The Woodies National Even Age XC championships took place on November 17th 2013 in conjunction with the senior, junior and U23 inter County National Championships. A large crowd attended the event which was run over a fast and mainly flat course on the Santry Demense in Dublin under perfect weather conditions. It is worth noting that the competition to qualify for this national event is very hard to achieve and all athletes who competed today should be very proud to achieve such a high standard. Bandon Athletic club had 15 athletes who qualified across the various ages.
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\nClare Flynn representing the Cork team was of our first athlete to compete and she ran out of age in the Girls U12 race and had a very strong run. Fionn Harrington also running in the Cork colours ran in the Boys U12 race and finished strongly and was the 7th Cork runner over the line. This was the first national XC competition for Clare and Fionn and they will both have gained great experience for future championships to come.
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\nThe Girls U14 team of Laura Nicholson, Michele O\u2019Donovan, Moira Barrett, Grainne Mulcahy and Niamh Calnan were up next and they all had\u00a0 excellent runs to take 2nd club team prize. This is the 2nd year in a row these girls and they have really shown great determination to retain this silver prize again this year. Laura Nicholson finished in 8th place winning herself an individual medal and scored on the Munster team who won gold. Laura, Moira and Niamh also scored on the Cork team helping the Country take the silver place. Naoise Ni Fhaitheartargh ran for the Cork team in the Boys U14 race and he ran very competitive race finishing as the 4th Cork runner home today but the County team just finished outside the medals.
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\nThe Girls U16 team of Fiona Everard, Aoibh Cassidy, Niamh Munday and Bethany Haigue and Alice Symington were our next team in action. They had a fast 4000m course to run and they all had impressive runs\u00a0to finish in 6th club place.\u00a0 Fiona Everard won an individual medal by finishing in 8th place and also qualified to represent Ireland in the Celtic games in January. Fiona and Aoibh scored on the Cork team helping the County will the silver medal place. Fiona also scored on the Munster team who won Gold.
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\nLouisa Keane competed out of age in the women\u2019s Junior (U20) race and had a great run to finish the 2nd Cork runner over the line and the County were unlucky not to medal by finishing in 4th place. Mark O\u2019Sullivan competed in the men\u2019s U23 race which was run with the senior men\u2019s race. It was a fast and furious race and he ran very well to finish as 16th U23 over the line.
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\nThis was a great championship and weekend outing for all our athletes and their families. Well done to all.
\nReport from Tom Laffan.<\/p>\n