Celtic Cross Country International
On Saturday the 8th of February in Temple Newsam in Leeds as part of the Home Countries International and Celtic Nations Cross Country, Athletics Ireland sent over U17 athletes to take on the best of England, Scotland and Wales. Galway athletes were well represented and secured gold on the double. South Galway AC athlete Luke Walsh put in an outstanding performance to win gold in the Celtic Cross Country competition. Walsh tucked in behind the leading pack for most of the race and with 200m to go he kicked for home and took individual gold. He was followed by his teammates, including clubmate Ciaran Considine, as well as Charlie O'Neill, and David Wajrak to take team gold. The Irish U17 girls also had huge success with Freya Renton of Westport winning gold and the clear winner by over 100m.
National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country
It was a historic day in the superb surrounds of Westport House in Mayo, for Castlegar AC athlete Abaas Adam Edris (pictured), who produced a top-class, front-running performance to secure the National Intermediate title at a thrilling edition of the 123.ie National Intermediate, Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships. Edris has placed highly at National level in multiple recent editions of this event and finally got his reward for years of hard work to claim a famous win over the testing 8km distance last Sunday. Ultimately shaking off a strong Ennis Track challenge, Edris was a decisive winner of the men’s race over 8,000m, with the Galway athlete crossing the line in a time of 26:16. Edris also led the Castlegar men's team to a fine 3rd place finish, and team bronze, with other scorers Aimad Belayd finishing in 7th, Serhii Sylenko 22nd and Hafis Adam in 26th rounded off a fine performance for the four scorers, with great support from Ben O Sullivan in 37th and Rupert Claisse 42nd. Martin McEvilly of GCH continues to win at the top level, claiming V75 Gold over the Men’s 4km distance. GCH Women’s Cross-Country team won National team medals at V-35 level, with the scoring quartet of Catherine Thornton in a fine 9th overall, Eimear O’Leary, Grainne Ní hUallacháin and Niamh Hennelly. Galway County Men’s Over 35 team also won bronze, via the six of GCH quartet Ger Cuddy, Michael Flanagan, Conor Byrne and Art Naughton, Aidan Kelly (Corrib AC) and Paul Kearney (Tuam AC). Sean Burke, Ger Hartnett, Ian Egan, Rob Malseed, Gerry Carty and Kieran McGlynn combined well to claim National silver medals as part of a great Men's 50+ team.
National Juvenile B Cross Country Championships
The National Juvenile B Championships were held in Westport ahead of the Intermediate and Masters events Castlegar AC were there in force and secured three team medals under lead coach Kathryn Casserly. First up were their Boys U11 team who made history by capturing the club's first ever All Ireland B cross-country team medal. The team finished second overall on 94pts behind Sligo AC (64pts) , with the squad led home by Finbarr Sayers Salas in an incredible 4th place, Danny Cullinane was next in 22nd, Joseph Neary was next in 27th, Seán Botha in 41st, Diarmuid Keogh 63rd and Cian Gillan in a superb 86th. Not to be outdone, Castlegar U13 Boys were superb, as they claimed team gold .Led home by Calum Deeth in a great 6th place overall. The squad of William Duggan finished a brilliant 30th just ahead of Felix Stapleton James Tommey was next in 52nd place, Oran Hughes was in 61st place, Cillian O’Neill in 70th, followed closely behind by Dylan Madden and Mattie Cullinan. Castlegar AC U15 Girls topped off a great day with Team Silver, and claimed two individual medals in the top 12 home. Elly Turner had a stormer of a run and crossed the finish line in 5th place with Siun Ni Chonaill fighting hard on the home straight to earn a well-deserved 11th place. Next over the line was Caragh Flynn in 30th place, with Rachel Duggan in 40th place, and backed up by Cliodhna Ni Chonaill and Emma Madden
IUAA indoors
The IUAA National University Indoors were held Sunday last in the NIA in Abbottstown, Dublin. The University of Galway and ATU athletes excelled, notably in the 400m, with Gold for Ben Edeh of ATU and Silver for Stephen Mannion of UG. Aisling Lane of the University of Galway won gold in the Ladies 1500m Race Walk. UG also won three further silvers via Evan Hallinan in the High Jump, Kyle Moorhead over 800m and Oisin Davis in the 1500m with a fast 3.51 clocking. Oisin Thompson won Silver for ATU in the Long Jump, as did Claire Kennedy in the Weight throw while Caoimhe McDonagh took bronze in the Triple Jump also for ATU
National Indoor Track and Field League
Craughwell AC Ladies won bronze at the AAI Indoor League final last Sunday in Dublin, captained by Sarah Finnegan, the squad comprised Finnegan, Sinead Treacy, Rachel Warde, Helena O Keeffe, Arlene Earls , Emma O Donovan, Lauren Kilduff, Aeveen Kelly, Laura Cunningham and Emily Nestor. Craughwell AC Men’s team placed a fine fourth overall, while GCH were 14th in the Men’s competition
Indoor Races
Galway City Harriers Cillín Greene opened his indoor track season in style as he ran 46.49 seconds to go 7th on the Irish All-Time list last weekend.
Maree 8k
This scenic run takes place in the surrounds of Maree, Oranmore, Co. Galway on Sunday, February 16th 2025 at 12:30 pm. This run takes participants from Race HQ at Maree Community Centre out onto Galway Bay, down the picturesque Twain peninsula, and back to Maree Community Centre.
