***Silverware for Dunboyne AC at the Leinster Even Ages Cross Country Championships***
It was being referred to as a proper cross country course on a proper chilly and windy cross country day when our 26 Juvenile athletes assembled at Navan racecourse today (Saturday 28th November) for the Leinster Even Ages Cross Country Championships. The quality of athletes on display across all the races was staggering and the races were ultra-competitive with big fields the order of the day.
The rain during the week made the course quite testing. Add in the long uphill pull straight from the start, some sharp twists and turns plus an even longer hill again on the long run for home, it all meant that this course was a particularly challenging one.
Before the championships races began there were two open races for Under 10 boys and girls which were hosted by the Meath county board. Holly Ryan, Saidbh Pitt and Ruth O’Reilly wore the blue and white as they tackled the 1k loop in the girls race. The girls were well to the fore in a large field and did themselves proud with 3 very good runs in what was great experience for them. Special well done to Saidbh who was under the weather before, during and after the race and did really well in the circumstances.
Cian Doyle and Andrew Norman both lined up for the u10 boys open race and again were well up the very large field finishing strongly and running well throughout. Like the girls it was mission accomplished in getting some experience of running in a big field of runners as they continue to learn their trade.
The first Championship race of the day was the Girls Under 12’s and our team was made up of Kate Gormley, Elizabeth Comerford, Amy O’Reilly, Sophie Brown and Hannah Brown who was stepping up an age on the day. The girls took their place in the field of 151 athletes and battled well as a team to get through what was a very fast, highly competitive 2k race. Kate led the team home with a strong run and all the girls equipped themselves very well. The girls on the county team finished just outside the medals in 4th place while the club team were outside the medals this time. Well done girls.
Next up was the boys Under 12’s race and our 6 representatives here were Ciaran McCormack, Mathieu Kieffer, Harry Doherty, James McAvinue and two of our under 11’s running up an age, Jack McInerney and Dylan Ryan. This race, over 2k, was fast and furious right from the gun with the 121 athletes going off like a bat out of hell. From early on 3 of the team were well up the field with Ciaran, Dylan and Mathieu showing very prominently. As the race unfolded it was Ciaran who was involved in what was a blanket finish to secure his individual medal after a very strong run. Mathieu also ran extremely well not far behind and Dylan, in preparation for his own u11 championships in 2 weeks, delivered a very strong performance too. Harry powered up the hill to finish his race very strongly and was closely followed by James who battled well throughout and Jack who never gave up and kept up the pace to the line. The club team finished in a very unlucky 4th place (losing out by just 4 points) but Dylan, Ciaran and Mathieu had the bonus of being part of the Meath team that earned a well-deserved Bronze medal. Well done all.
Our six under 14 girls on display had a really tough 3k to contend with and lined up among the field of 114 starters. Our team on the day consisted of Kayla Ryan, Aoife McCormack, Rachel Norman, Holly Conlon, Niamh Sherlock and Kirsten Kelly-Moody. Again this was a very fast paced race with no prisoners taken, right from the gun. Our girls were well to the fore in the early stages of the race with Kayla and Aoife the most prominent. As the race developed over the hills and into the wind it became very challenging but they all battled well with Kayla leading the girls home with a final sprint that secured her an individual medal, our second of the day. Great running from Kayla. Aoife dug deep and battled all the way to the line to finish next and with Rachel and Holly finishing in the top 35 they had packed well in the team competition. Niamh and Kirsten also battled hard on this tough course and finished not far behind after strong runs from them both. As a team these girls are no strangers to success and again today they delivered on the big stage with Bronze in a fiercely contested club competition and those girls on the Meath team were celebrating on the double with news of the Silver medal they also secured. Well done girls.
In contrast to the girls, Ross Lyons was our only representative in the Boys U14 event which was also over 3k. Again the 95 boys competing didn’t hang around with the pace being pushed right from the start. Ross positioned himself well in amongst the leading group and dug deep throughout the race. As the race developed he battled hard to keep his position and was always prominent at the business end of the race. In a frantic final burst Ross sprinted hard and was desperately unlucky not to claim an individual medal, just missing out by a matter inches. It was an extremely strong from Ross in a hugely competitive field of runners. Well done Ross.
Finally, we had 3 athletes lining up in the Under 16 girls race. While there were one short of a team these athletes were very determined to put in a good performance. Katie Green was moving up an age and was joined by Bonnie McFeet and Kate Reilly, who was returning from injury. The large field again contained serious quality and our girls equipped themselves admirably and got stuck into the race from the start, being positive and aggressive throughout. Despite a fall, it was Katie who led the girls home after a very strong run, just ahead of an ever improving Bonnie who in turn was chased home by Kate as all 3 girls finished well up the field. Well done our under 16’s, all 3 of them running very good races.
Well done to all our athletes who ran today and to all the parents who came out to support. Good performances all round at this extremely competitive provincial level, and congratulations to our individual and team medal winners on the day. Best of luck to all those who have progressed to the All Irelands.
Check out the photos on Flickr HERE: https://www.flickr.com/…/72157689964206376/with/24162637808/
