The Woodie’s DIY Novice and Juvenile Uneven Cross Country Championships will take place in the Curragh camp on Sunday the 11th of December. The National Novice women’s and men’s race should be the highlight of the programme.
Jamie Rossiter (Clonliffe Harriers) won the Dublin Novice Championships back in October. He also recently finished sixth U23 in the Woodie’s DIY InterCounties Cross Country Championships held in Sligo on the 27th of November. This sort of form will see the Dublin athlete as one of the favourites to take the national title on Sunday. Micheal Carmody (Limerick AC) will look to challenge for the title after his victory in the Munster Novice championships.
Niall Tuohy (Ferrybank AC) an accomplished track runner will be one to watch if conditions are dry underfoot. Darragh Rennicks (Bohermeen AC) and Connor Magill (North Belfast Harriers AC) were impressive winners of the Leinster and Ulster Novice Championships respectively and are likely to challenge for top places.
The Women’s National Novice championships will be an open race. Joanne English (Letterkenny AC) and Angela Speight (Finn Valley AC) finished first and second respectively in the Ulster Novice championships and will be looking to put in a strong challenge for the national title. Laura Shaughnessy of Loughrea, after a good showing at the National Inter Counties will also look for a top placing.
Martina Kiely (St. Finbarr’s AC) and Maria McCarthy (Farranfore Main Valley AC) will represent Munster’s best chance of taking victory after their top placing in the Munster Novice. Leona O’Reilly (Liffey Valley AC) will lead the charge from the capital as she hopes to build on the success of winning the Dublin Novice title. Ellie Hartnett (Sli Cualann AC) won the Leinster Novice championships and should give a strong performance in Sunday’s National Championships.
Ireland’s finest underage athletes will also battle it out on the day for National titles in the juvenile uneven ages from U11 to U19.
Coverage of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be provided by RTE on Sunday as well. The programme will feature live coverage of the senior men’s and women’s races as well as highlights from the earlier underage events. RTE Two-12.25pm-14.35pm