Sunday 29th November, saw 20 athletes travel to Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary, for the Munster Bs cross country event. The conditions and weather were shocking to say the least but this did not deter our young athletes, who braved the elements and brought back 3 team Golds, 4 Cork medals & 6 individual medals.
First up was Doireann Kelly in the u9 race. Doireann ran a great race and earned herself an individual medal and a cork bronze medal, coming in 5th place. The u9 boys team of Eoin O Callaghan, Jack Twomey, Sean Hales, Glen De Burca & Dylan Looney, all gave a terrific effort and won the team Gold.
Eoin got himself in a great position from the start and finished in 2nd place overall, wining an individual medal plus a Cork gold team medal along with Jack. The u11 girls team of Niamh Quinn, Ciara O Sullivan, Ciara White, Molly O Callaghan & Aoibheann Cotter and the u11 boys team of Dara McCarthy, Joseph Buttimer, Sean Deasy, Ciaran Brady & Dara Ryan, both won Gold in the team event. Again, While the rain poured, kids fell and kids lost shoes in the muck, these young Bandon athletes put in a super effort
and had great performances. Niamh, Dara McCarthy & Joseph also won
individual medals finishing in 5th, 4th & 8th position respectively, with Niamh also winning a cork Gold team medal. Next up was the u13 girls race and they were the first group to take on a steep enough and long hill. This team of Saoirse O Neill, Roisin De Burca, Laura Bateman & Brid Desmond are actually all u12 and they did extremely well, considering they had to endure that hill along with all the muck patches and run out of age. Well done
girls, especially Brid who got a stitch early on in the race but battled away right through the race. A great example of a team player! Last up on the day for Bandon in the juvenile races, was John Muckian in the u17 race.
He ran extremely well, especially since now the course was even muddier, if that’s possible and finished in 2nd place. Two master Ladies also braved the elements and conditions. Ronnie Barry finished in 7th place overall and 3rd place in O40 category & Carmel Crowley finished 4th overall and in 1st place in O45 category. Well done Ladies!
Well done to all the athletes and a big thank you to all the parents. It was a real team effort “in the field” on the day also, with everyone chipping in to help. From walking the course, to holding umbrellas & providing extra safety pins! It all helps to make the day run smoothly.

Report by Susan McCourt

The All Ireland Even Age Cross Country championships took place in Santry Demense November 22nd 2015. There were 16 juvenile club athletes who made the journey from Bandon to Cork to compete as follows:-
Callum McCourt – Boys U10 race running on the Cork team.
Boys U14 team of Niall Desmond, Rory Desmond, Peter Ronan, Gavin Kelleher, Ruairi Harrington and Fionn Harrington.
Girls U14 team of Jane Buckley, Jane Buttimer, Caoimhe Deasy, Olivia Tuthil, Nicola Tuthil and Katie Murphy.
Naoise O’Fhaitheartaigh – Boys U16 race competing on the Cork team.
Fiona Everard and Bethany Haigh running for Cork and Munster in the girls U18 race.

All athletes put in great performances and they should all be very proud of their achievements. It is important to remember they were part of the group of top runners in the country having qualified to compete in this national event.

Callum McCourt who competed in the U12 race on the Cork team had a really strong and well paced race and he finished in an excellent 11th place earning himself an individual All Ireland medal and he also helped the Cork team take the top prize. Jane Buckley who was running out of age in the U14 race had a very impressive run and after competing in the top group for the entire race she finished in an excellent 8th place overall. She also helped the Cork and Munster team win the gold medal places. Naoise O’Fhaitheartaigh ran in a very competitive boys U16 race and he was part of the Cork team who won the gold, earning himself a well deserved all Ireland County medal.

Fiona and Bethany were in action in the girls U18 race having both qualified to compete on the Cork and Munster teams. Bethany had a very good run and was the 2nd scoring Cork girl home but the county team finished just outside the medals. Fiona continued her good form over the season and she finished in a very strong 5th place. She also scored on the Munster team helping the provence win the silver place.

Well done to all our athletes today and thanks to the coaches for all the hard work. A special thanks to the parents and guardians who support the athletes throughout the season.

Report and photos by Tom Laffan