Defending champion Joe Sweeney leads a strong Dublin squad at Sunday’s Woodie’s DIY National Intercounty Championships in Sligo – the trial race for the European Championships next month.
Last year, Sweeney battled blizzard conditions in Derry to beat Mark Christie of Mullingar for the title and has dominated Irish cross-country since then, winning the Gerry Farnan race a few weeks ago. He didn’t turn out for the Dublin Championships, leaving John Coghlan of MSB to take a memorable victory over Sean Hehir from Rathfarnham.
Both these men, along with Christie, Dan Mulhare of North Laois, and Leevale’s Mark Hanrahan are among likely contenders on Sunday, although Christie lost to Andrew Ledwith and Paddy Hamilton at last Sunday’s Seeley Cup 10km in Belfast.
Only the first two across the line are sure of a place at the European Cross-Country Championships in Slovenia. It means that the Irish men’s U23 team may not defend the title they won so heroically last year in Portugal. It also means that a full junior team, the basis for future U-23 and senior teams, may not be sent.
Standards for selection are rigorous – if an athlete is outside the top two, he or she must be capable of a top-16 placing as an individual, or a top 30 placing in the case of a likely team member at the Europeans.
Last year the junior men, led by Shane Quinn in 12th place, finished a commendable fifth in Portugal. With Quinn currently in the USA, Dublin-based athletes Emmett Jennings of DSD, who was second last year, the much-improved Kevin Dooney of Raheny and Donore’s John Travers will all fancy their chances.
One athlete sure of her place is Fionnuala Britton of Kilcoole, fourth last year in a blanket finish; Britton was just seven seconds behind the winner Jessica Augusto of Portugal. Britton misses Sligo for a race in France.
With UCD’s Ciara Mageean injured, the women’s junior race is wide open. Leading the Dublin team is 16-year-old Siofra Cleirigh Buttner. Her biggest rival could be Emma Mitchell of Banbridge, a comfortable winner of the Ulster U-19 title recently.
Peter Matthews of DSD heads for Glasgow this weekend aiming to defend the British and Irish Masters cross-country title he won so dramatically last year at Santry. Only on the final lap did Matthews shake off a strong English challenge led by John Herbert, who is only a reserve on a predictably strong English team this year.
Another big threat is Northern Ireland’s David Morwood, third last year, and ahead of Matthews at the Gerry Farnan Cross-Country. Other defending champions include Niamh O’Sullivan of Riocht W45 and Leevale’s Carmell Parnell W55, both of them multiple winner at this level.
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| You can see how they sliced up the track here. |
A Facebook page to save the Belfield track has been set up after UCD shut down the facility earlier this week because the surface had become too slippery.
Since grass, Astroturf and pavements also become slippery when wet, this seems a drastic move – especially when policing the track is bound to stretch UCD’s resources to the limit. Watch this space!
Conditions more suitable for kitesurfers didn’t deter the 250 or so BHAA runners who turned out for Saturday’s Bank of Ireland 6km on Dollymount Strand. First home was Joe Warne of DCU, with BHAA regular Kate O’Neill the first woman. A day later another healthy crowd turned out for the Dublin Intermediate cross-country in Tymon Park. Woman’s winner was Catherine Mealy of Rathfarnham WSAF, with Donore the first team. Sam Mealy of Crusaders ran a smart race to win the men’s title, with Raheny the first team.
St Anne’s Park Raheny is the venue on Sunday for the opening round of this year’s Women’s Meet and Train Winter League – a series of five 2-mile races, all on grass. The series is ideal for mini marathon runners aiming to keep fit over the winter, or indeed for fun runners of all standards. Register on the day from 10am at the Cara Hall, All Saint’s Road.
Entries are pouring in for the 21st Jingle Bells 5km in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday December 1 (11am) , when the usual hordes of Santas, fairies and Christmas trees are expected to vie for the much-coveted fancy dress prizes. Good news for all is that the ongoing road works in the Park will not affect the fast, flat course first used last year. Online entry is €20 (€5 children); entry on the day is €25.
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