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| Fionnuala Britton |
* Defending European champion Fionnuala Britton of Kilcoole will lead a strong Irish women’s team at the European Cross Country Championships in Budapest, Hungary on December 9. With Lizzie Lee (Leevale ), Ava Hutchinson (DSD), Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe H), Linda Byrne (DSD) and Sarah Treacy (Moynalvey AC) also in the line-up, hopes are high for a team medal.
DSD’s Joe Sweeney, winner of yesterday’s Intercountry championships in Ratoath will be joined on the men’s team by Raheny’s Dave Rooney, who finished seventh at the recent NCAA Championships in the USA and DSD’s Breandan O’Neill who was 28th at the NCAAs. Also picked are Michael Mulhare (Portlaoise), Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF) and Brian Maher (KCH). Finn Valley’s Sarah Collins, a brilliant 10th at the NCCAs, joined Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of DSD on the women’s junior team.
Other teams: U23 – Women: Una Britton (Kilcoole), Laura Behan (KCK ). Men: Chris Johnston (Letterkenny), David Fitzmaurice (Clonliffe), Patrick Hogan (Ferrybank), Sam Mealy (Crusaders ), John Travers (Donore). Shane Quinn (Ferrybank AC) was also named but has withdrawn due to illness).
Junior – Women: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD) Sarah Collins (Finn Valley), Linda Conroy (Mullingar Harriers), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise),Claire McCarthy (DSD) and Mary Ann O’Sullivan (Tinryland). Men: Stephen Kerr (Armagh), Sean Tobin (Clonmel), Ian Guiden (Clonliffe ), Killian Mooney (DSD), Eoghan Totten (Newcastle).
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| Ava Hutchinson |
*Joe Sweeney of Dundrum South Dublin made it three in a row in the men’s 10km at the Woodie’s DIY National Intercounties in Fairhouse, Co Meath. Michael Mulhare of Portlaoise had been among those pushing the pace early on, but once Sweeney made his move, no-one could stay with him on the strength-sapping and muddy track.
Mulhare finished second with marathon man Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF third. Fortunately, the heavy rain that threatened all afternoon held off until the race was over.
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| First lap: Mulhare, Sweeney |
On a good day for DSD, Ava Hutchinson shook off the challenge of Lizzie Lee from Leevale for victory in the women’s senior 8km race. Finishing third was Sarah McCormack who runs in Clonliffe colours. Special mention for visually impaired athlete Amanda Crotty from Youghal, who ran the course with a guide.
Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, also DSD, was out on her own for much of the combined junior women and U18 4km, with Mullingar’s Linda Conroy a good second and Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise third and first junior woman.
In the combined junior men’s and U18 6km, Ian Guiden of Clonliffe led for much of the race, but was passed by Stephen Kerr of Armagh for victory on the final lap. Cillian Mooney of DSD was third and first U-18.
* Dublin won all four county titles for a second year. When it came to the senior men, confusion arose when the results computer noting that Dublin and Antrim both finished on the same points, put them in alphabetical order…
* Abroad, Fionnuala Britton finished third behind two Ethiopians at the L’Acier International Cross-Country in Fance.
* Well over 500 women and women were running in non-commercial races on Saturday – cool or what? At Santry, in the inaugural Irish Life and Permanent BHAA 6km Cross-Country, the going was slippy but no-one minded. First of the 260 finishers were Thomas Hayes and Fiona Mahon; veteran Peter Mathews was second of the men (results corrected).
For a second week, Tallaght veteran Davey Byrne led them home at the Park Run 5km in Malahide Castle, with Orna Dilworth first woman. An amazing 268 finished the run.
* Aisling Coppinger of Clonliffe Harriers was first woman at the Cambodia 2012 Multistage Race/Ancient Khmer Path (235km, 6 stages) in Phnom Penh.
* In Monaco, Iveagh Jameson finished sixth with a total of 740.376km at the annual Monaco Carlo 8-Day Ultra, which attracts well over a thousand runners each year, although most are happy to run maybe 10km on each of the days. Earlier this year, Jameson finished second in the Grand Union Canal Run from Birmingham to London. Whisper it quietly but he was beaten by a woman!
Wednesday November 28
Rice Games CBS Cross-Country Championships, Alsaa, Dublin Airport
U13: 1 Sean Corry (Omagh CBS), 2 Cathaoir Donnelly (Omagh CBS), 3 Ciaran Murphy (St Aidans). Teams – 1 Omagh CBS 57, 2 St Aidan’s Whitehall 59, 3 Colaiste Phadraig Lucan 60.
U14: 1 Darragh Finn (St Declan’s), 2 Finbarr Bourke Power (St Declan’s), 3 James O’Donnell (Aerd Scoil). Teams – 1 Scoil Mhuire Mullingar 26, 2 St Declan’s Cabra 65, 3 St Aidan’s Whitehall 82.
U15: 1 Kevin McKenna (St Aidan’s), 2 Sean Carrigg (St Aidan’s), 3 Joseph Hession (St Aidan’s). Teams – 1 St Aidan’s Whitehall 10, 2 Col Eoin Stillorgan 88, 3 St Fintan’s Sutton 90.
U17: 1 Cathal Doyle (St Aidan’s), 2 Glenn Gaffney (Col Mhuire Mulingar), 3 Adam O’Brien (St Aidan’s). Teams – 1 Col Mhuire Mullingar 21, 2 St Aidan’s Whitehall 35, 3 St Fintan’s Sutton 54.
U19: 1 Thomas Lynn (Col Mhuire Mullingar), 2 David Mulhare (St Mary’s Portlaoise), 3 Cillian Kirwan (St Fintan’s Sutton) . Teams – 1 Col Mhuire Mullingar 21, 2 St Aidan’s Whitehall 46, 3 Omagh CBS 65.
Best overall school (Bro Clarke Trophy): Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar
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| Amanda Crotty and guide. |
Senior (73 finishers) – Women’s 8km: 1 Ava Hutchinson (DSD) 31.06; 2 Lizzie Lee (Leevale) 31.10; 3 Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe) 31.27; 4 Fiona Roche (Raheny Shamrock) 31.34; 5 Kerry Harty (Newcastle) 31.41; 6 Elish Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) 31.39. U23: 1 Una Britton (Kilcoole) 33.29; 2 Laura Behan (KCK) 33.57; 3 Ciara Wilson (DMP) 34.17. Teams: 1 Dublin 1,3,10,11) 26; 2 Cork (2,9,26,31) 68; 3 Kerry (8,20,21,54) 103.
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