The first of this weekends action was Saturday morning in the Business Houses Athletics Association XC, this BHAA race was the EIR Athletic Club XC held in St. Endas GAA Ballyboden.
The ladies 2 mile event kicked off the day with Mairead O’ Shaughnessy storming home in 6th place, followed by Laura Cullen in 9th, great races by both. Other fine finishers included Fiona Byrne 16th & 2nd in her age category, Lorraine Lynch 18th, Margaret Moloney who finished 37th overall and winning her age category, very well done Margaret. Eithne took time out from CSH registration duties to brave the elements, placing 44th.
In the men’s 5 mile race Paul Cowhie had a great race to finish 9th overall and 1st in his age category. Colm Brady was next in for our men in 37th, just ahead of Eoin Kealy in 28th, Stephen Burke was 36th and ‘young’ Paul O’ Neill in 52nd. Nick Devery had a great race finishing 59th overall and 3rd in his category. Ronan Ward was 61st winning his category, Bren Farrell 65th, Paul Cullen 69th, Vincent O’ Neill was 70th and 2nd in his category. Keith Farrell, Loughlin Campion Senior, Eoin McFeely, Tony Keegan and Tom Turner were all out doing the business. Well done to everyone competing.
Full Results available from BHAA website: http://www.myrunresults.com/events/ballyboden_st_enda%E2%80%99s_gaa__eir_cross_country_2016/473/ with team results pending. Videos also available to view on BHAA youtube homepage: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwIOgvu7BX1sWKptwaxdmw
Next up, was Sundays Athletics Ireland National Cross Country Championships with Civil Service Harriers represented in both Masters women and Intermediate mens races. Although the weather held up the last few days it wasn’t enough to prevent some seriously tough conditions around the playing fields of Dundalk Institute of Technology in county Louth.
It was a show-stopping performance by Anna Sadowska in the Masters ladies race finishing 1st place overall with an inevitable 1st place in her o35 age category. Anna ran a gutsy race mixing with the front runners, taking the lead following the final lap bell and holding on the last lap despite the mounting challenges of Pauline Curley. Anna’s performance led the Dublin o35 team home to All-Ireland Gold. Shirley Mitchell also had a super race in the Masters finishing 37th overall, and an o40 age category Top 10 National Cross Country placing, a great race by Shirley.
Prior to the Intermediate men’s kick-off, Bernard Duggan received a late call-up to the Dublin panel, with some absences on the day. Neil O’ Rourke finished in 8th place leading the Dublin County team home to all-Ireland Silver medals. Jason Reilly also with a huge performance in 42nd has put himself on the Dublin board radar placing ahead of Dublin team scorers, a great run by Jason. Bernard Duggan, although did not enjoy the muck one bit, had a fine race nonetheless, to finish 49th and joining Neil as part of the Dublin Team scoring 6 to claim All-Ireland Silver. ‘Podge’ Coyle made his debut to all-Ire level cross country in 71st, followed closely by Andrew Moore in 74th. The Civil Service Harriers mens team finished 6th overall, an impressive result amongst the countries top clubs, with much of the team debutants to National level Cross Country.
Full results are available through the Athletics Ireland Website: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/hyland-and-oreilly-take-intermediate-titles-as-masters-compete-en-masse
Again, well done to all competing…. and thanks for the pictures from facebook 
