Galway Cross Country Championships
Two Days of Galway cross-country action took place last week, with The Galway Senior championships held in Castlegar alongside the Open Race, and the Juvenile Even Ages and Novice adult races held in Bushfield, Loughrea on Sunday last. Thomas McStay made a winning return to action claiming the Galway title, and placed a fine fourth in the Open race which attracted an international class field, with Irish international Keelan Kilreehil winning out. McStay was followed home by William Fitzgerald of Craughwell in second. Galway City Harriers just pipped a strong Craughwell side for team victory.
In the Ladies, Lauren Tinkler of DCH stormed home well clear of Mary Mulhare in second. The first Galway lady home and county champion was Eimear O Leary of GCH, just ahead of Helena O Keeffe of Craughwell in second. Once again, GCH won team gold, with Deirdre Gibbons in third, Kate Collins Smyth and Clara Simon forming the winning quartet. A sunny Bushfield cross country course met the hordes of Juvenile athletes competing at the superb venue last Sunday, many for their first time. The Galway Novice races also were on the card for adults, with Deirdre Gibbons of GCH taking Ladies gold and John Whiriskey of South Galway AC claiming the Men’s honours.
At Juvenile level, U-10 winners were Hana Gheziel of Castlegar in the Girl's race and Dylan Devitt of GCH in the Boys, at U12 the victors were Kate Whiriskey of South Galway and Jack Heneghan of Tuam AC, in the U14s winners were Siun Ni Chonaill of Castlegar AC and Patrick Lee of Clare River Harriers. In the older ages, Claudia Coyle of South Galway impressed winning the U16 Girls, as did Ciaran Considine her clubmate in the Boys. At U-18 level, Isobelle Conroy of Castlegar claimed gold along with Harry Keaney of GCH
This weekend sees the Uneven Ages Juvenile championships from U9 to U19 and the Galway Intermediate adult races take place in Tuam, with a 10 am start time
Also, this weekend, the Autumn Open Cross country event will be held in Abbottstown, Dublin which includes both Senior and Masters events
Galway and Connacht Primary Schools Cross-Country
The Galway Primary Schools Finals were held in Nolan Park Renmore last week, with over 500 athletes making it through from the prior week's semi-finals day, on which more than 2,500 school children competed on a day of great racing and excitement. Last week's finals also acted as qualifiers for this weekend's Connacht finals which will be held in Mohill, Leitrim, Saturday 12th October at 11 am. Winners on the day were Ryan Byrne in the 3rd and 4th Boy's race for Monivea, Boys event, Cathy Sheridan of Clarenbridge in the 3rd and 4th Girl’s race and Elise Day of Gaelscoil Dara in the 5th and 6th Girls races, and Darcy Noel of Galway Educate Together in the Boys 5th and 6th class event.
Galway Bay Races
Over 3,000 athletes competed across three races on a challenging day for racing in Salthill last Saturday at the Galway Bay series of races. Winners on the day were John Travers of Donore Harriers and Claire Fagan of Mullingar Harriers in the 10k, Jake O Regan of St Johns AC and Ciara Foy of Mullingar in the Half Marathon, while the Marathon itself was claimed by Andy Ritchie in 2.44, with Maeve Carville first lady home
Cover Photo: Galway Senior Ladies Cross Country champion - Eimear O Leary of Galway City Harriers (credit John O Connor)
