Bandon AC athletes turned out in force for the first event of the Cross Country Season which took place in the Showgrounds in Clonakilty on Sunday 18th September. Rain threatened throughout the event but held off and conditions underfoot were reasonably good. Liz Barry was the overall winner of the Senior Women’s race over 3K. Tom Laffan finished third overall in the Senior Men’s race with a distance of 6K and was second in West Cork. This event also marked the final race in the inaugural West Cork Race Series. Liz Barry has won the Senior Women’s section and Kevin Wilmot took second place in the Senior Men’s category with Tom Laffan in third position. The West Cork Athletic Board is to present prizes to the athletes who competed in a number of mainly road races during the summer, including West Cork Road Races, Bandon 10K, Courtmacsherry 10k, Dunmanway and Bantry Road Races. The competition was open to athletes registered with West Cork Clubs. There were some super performances from the Juvenile club members at the event. It was the first taste of cross country competition for many. Winning individual medals were Tim Twohig and Fionn Harrington (gold & silver U10) and Moira Barrett and Laura Nicholson (gold & silver U12). Conor Calnan won bronze with a fine race U12. Fiona Everard finished third U14. Killian Burke won silver in the U14 race with Aisling Everard taking silver U16. Gerard Crowley had to sprint to outrun strong competition from Bantry and West Muskerry athletes to win a well deserved gold medal over 2,000m U16. As well as individual medals, the club won a number of Team medals, the listing includes all those who who competed in the the various age categories but who did not win individual medals – Girls U10, bronze, (Cora Ní Gallchóir, Sarah & Hannah Buckley, Lauren McCourt, Orla O’Sullivan, Amy O’Donoghue, Sarah O’Connor, Niamh Sugrue, Erin de Burca, Hannah Brinds, Maeve O’Flynn, Jane Buttimer) Boys U10 , gold (Mark Collins, Brendan Twohig, Ruairí Harrington, Andrew O’Leary, Callum McCourt, Dave Cottrell, Max Hallahan, Liam Buckley, Girls U12, gold, Orla Fahey, Ciara McKeon, Alice Maher, Kendra Kingston, Saoirse McCarthy, Clodagh Young, Michelle O’Donovan) Boys U12, Silver,(Christian Buttimer, Mike Laffan, Brian Riordan, Naoise Flahartaigh, Brian McSweeney, Aodh O Gallchóir, Ben Carthew) Girls U14, Gold, (Carina Crowley, Ingrid Burns, Eva Stack Aoife Riordan)Boys U14, gold,( Eamon O’Sullivan, Fiachra Harrington) Girls U16, gold, (Ciara Houston, Lisa Lovell). The Juvenile Even and Uneven age Cross Country Championships will take place in Carrig na bhFear and Conna in early October. The annual Primary Schools Cross Country Championships takes place on 23rd September in the Rugby Club at 11am. All primary schools in the area have already been contacted by the Club.