from Munster Express Hannah Irish storms to gold in U/11 race. St Senans athletes struck gold at the county Kilkenny ‘B’ cross country on a bright frosty day in Thomastown last Sunday with fine wins for Eve Lacey in the U/9 race and Hannah Irish in the U/11 event.
There were fine team performances too with the girls U/13 taking gold and the girls U/11 taking silver. Hannah Lacey got the team off to a flying start in the U/7 race taking silver with a fine solo performance. Things got even better in the U/11 race as Hannah Irish took the lead from the gun and stormed round the course for a great win. Caoimhe Kearns had a fine run taking 6th place, as did Annmarie Moloney 12th and Niamh Fleming 14th.
In the girls U/13 race Tara Lacey took bronze in a close run race with Aoife Halley home in 6th, Clare McEvoy 8th and Michelle McDonald 12th, a fine team run. The boys were in action in the U/9 race where the team of Kevin Conneely, Robbie Green, Martin Moloney and Kieran Wallis all ran very well. Jonathan Crowley continues to improve and was rewarded with a 4th place in the U/11 race. There were more individual medals in the U/13 race where Stephen Green dug deep to take bronze, with Host club, Thomastown, had large numbers involved particularly in the younger ages. Eight of the top nine in the boys U/9 race were from club. They also had some fine individual performances from Ciara O’Keeffe and Jack Barcoe who both won gold in the U/7 and U/9 races. St Josephs won gold in the U/7 boys and U/15 and U/17 girls through Rory O’Connor, Rachel Mernagh and Shauna Power.
Results
Girls U/7 1 Ciara O’Keeffe, T’town, 2 Hannah Lacey, St Senan’s, 3 Sarah O’Neill, Gowran.
Boys U/7 -1 Rory O’Connor, St Joseph’s; 2 Jordan Knight, T’town; 3 Edmond Fitzpatrick, T’town.
Girls U/9 – 1 Eva Lacey, St Senan’s; 2 Sinead O’Keeffe, T’town; 3 Linda Lawlor, St Joseph’s.
Boys U/9 – 1 Jack Barcoe; 2 Darragh Corcoran; 3 Joseph Conlon All Thomastown.
Girls U/11 1. Hannah Irish, St Senan’s; 2 Chloe Richardson, St Joseph’s; 3 Clara Kennedy, St Joseph’s.
Boys U/11 – 1 Jack Manning, KCH; 2 Shane McGeary, KCH; 3 Michael Carey, Gowran.
Girls U/13 – Cliodhna Quirke, Brow Rangers; 2 Aoibhe Richardson, KCH; 3 Tara Lacey, St Senan’s.
Boys U/13 – 1 Conor O’Carroll, Gowran; 2 Conor Delaney, Castlecomer; 3 Stephen Greene, St Senan’s.
Girls U/15 – 1 Rachel Mernagh, St Joseph’s, 2 Rebecca Mernagh, St Joseph’s.
Boys U/15 – 1 Tom Phelan, Castlecomer; 2 Tom Davis, Castlecomer; 3 Conor Quinlan, KCH.
Girls U/17 – 1 Shauna Power, St Joseph’s; 2 Aoife Power, Thomastown.
O’Reilly and Minogue take Novice ‘B’ Gold
In the ladies race Tracy Malone, St Josephs, took an early lead in 3K race but was eventually overhauled by Elaine O’Reilly of Thomastown who went on to win in impressive fashion. Kilkenny City Harriers duo, Mary Broderick and Breda Butler move through on lap two to take silver and bronze, with Malone finishing strongly to take 4th place.
The men had five laps of the 1200m course and from the off it was Clive Minogue, KCH, who set the pace at the front. Behind him Davy Hogan also of KCH eased his way through the field to take silver ahead of the indestructible Rocky Mernagh of St Josephs. Larry McGrath, Gowran, finished strongly in fourth place outsprinting David McPherson of KCH with Steve Dermody 6th, Eddie O’Shaughnessy 7th and Vivian Mullally 8th . KCH took both gold and silver team titles.
Ballyhaise or Bust
Elaine Kearns will have to be out of the feathers at cockcrow next Sunday as she joins the St Senans team heading to Ballyhaise in Co Cavan at 6.30am in search of All Ireland gold. U/11Hannah Irish and Isabel Morgan, U/13 Ailish Conneely and Tara Lacey, U/15 Bronagh Kearns. Boys U/13 Hugh Morgan, U/17 Conor Rochford.
Junior Team
Congratulations to Patrick Flynn, Shane Quinn and Paddy Hogan on their selection for the Irish Junior team at the European Cross Country in Brussels on 14th Dec next.
Another local athlete David McCarthy of West Waterford who is currently competing for Providence College in the US has been selected for the U/23 squad, while sister Lorraine is on the girls junior team as is her Ferrybank team mate Patricia Barry. It’s a great boost for athletics locally and a superb achievement by Shane Quinn who is still competing at U/17 level.
Good Job
Well done to the Waterford AC club on a great job at the AAI Intercounties in Tramore on the 23rd Nov. It’s a big responsibility to hold such a prestigious event and they showed they have both the manpower and the expertise to take on a major event. The venue too was ideal with plenty of room both for athletes and spectators. Great to see top class cross country back in Waterford again recalling the heady times of the ‘70’s and 80’s when John and Ray Treacy, Gerry Deegan, Brendan Quinn and Tony Ryan among others set hearts racing in Kilbarry.
Winter League
Almost 600 runners went to the line including PJ Dwyer and son Darragh in the Waterford Road Runners Winter League series. It’s a major success story and a fine example of this is young Darragh who has already taken 4 minutes off his 5 mile time. Other St Senan athletes taking part include Cait Caulfield 36.58, Andy Dollard 34.06 and Tomas Caulfield 40.00. Former Olympic walker Perri Williams was another to join the ranks last Thursday, covering the short course in a sprightly 17.20. If you want to take part, registration is at 6.30pm each Thursday with the first group off at 7.00pm. Check it out it’s the most fun you can have without laughing.
Waterpark 4 Miler
A new race on the calendar is the Waterpark 4 mile road race, which takes place on Sunday 14th Dec from the RSC at 11.00am. Its in aid of the school so all support would be greatly appreciated.
GetFitQuick
Adele’s answer to strictly come dancing takes place each Wed night in the Presentation Convent starting at 7.00pm. It’s a musical workout geared towards the fit and not so fit. With over 30 in attendance most nights it’s a popular training session, so if you want to join now’s the time.
Did You Know?
Floyd Rood golfed across the US covering 3,397 miles and returning a score of 114,737 – a shade over par I imagine!! Leon de Lunden of Belgium won Olympic gold in 1900 in Live Pigeon shooting, killing a total of 21 birds – now that took pluck!! Boxing was the first sport to be filmed back in 1894 when Mike Leonard knocked out Jack Cushing – Leonard reportly said ” I mostly hit him in the face as I didn’t want to disfigure him” – thoughtful of him!! A bare knuckle championship fight in France in 1887 between Jake Kilrain and Jem Smith was declared a draw after 106 rounds as the light began to fade – as it does in boxing!! Finally Pankration was an early form of boxing in which anything went – in 546BC Arrachian of Phigalia won the Olympic title after his opponent ‘gave up’, apparently because he was dead – any excuse!!
Fixtures
7th Dec AAI Novice and Juvenile (uneven) CC, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan 12.00am
14th Dec Waterpark 4 mile Road Race , RSC 11.00am
21st Dec Co Kilkenny Senior CC, Gowran 2.00am
Quoteworthy
“A racehorse is the only animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time”
– Anon