For a second year, Fionnula Britton and Paul Pollock were the winners at Glo Heath Intercounty Cross-Country Championships held on a perfect day for cross-country running at Dundalk IT.
It was a tale of two races: while Britton coasted to an easy victory, Pollock only retained his title after an absorbing race that ended in a sprint for the line. Britton, who made her marathon debut at the European Championships last August, admitted to feeling nervous on the start line, but by the end of the opening lap, she was already away and clear.
Initially it looked as if Sara Treacy of Dunboyne and Michelle Finn of Leevale would finish second and third, but the slippery 8km course took its toll and there was some jockeying in the top six positions. Finn, who is in the form of her life, passed Treacy for second place, while on the final lap, Riocht’s Laura Crowe moved into third, with Treacy holding on for fourth. Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane staked her claim to a place on the European Cross-Country team with a fighting fifth place. It was a good day for veteran Leevale coach Donie Walsh who looks after both Finn and Crowe.
“It’s races like this that make you love cross-country,” Britton said after she had crossed the line and signed dozens of autographs for a swarm of young fans. With the European Cross-Country in Bulgaria three weeks away, she’s off to the Cross de l’Acier in France next weekend, where she will take on a field on Africans as well as her many of her likely rivals in Bulgaria.
In the men’s 10km race, Dan Mulhare of Portlaoise was the early leader, but was soon passed by the trio of Annadale’s Paul Pollock, Mick Clohisey 
of Raheny and Leevale’s Mark Hanrahan. On a strength-sapping course where holding back paid dividends, John Travers of Donore showed early but then faded, while Gary Murray, who was running in Donegal colours, dropped out. Only in the final 400m did Pollock pull away from Mark Hanrahan, with Clohisey in third place leading Dublin to team victory. Amazingly, Pollock is back training less than seven weeks after the hip injury that forced him out of the European Championships marathon last August. A close fourth was Kevin Maunsell of Clonmel, another athlete in top form at the moment, while fifth was Dublin champion Brendan O’Neill of DSD.
Finishing his 25th consecutive Intercounty Cross-Country in 38th place was Pauric McKinney of Donegal who turns 50 next year – and isn’t finished yet!
In the combined U18/junior men’s race Kevin Mulcaire of Ennis came home a comfortable overall winner, although Jack O’Leary of Mullingar Harriers did his best to hang on, until himself passed by UCD’s Con Doherty for second place overall. Dublin champion Hope Saunders of Clonliffe won the combined U18/junior women’s race.
YES CARMEL PARNELL did it at the British and Irish Masters Cross-Country in Nottingham ! Not only did Carmel win a record-equaling ninth title at this event, Lucy Brennan of Sligo finished second, and with Pauline Moran 6th and Sheelagh Jones 10th, the Irish took team gold on a day dominated by the host nation (there’s a surprise). Next November in Santry, Carmel, with luck and huge home support, could set a new record for the most women’s wins in this race. Here’s a list of her wins: W45, 2003, 2004; W50, 2006, 2009; W55 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014.
Ireland’s other individual winner was Paul Elliott in the M60 class.Well done also to the M65 team who also took team gold, with Martin McEvilly 2nd and Pat Collins 3rd. Jim Stafford was 2nd M55 and Jim McNamara 2nd M75. In the M35 category, Mark Ryan was 3rd and Philip Harty 4th; Mick Traynor was 4th M45 and Mick Byrne 4th M50. Taking silver was the W40 team led by Jackie Carthy 4th,; also winning silver were the M35, M40, M45 , M50, M55 and M75 teams.
AT THE World 100km Championships held in Doha, Qatar, Marty Rea finished 52nd of 143 finishers with a creditable time of 7 hrs 50 mins 42 secs. Despite feeling ill and unable to eat, current Irish record holder Keith Whyte held out to finish 92nd in 8:32.46 – about 90 minutes off his best. A total of 57 dropped out. That’s what happens when you hold endurance races in what is effectively a desert…
Glo Health Intercounty Cross-Country Championships, Dundalk IT
Women – Senior 8km: 1 Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole) 26.59 , 2 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 28.04, 3 Laura Crowe (Riocht) 28.11, 4 Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) 28.26, 5 Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane) 28.33, 6 Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny) 28.40, 7 Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) 28.51, 8 Ciara Durkan (Skerries) 28.57, 9 Sarah Mulligan (DSD) 29.14, 10 Teresa McGloin (Finn Valley) 29.24. Teams – 1 Dublin 46 points, 2 Kerry B 65, 3 Donegal A 91. U23: 1 Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise) 29.38, 2 Maria O’Sullivan (Raheny) 29.43, 3 Rachael Smyth (St Coca’s) 29.53. Junior/U18: 1 Hope Saunders (Clonliffe, W18), 2 Orlaith Moynihan (Clonmel, WJ) 15.04, 3 Clodagh O’Reilly (Annalee W18) 15.12 . Junior : 2 Sarah Fitzpatrick (DSD) 15.29, 3 Sorcha Humphries (DSD) 15.39. U18: 3 Rhona Pierce (Skerries) 15.15.
Men – Senior (116 finishers): 1 Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders)30.40, 2 Mark Hanrahan (Leevale) 30.42, 3 Mick Clohisey (Raheny) 30.43, 4 Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel) 31.03, 5 Brendan O’Neill (DSD) 31.06, 6 Dan Mulhare (Portlaoise) 31.24, 7 Conor Dooney (Raheny) 31.30, 8 Gary Thornton (GCH) 31.33, 9 Rory Chesser (Ennis TC) 31.38, 10 Liam Brady (Tullamore Hrs, M23) 31.43. . Teams – 1 Dublin 86,2 Cork 158, 3 Antrim 206. U23: 2 Brandon Hargreaves (Clonliffe) 32.10, 3 Ryan McDermott (Annadale) 32.24. Junior/U18: 1 Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis TC, M18) 19:05, 2 Con Doherty (UCD, MJ) 19:19, 3 Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Hrs, M18) 19.20. Junior: 2 Aengus Meldon (DSD) 19.25, 3 David Harper (Sligo) 19.26. U18: 3 Peter Lynch (KCH) 19.37.
The Stook 10-Mile, Dungarvan (near Gowran), Co Kilkenny.
Men:1 Gary O’Hanlon (Clonliffe, M40) 53:20, 2 Damien Power (Clonliffe, M40) 55:01, 3 Brian Leahy (Raheny) 55:21, 4 Niall Sheil (St Killian’s) 55:33, 5 Thomas Evans (Gowran) 55:51, 6 S Hunter (St Michael’s) 56:30. M40: 2 T Kenny 61:05, 3 V Gunner (Gowran 61:31. M45: 1 R Pender (Bagenalstown) 64:47, 2 D Keogh 65:33, 3 D Noonan 66:06. M50: 1 P Hyland (Slaney Oly) 65:09, 2 M McCrohan (Clonliffe) 67:58, 3 N Walsh 68:01. M55: 1 D Power 66:31, 2 P McIntyre (Donadea) 68:57, 3 P Lennon 95:33. M60: 1 R Kavanagh (Slí Cualann) 71:34, 2 D Egan (KCH) 72:08, 3 J Boland (Slí Cualann) 75:04.
Women: 1 Angela McCann (Clonmel, W40) 64:55, 2 H Butcher (Northport) 65:59, 3 Adele Walsh (St Senan’s, W35) 66:41, 4 S Forristal (St Joseph’s) 67:34, 5 D Dunne (KCH) 70:02, 6 C Foley (KCH) 72:21. W35: 2 C Corr (KCH) 74:25, 3 J O’Loughlin 82:17. W40: 2 S Johnson 72:50, 3 L Duggan (Kilmurry-Ibr NC) 74:51. W45: 1 J Brazil (Waterford) 73:33, 2 D Finn (Marathon Club) 74:06, 3 I Henebry (KCH) 79:32. W50: 1 C Millett (KCH) 71:54, 2 J Scobie (KCH) 86:08, 3 M Wallace 1:43:21. W55: B Cahill 98:02. W60: H Collins (Coolquill) 89:04.
Off the Laois Half Marathon/10km, Portarlington. www.precisiontiming.net
Half Marathon (306 finishers) – Men: Mick Fogarty (Athlone TC) 75.27. Women: Michelle Cox (Newbridge)88.16
10km (160 finishers) – Men: Owen Connolly (St Michael’s) 35.22. Women: Grace McConnnell 39.44.
Saturday November 22
British and Irish Masters’ Cross-Country International, Nottingham
W35: 1 Louise Rudd 21.24. Irish: 4 Paula Grant 22.42, J O’Connell Urell 23.40, 18 Natasha Adams 24.26. Teams 1 England 8… 5 Ireland 35. W40: 1 Claire Martin 21.14. Irish: 4 Jackie Carthy 22.09, 5 Sylvia Malone 22.23, 6 Cathy McCourt 22.35, 14 Anne Curley 23.16. Teams – 1 England 6, 2 Ireland 15, 3 Scotland 35. W45: 1 Julie Briggs (Eng) Irish: 6 Colette Tuohy 23.08, 13 Cathryn Brady 24.37, 14 Maria Dolan 24.43, 16 Donna Evans 24.55, Teams – 1 England 6, 2 N Ireland 25, 3 Ireland 33. W50: 1 Clare Elms (Eng) 22.16. Irish: 12 Mary Sweeney 25.36, 18 Angela McEvoy 27.40, 19 Ann Nichol 28.30. Teams: 1 England 8….5 Ireland 49. W55: 1 Carmel Parnell (Ire) 23.36, 2 Lucy Brennan (Ire) 23.47. Irish: 6 Pauline Moran 24.44, 10 Sheelagh Jones 25.55. Teams – 1 Ireland 9, 2 England 20. 1 Marian Hesketh (Eng) 25.53. Irish: 7 Carmel MacDhomhnaill 27.49, 8 Bridget McCabe 27.52, 10 Una Reilly 28.34, 15 Josie Power 33.25. Teams – 1 England 6, 2 Scotland 20, 3 Ireland 25.
W65: 1 Angela Copson (Eng) 25.45. Irish: 4 Margaret Glavey 26.55, 7 Roisin Lynch 28.55, 8 Phyllis Browne 29.08, 9 Kathleen O’Brien 29.59. Teams – 1 England 6, 2 Ireland 19.W70 – 1 Betty Gilchrist (Sco) 30.49. Irish: 6 Ann Woodlock 33.40, 11 Pam Benson 36.25, 12 Maureen Fitzgerald 37.07, 13 Geraldine Walsh 45.15. Teams – 1 England 15, 2 Wales 23, 3 Ireland 29.
M35: 1 Matt Barnes (Eng) 24.55. Irish: 3 Mark Ryan 25.15, 3 Philip Harty 25.23, 7 John Dunne 25.43, 12 Roger Barrett 25.59, 13 Barry Herron 26.07, 14 Brian Murphy 26.29. Teams – 1 England 25, 2 Ireland 26, 3 Scotland 47. M40: 1 C Greenwodd 9Eng) 25.03. Irish: 8 Niall Lynch 26.34, 9 Damien Lawless 26.39, 10 Peter O’Sullivan 26.41, 12 Pat Byrne 26.48, 14 Frank Quinlan 26.53, 18 Rob Cross 27.20. Teams – 1 England 11, 2 Ireland 39, 3 Wales 53. M45: 1 Tim Hartley (Eng) 25.27. Irish: 4 Mick Traynor 26.38,5 Des Kennedy 26.58, 10 Damien Martin 27.10, 12 Frank Hayes 27.32, 21 Larry Murphy 28.28, 24 Noel Marum 28.36.Teams – 1 England 20, 2 Ireland 31, 3 Wales 40. M50: 1 Ben Reynolds (Eng) 26.50. Irish: 4 Mick Byrne 26.58, 6 Pat Malone 27.28, 12 Gerard Maloney 28.15, 13 Brian Kelly 28.20, 14 Paul Cowhie 28.32, 16 Eddie Newman 28.54. Teams – 1 England 1, 2 Ireland 35. M55: 1 Robert Atkinson (Eng) 27.17, 2 Jim Stafford (Ire) 27.47. Other Irish: 8 Martin McDonald 29.02, 10 Eugene Moynihan 29.14, 14 John Collins 29.31, Teams – 1 England 12, 2 Ireland 20, 3 Scotland 23. M60: 1 Paul Elliott (Ireland) 29.10. Other Irish: 6 Eamonn McEvoy 29.50, 15 John Todd 32.09, 16 Pat O’Shea 32.24. Teams – 1 Scotland 13, 2 England 16, 3 Ireland 22. M65: 1 Terry Eakin (N Irl) 23.51, 2 Martin McEvilly (Ire) 23.59, 3 Pat Collins (Ire) 23.59. Teams – 1 Ireland 13, 2 England 19, 3 N Ireland. M70: 1 Martin Ford (Eng) 24.01… Irish: 8 Christy McMonagle 26.47, 10 Terry Mee 27.36, 13 Pat Bonass 27.49, 14 Pat Healy 29.03. Teams – 1 England 11, 2 Scotland 18, 3 Wales 24, Ireland 31. M75: 1 Fred Gibbs(Eng) 27.04, 2 Jim McNamara (Irl) 27.59. Other Irish: 7 Joseph Maguire 30.07, 12 John Fitzsimons 33.11, 198 Tom Waldron 47.45. Teams – 1 England 10, 2 Ireland 21, 3 Scotland 22.
Irish Life BHAA 6km C-C, Santry. (first draft; www.bhaa.ie)
Men (219 finishers) : 1 BOI 143 20.02, 2 Greg Roberts 20.39, 3 Neil Callaghan 20.54, 4 Robert Murphy 21.08, 5 Eoin Callaghan (Sec Teachers) 21.12, 6 ColmO’Connell 21.19. M35: 1 John Fenlon 21.25, 2 Emmett O Briain 21.43, 3 Brian Byrne (Sec Teachers) 21.53. M40: M50: 1 Tom O’Connor (Bof I) 22.39.
Women: 1 ?? (W40) 22.52, 2 ?? W35 23.03, 3 Adrianna Melia 23.36, 4 ???(W40) 24.59, 5 Karen McConnell (Gardai, W35) 26.51, 6 Karen Behan (W35) 26.52.
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