Novice titles for Cooke and Lawlor (with results summary)

Youghal’s Aoife Cooke and Stephen Lawlor of St Abban’s were the winners of the national novice  cross-country titles in Dungarvan.

In the women’s race, Cooke beat Rachael Smyth of St Coca’s and also led  Youghal to team victory over  DSD.  Cooke, a niece of the legendary Mary Sweeney of  St Finbarr’s,  has been showing good form  on the roads over the past few months after a period on scholarship in Arkansas and a long string of injuries.

In a dramatic finish to the men’s race, Lawlor overtook long-time race leader Patrick Roche of Naas in the chase for the line. Ennis TC led by Dara Chesser in fifth place  were the team winners ahead of Donore and Clonliffe.

In the juvenile races, Blackrock had a double; Sarah Healy won the W15 race while Amy Rose Farrell  beat DSD’s Niamh Carey to take the W17 title.  It was also a good day for Donore with Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden first and second in the M15 race.  Winning the M17 title was Craig McMeechan of North Down. There were also U11 and U13 races.

As well as a healthy representation from Leinster, Ulster teams were out in force with strong teams from Lagan Valley, Omagh Harriers, St Malachy’s, North Down  and Acorns. Connacht clubs were also prominent, most notably Westport and Galway City Harriers. Most of these clubs had to travel the day before. By contrast Munster clubs were few. Interesting.

ONE ROAD RACE that did go ahead was the Belleek 10k in Co Mayo, with Jake Oregan and Lorraine Carey the winners.

Sunday December 6

Glo Health National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Ages C-C C’ships, St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan.

Women’s 4km (89 finishers): 1 Aoife Cooke (Youghal) 15.08, 2 Rachael Smyth (St Coca’s) 15.19, 3 Adrianna Melia (Longford) 15.27, 4 Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore) 15.34, 5 Clare McCarthy (DSD) 16.01, 6 Harriette Robinson (DSD) 16.01. Teams (11) – 1 Youghal (1,11, 27, 48) 87, 2 DSD (5,6,24,54) 89, 3 GCH (9,14,39.42) 104, 4 Donore Hrs 116, 5 DCH 152, 6 Dunboyne 143. Counties (9) – 1 Cork 38, 2 Dublin 76, 3 Meath 83.

Men’s 6km (211 finishers): 1 Stephen Lawlor (St Abban’s) 19.54, 2 Patrick Roche (Naas AC) 19.56, 3 Jason Broderick (Craughwell) 20.09, 4 William Maunsell (Clonmel) 20.11, 5 Dara Chesser (Ennis TC) 2012, 6 Richard Owens ( Sli Cualann) 20.16.  Teams (24) – 1 Ennis TC (5,9,12,19) 45, 2 St Abban’s (1,30,40,52) 123, 3 Donore A (23,27,36,44) 130, 4 Clonliffe 145, 5 Leevale A 155, 6 Sli Cualann 168. Counties (12) – 1 Laois 179, 2 Clare 197, 3 Dublin 214.

Uneven ages –

W15 (133 finishers): 1 Sarah Healy (Blackfock), 2 Saoirse O’Brien (Westport), 3 Aoife Darby (Mullingar Hrs). Teams– 1 MSB 92, 2 Lagan Valley 120, 3 Mullingar Hrs 126. W17 (86 finishers): 1 Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock), 2 Niamh Carey (DSD),3 Enya Haigney (Omagh Hrs). Teams (10) – 1 DSD 39, 2 Inbhear Dee 51, 3 Omagh Hrs 98.

M15 (134 finishers): 1 Louis O’Loughlin (Donore), 2 Fathi Aden (Donor), 3 Tim Sott (lagan Valley). Teams (14) – 1 Lagan Valley 128, 2 Clonliffe 143, 3 Westport 148. M17 (106 finishers): 1 Craig McMeechan ( N Down), 2 Eoin McCann ( St Malachy’s), 3 Sean O’Leary (Clonliffe). Teams – 1 Mullingar Hrs 58, 2 Clonliffe Hrs 117, 3 Westport 150.

Belleek 10k, Ballina, Co Mayo (109 finishers;  www.coretiming.com)
Men: 1 Jake Oregan 34/08, 2 Seamus Somers 34.46, 3 Damien Kennedy 36.11. Women: 1 Lorraine Carey 39.43, 2 Lucy Brennan 40.41, 3 Claire O’Boyle 43.42.