Irish
Life Health Intermediate/Masters and Juvenile Development Cross Country
Galway athletes travelled in great numbers to
the National Health Intermediate and Masters Cross Country events, which were
held in Avondale Forest Park in Co. Wicklow Saturday last.
A truly demanding hilly course and windy
conditions meant a real test for those competing. Nonetheless, Galway secured a
number of team and individuals medals, via GCH, and Caron Ryan of Craughwell
and Martin McEvilly of GCH individually.
Galway City Harriers Ladies over 35 squad won
the National Masters club title, with a superb all-round performance by the
team, with the four scorers Kathryn Casserly in 12th, Jane Ann
Meehan in 16th, Deirdre Gibbons in 35th and Olive Gleeson
in 43rd.
The county squad placed fourth overall. GCH over
50 ladies were also fourth overall in their category and were led home by
Carmel Brannigan
The Intermediate Ladies’5km race saw Caron
Ryan of Craughwell continue her great cross country season with a brilliant
performance to finish second overall , and win her second National cross
country medal of the season after her Novice bronze win in December.
Galway’s Catherine Thornton running with Crusaders
AC secured team gold for her club, with Galway ladies placing fourth in the
county competition.
In the Men’s Masters races, Martin McEvilly
of GCH made a winning return to action taking gold in the Over 70 category with
a storming run.
In the team competition Galway fielded three
teams, with the Over 65 Men’s team winning silver, via McEvilly, Martin Kearney
of GCH, Frank Power of South Galway and Andy Talbot of CRH.
GCH Men’s team won bronze club medals via
McEvilly, Kearney and Tony Fahy
The Over 50 GCH Men’s team placed fourth with
Gerry Carty first home for the team, while the County team, led by Ian Egan,
placed in fifth position
In the Over 35 Men’s event, Galway were fifth
with Brian Furey of Rathfarnham and Matt Coffey of Castlegar finishing in the
top 40 overall. Castlegar AC Men’s team were 17th overall in the
club event.
The GCH Intermediate Men’s team of Conor
Deane, Conor Byrne, David Carter and David Bohan were seventh overall in a very
competitive event over 8km.
At Juvenile level, Alan Hallinan of
Craughwell AC ran a great race to place fourth in the U11 Boys race.
Maree
8km
The Maree 8KM Run due to be held last Sunday
was cancelled due to Storm Ciara. The race will now be held on Sunday, February
23rdnext at 12 noon.
AAI
Games
The AAI Indoor Games were held last Sunday
9th February in the National Indoor Arena in Dublin with several
Galway athletes competing. James Frizzell of GCH ran a superb 3.59 over 1500
metres, with clubmate Jack Maher not far behind in 4.01.
Paul Joyce of Craughwell AC won his 800m race
in 1.59.
Fixtures
Gort
5km
The annual Gorgeous Gort 5km takes place
Sunday next 16th February in Gort. The race will start at 1.30pm and
race entrants are asked to assemble outside Gort Community Centre at 1.20pm
prior to being walked to the start line by race marshals.
Registration will open at 11.30am in Gort
Community centre and is also available online on Active.com
Connacht
Schools Cross Country
The Connacht Schools Cross Country finals
take place in Bushfield Loughrea next Saturday 15th February
Intervarsities
Indoors
The Irish University Indoor Track and Field
Championships will take place this Saturday 15thFebruary
in Athlone.
NUI Galway will field strong teams across all
events under the guidance of coaches Brendan Glynn and Matt Lockett, with the
likes of Pierre Murchan, Thomas McStay, Sarah Quinn and Nicole Walsh likely to
be among the favourites in their respective disciplines.
Assistant
Coaching Course
There is an introductory coaching course
being held in St Brigid’s College Loughrea on Friday 14th February 14th and
Friday 28th February 6=9.30pm and entry is now up online on https://www.athleticsireland.ie/index.php/coaching
if anyone wishes to register.
