National Juvenile Cross Country
The second day of the National Cross Country season will be held in Gowran, Kilkenny next Sunday, with the National Juvenile Uneven Age championships taking place. The programme sees races from U11 through to U19 age groups, with Galway clubs well represented on Connacht, county and club teams.
National Novice Cross Country
Galway’s senior athletes travel to Kilkenny aiming for medals, as strong Men’s and Women’s squads head Southeast to the scenic surrounds of Gowran. The Men’s race is over a 6km distance, with the Ladies over 4km, and both events are traditionally fast and furious affairs.
Galway Men’s team and the Craughwell club team look strong, with standouts including rising star William Fitzgerald and Jamie Fallon of Craughwell fresh from great runs at the National Seniors, allied to the in-form Patrick Noonan and Jack Miskella. The rest of the Men’s squad is strong with the likes of Keith Fallon and Aaron Brennan of GCH, and Abbas Edris and Stephen Casserly of Castlegar, all hoping to bring silverware back West. Craughwell, GCH and Castlegar will all field strong club teams
Galway Ladies team is also strong, led by Ellen Moran and Barbara Dunne of GCH who are in top form all season, and this duo, allied to clubmates Maebh Brannigan, Olive Gleeson, Niamh Hennelly and Aine O Farrell, with Craughwells Sinead Gaffney and Aisling Moyles of Castlegar, make up a top class eight. Both Men’s and Ladies squad will also field a second team given the huge numbers and talent at the selector’s disposal, and GCH and Castlegar have strong club teams
Ballinderreen 10k
The Ballinderreen 10k was held Sunday last hosted by South Galway AC, and doubled as the County championship. The talented Hugh McCardle of Roscommon Harriers claimed the honours in a time of 32.58, Enda Marren second and Gary Higgins third. Stephen Casserly of Castlgar AC was first Galway club athlete home taking the Galway title
First lady home was Grainne Ni Uallachain of Galway City Harriers, in a fast time of 37.50 with the city club taking all the podium spots and Galway championship medals, via Neasa De Burca in second and Clare Rowe in third.
L to R Siobhan Kelleher organizer, 3rd Clare Rowe, winner Grainne Ni Uallachain and 2nd Neasa De Burca, all GCH - PHOTO credit JOHN O CONNOR
