European champion Fionuala Britton looked in reassuringly good form when she streaked to victory at the Gerry Farnan/Sheila Brennan Cross-Country races in the Phoenix Park.
Running only her second race after a post-Olympics break, Britton took the lead early and by the finish, had over a minute to spare on the chasers. That’s good news for the Irish cross-country manager Anne Keenan-Buckley, who will hope to field a strong team for next month’s European championships.
Among those available is Linda Byrne, who launched her career with a fourth place in the European junior race, and is the current Irish cross-country champion. Also available is Byrne’s DSD clubmate Ava Hutchinson, third behind Byrne and Una English in the national cross-country championships.
Also in contention is Scottish-based Sarah McCormack who finished second behind Britton in the Phoenix Park. Since declaring for Ireland, the Lancaster University student has finished eighth in the European Mountain Running Championships and improved her 5000m time to 15 mins 49 secs.
With back-up from Meath athlete Sara Treacy, who moves into the senior ranks having competed at U-23 level last year, this is a team that could snatch a medal.
When it comes to the men the situation is a lot more fluid, although David McCarthy was an impressive winner of the men’s race last Sunday and was chased hard by Michael Mulhare and current Irish cross-country champion Eddie McGinley.
At last year’s European Championships, Joe Sweeney finished an excellent fifth but illness then intervened. Paul Pollock was second of the Irish at the Europeans and his recent victory in the National Half Marathon shows that he is in good form. So lots to ponder for that team management.
Sunday’s races also served as trials for the British and Irish Masters international taking place in Belfast on November 10. Leading home the over 35 men was Rathfarnham’s Barry Minnock, who was using the race as a blow-out before the Dublin Marathon next Monday. In the over 40 class, David Morwood of Annadale beat his old rival Peter Matthews of DSD. Of the women, many times perisous champion Niamh O’Sullivan of Riocht has moved into the over 50 class, but still beat many of the younger women, as did Leevale’s Carmel Parnell in the over 55 class. The Irish team is to be confirmed later today (Wed).
Mayo ultra man John Byrne finished a brilliant fifth at the IAU World Trophy 50km (31.1 miles) race in the coastal towns of Vallecrosia-Bordigheria in Italy.
Race winner was English athlete Steven Way in 2hrs 54 mins with the top three breaking three hours. Byrne finished in 3 hrs 10 mins; he had qualified for the race by winning the Irish 50km championships in Donadea earlier this year and was part of the team that finished sixth in the World 100km Championships in Italy last April.
By far the biggest race of the weekend was the Runamuck Autumn Challenge held on farmland in Johnstown Bridge Co Kildare. Over 2,000 completed the 5km lap which included ditches, hay bales, webbing – and lots of mud. A further 380 did double that distance with Diarmuid Collins first home in 51 mins 14 secs. Among the many groups competing was a staff team from East Glendalough School in Wicklow, led home by Zara Boxall.
Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham won the Clane 10km in a final race before his debut marathon in Dublin next week. Keeping a low profile was Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe, who won the title in 2010 and was second behind Sean Connolly last year. Ciobanu is the fastest of the local entrants, having run just over 2 hrs 15 mins in Rotterdam earlier this year. Most recently, he won the Charleville Half Marathon in 65 mins 5 secs, with Hehir only 26 seconds adrift.
Entry is now open for the 22nd annual Jingle Bells 5km on Saturday December 1 in Dublin’s Phoenix Park (11am). Children under 16 pay just €5, with adult entry costing €20 plus administration fee. As usual, fancy dress is encouraged, with prizes for the best outfits and lots of seasonal spot prizes also on offer. Entry is limited to 1,500, with online entry closing on November 29. Info 086-8297796 or www.donoreharriers.com.
Putting himself firmly in the frame for the European Championships is David Rooney of Raheny Shamrocks with a string of good results in the USA. Rooney, in his last year at McNeese College, finished seventh at the Pre-National Invitational in Louisville, less than a second behind the fourth runner. Louisville hosts the NCAAs for the first time ever on Saturday November 17, where Rooney will again be in action.
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