Earlier in the morning, in the 8k run, Mark Darby came home best of the just over 230 others in the race to win in 26:05, followed by Shane McLoughlin finishing third in 26:49 [MO’S].

Fit 4 Life

The first night of the current Fit 4 Life programme took place on Monday evening last week and continued this week. However, there is still time to register and to do so, come along next Monday at 6.45pm to register to join the group from 7pm.

Road Safety

With the evenings drawing in, all club members are reminded that they must wear reflective clothing when running on the road at night. That includes all who use our Club grounds and who run from the Clubhouse on training nights. Safety is a must at all times.

Sympathy

Finally, the executive and members of the club wish to express sincere sympathy to Mairtin Savage and the entire Savage family on the recent death of his mother, Nora RIP, mother-in-law to Emer and grandmother to Eoghan and Padraig. May Nora rest in peace.