Connacht Cross Country Championships
Aine O'Farrell GCH, winner Senior Ladies race at the Connacht Cross Country Championships.
The first day of the Connacht Cross Country Championships at club level including the Adult Senior League competition and the Juvenile Even Ages championships, was held on a superb, scenic and testing course in Westport House on Sunday last.
At Senior level, Galway secured a Senior gold in the Ladies' race over 4km, via a strong and astute performance by Aine O’Farrell. GCH and Craughwell both fielded Ladies' squads. In the Men’s race, Hugh Armstrong of Ballina emerged victorious, with Abaas Edris of Castlegar AC placed second behind the runaway winner. Luke O’Sullivan won U18 bronze for Craughwell.
At Juvenile level, Galway had multiple qualifiers for the upcoming National championships with those in the top 12 in each race, plus the top three club and county teams, all going forward to the All Irelands in Kilkenny on November 19th.
Notable performances at Juvenile level came via, the girls of Galway City Harriers who won gold at U16 level with Jennifer McCarthy leading them home in third place overall, while Tuam AC won team silver. In the U16 Boys event, it was a 1-2 for Ciaran Considine and Luke Walsh of South Galway, with Tuam packing well to win team gold.
Ryan Byrne of East Galway produced a storming run to win the U10 Boys competition with Craughwell’s Patrick Quinn home in third place, with Castlegar AC claiming team gold. South Galway AC won gold in the U10 Girls team competition, while Ruby Coyne of Castlegar claimed bronze individually.
At U12 level, Clare River Harriers girls were third team overall, while at U14 level Tuam AC packed well to win silver team wise, with Ruby McGuire of Tuam AC winning individual bronze In the U14 Boys event Alan Hallinan of Craughwell AC reigned supreme winning gold, with clubmate David Frazer securing bronze, both leading their club to team victory also, with CRH taking third spot.
Next up is the Connacht Uneven Ages events in Ballymote in Sligo on November 5th.
Dublin Marathon
Peadar Nugent Athenry AC, running his 42nd Dublin Marathon this Sunday (Credit Sportsfile/Sam Barnes)
This weekend sees the Dublin Marathon take place around the streets of the capital, incorporating the National Championships The 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon which takes place on Sunday, October 29th and will be the 42nd edition of the event.
Galway man Peadar Nugent of Athenry AC is one of only 11 runners who are set to continue their record of running every Dublin marathon, a testament to his fitness and longevity.
Hundreds of other Galway club athletes will take to the roads, with many aiming for sub-3-hour finishes including the likes of Deirdre Gibbons and Maebh Brannigan of GCH in the Ladies race, while in the Men’s, Louis Coyne of GCH and Rob Lennon of Castlegar will target sub-2.45, among others.
