The Even Age , Senior , U23 and Junior All Ireland Cross Country championships took place in Dundalk Institute of Technology grounds, Co. Louth on November 23rd 2014. Twenty three athletes and their supporting families and coaches made the 750km return journey for the All Ireland championship event. They were well rewarded with a lovely sunny day and a very well organised event. With the recent heavy rain it was expected that conditions would be very soft underfoot but with an overnight frost and a nice sunny day the ground conditions improved to provide ideal ground conditions for a cross country event. There were a three small climbs for the athletes to overcome over what was described as a relatively flat fast course.
We had 2 club teams competing with the girls U12 team of Jane Buckley, Nicola Tuthill, Clare Flynn, Amy O Donoghue, Nicola McKeon and Caoimhe Ni O’Fhaitheartargh first in action. It was a daunting task for the girls as they joined a field of 167 athletes to cover the 2000m loop course. All 6 girls had a great run and the team finished in 5th place with Jane leading the team home finishing in 23rd place. She also scored on the Cork team who won gold. Keelan Crowley and Callum McCourt were running for the Cork team in the boys U12 race. Both boys ran very competitive races. Keelan finished in 36th place and was the 3rd scorer on the Cork team who won the bronze medal. Callum who was competing out of age finished in a strong 72nd place and he will have gained valuable experience from the competition.
Grainne Mulcahy and Olivia Tuthil were running for the Cork team in the Girls U14. Both girls competed in a strong field of 145 athletes with Grainne finishing in 59th place and Olivia who was competing out of age following closely behind in 62nd place. Grainne scored on the Cork team helping them win the silver medal. In the U16 races Naoise Ni’Fhaitheartaigh , Carina Crowley and Laura Nicholson were also running on the Cork teams. Naoise running out of age had strong race to finish in 70th place. Carina and Laura finished in 18th and 37th place respectively with both girls scoring on the Munster and Cork teams who won the bronze medal places.
The Girls U18 team of Ella Nicholson, Bethany Haigh, Niamh Ahern, Sadbh Ni Fhlaitheartaigh, Fiona Everard and Sinead Caulfield competed over the 4000m course. There was a great team spirit and all the girls had a great race. Fiona and Sinead scored on the Cork team helping the county win the silver medal. Fiona also scored on the Munster team who took the 3rd place spot. Dylan O’Connor competed in the Boys U18 race having a 6000m course to complete and he ran a very strong race to score on the Cork team earning himself a silver medal. Thomas McCarthy ran in the Junior race and finished in 30th place and was the 3rd scorer on the Cork team helping them win the bronze medal place.
Carmel Crowley who is the current Club Captain led by example in the Senior women’s race as after supporting the juvenile athletes for the early part of the day she then turned around and competed for the Cork team in the 8KM senior women’s race. Mark O’Sullivan ran in the combined senior and under 23 race. He had a really strong race to finish 33rd overall and 8th in the U23 category. He was the 4th scorer on the Cork team who won an impressive silver medal place.
It was great day’s competition for all the Bandon Athletes and well done to all. Thanks to all the parents, families and coaches for supporting them over the weekend.
Report by Tom Laffan