GALLERY: Westmeath Schools Cross Country proves a great success

The Westmeath Schools Cross Country took place in Belvedere last Wednesday. In contrast to the previous week's sunshine and high temperatures, it was quite cold in Belvedere on the day. However, we were very lucky to escape the rain that was forecast, and the last race was well over, with everyone on their way home before the rain came.

Whatever the weather, the grounds in Belvedere always look great, and after a week of sunshine, the underfoot conditions were ideal for running. Thanks to the hard work put in by volunteers from the club in setting up the course, everything was ready on the day. As always, we are indebted to the many volunteers, members, and friends of Mullingar Harriers, who turn up in big numbers to help when the call goes out. This time was no exception, and we had lots of help to make the day a success. It was great to see such enthusiasm in the competitors, from the young first-class pupils to the older secondary school students, cheered on by a big crowd of teachers and parents. The event remains very popular, and the feedback from teachers and parents was very positive, so we look forward to continued support in future years.

Sincere thanks to Westmeath Civil Defence, who attended to look after any first-aid needs with their customary calm and professionalism. The management and staff at Belvedere House and Gardens were also of great help in organising the day at a venue that is absolutely ideal for hosting such an event. Finally, our thanks to the teachers and schools for competing and ensuring that the event continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited sporting events on the calendar for school-going age groups in Westmeath.

The primary school top 20 individual finishers and team scores, as well as the secondary schools top 20 individual finishers, are available on the club’s website, www.mullingarharriers.com. Congratulations to all who took part. As usual, the standard of competition was extremely high, and medals were hard-won for all competitors. Team medals will be distributed to the schools in the coming days.

Athletics Westmeath Cross Country

With the south of the country under an orange rainfall warning and heavy rain slowly spreading north towards the midlands from early morning, we didn’t hang around in Belvedere last Sunday morning on day one of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country Championships. Moving quickly through the programme, we managed to get all the younger age races done and dusted and saw them safely on their way home before the rain arrived during the last race, which was for older underage and adult members. They are hardy athletes and weren’t put off by a bit of wind and rain.

The competition was for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 years of age, and for women and men under 18, 19, 20, and novice, senior, and masters. Given the forecast, it was little surprise that there were fewer juveniles than last year, but the number of adults was up, including some from Athlone AC and Coralstown Kinnegad AC. There was great competition in each race, and performances were very encouraging in the older age groups, where the focus was on places on club and county teams for the Leinster Cross Country Championships.

The boys and girls who ran in the non-Championship under 8 and under 10 races really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals—one for everyone that finished. Moving to the Championship proper, the course in Belvedere is a great test of cross-country endurance, and those that train there regularly will have no problem with any course at Leinster. There were some very good individual performances, but Championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was closely watched by club coaches, particularly the newcomers. Cross-country racing always throws up some surprises, and we didn’t expect quite a few of the results we saw. However, it’s still early in the season, and some will improve more than others as we near the Leinsters, so keep up the training and continue to deliver the surprises!

All the underage races were keenly contested, and the last race of the day was a combined race for girls and boys under 18, 19, and 20 years, as well as for novice, senior, and master women and men. All the women ran 4,000m, the older master men also ran 4,000m, the senior men ran 8,000m, and the rest of the men ran 6,000m. Everyone started together and ran over the same course but with different numbers of laps. It was quite a spectacle to see over fifty runners racing out from the start and making their way around the rolling hills of Belvedere.

The club’s masters group was well represented, and it was great to see a number of our most recent new members competing in cross country for the very first time after just a few training sessions over the last few Saturdays. Training continues each Saturday now, so further opportunities will become available as the cross-country season gets into full swing in the coming weeks.

Day two, this coming Sunday morning in Belvedere, will be for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 years of age. The first race will be at 11am, so the younger runners should be in Belvedere before 10.30am to get ready and know where they have to run. The Athletics Westmeath Cross Country is an open competition, and you don’t have to be a member of a club to take part, so everyone is very welcome to compete.

The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks between each. Juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and move up an age group to make up teams. Therefore, we expect all juveniles to compete on both days of the Westmeath Championships unless ill or injured, as they might be disappointed if not selected. The results from both days and commitment in training will be used to select teams to represent the club and Westmeath in the Leinster Championships. The results from the men’s and women’s races last Sunday will also be used to select club and county teams for the Leinster Championships.

Thanks to all who helped to record the results, marshal, and steward the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, and to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent grounds, but especially to the athletes who provided great competition.

The results from day one are:

Under 8 girls 500m – 1. Tara Coyne, 2. Grace Cummins, 3. Layla Morgan, 4. Ella McDonald, 5. Ciara Byrne, 6. Melody Saugnier, 7. Aoibheann Noone, 8. Kayla Smyth, 9. Robyn Melody.

Under 8 boys 500m – 1. Robert Bohan, 2. Daithi Fallon, 3. Joe Hickey, 4. Aaron Horohan, 5. Tadhg O'Farrell, 6. Padraig Savage, 7. Ciaran Fitzpatrick.

Under 10 girls 1,000m – 1. Emily Coyne, 2. Maisie Walsh, 3. Cara Hickey, 4. Zoe O'Donoghue, 5. Mia Barry, 6. Sarah Cummins, 7. Heather Kelly, 8. Meabh Doyle, 9. Adele Bertolo, 10. Cliodhna Fitzpatrick, 11. Leah Flynn, 12. Laurie Keane, 13. Eanin Staunton, 14. Holly Walshe, 15. Rachel Robinson, 16. Sophie Whitelaw, 17. Elsie Hegarty, 18. Emma McManus, 19. Robyn Bradley, 20. Madeleine O'Brien, 21. Evie Hassett.

Under 10 boys 1,000m – 1. Emmet Walsh, 2. Shay Gavigan, 3. Matthew Callaghan, 4. Rafe Murray, 5. Senan Whelehan, 6. Austin Keaveney, 7. Luke Cosgrove, 8. Tiernan O'Farrell, 9. Keelan Fox, 10. Keelan Horohan, 11. Callum Delaney, 12. Joe Clarke, 13. Tiernan Martyn, 14. Rowan Buckley, 15. Luke McDonnell, 16. Eoghan Savage, 17. Ryan Corroon, 18. Conor Nolan, 19. Virbhay Sauparna.

Under 12 girls 2,000m – 1. Penny Bohan (MHAC), 2. Lauryn Smith (MHAC), 3. Helen McGrath (MHAC), 4. Grace Farry (MHAC), 5. Katie Bohan (MHAC), 6. Caoimhe Lynam, 7. Isabelle Morris (MHAC), 8. Roisin Keane (MHAC), 9. Aine O'Farrell (MHAC), 10. Ava Meehan (MHAC), 11. Rose Harte (MHAC), 12. Ava Daly, 13. Cecily Leonard, 14. Ailbhe Barry.

Under 12 boys 2,000m – 1. Daniel Cummins (MHAC), 2. Donagh Bourke (MHAC), 3. Adam O'Donoghue (MHAC), 4. Conor Gavin (MHAC), 5. Cillian McManus (Athlone), 6. Aaron Robinson (MHAC), 7. Cillian Gavin (MHAC), 8. Noah Morgan (MHAC), 9. Olly Wright (MHAC), 10. Cian Gavin (MHAC), 11. Ethan Byrne (MHAC), 12. Huw Keaveney (MHAC), 13. Killian Hardiman, 14. Andrew Bradley (MHAC), 15. Fionn O'Donoghue (MHAC), 16. Tiernan Smyth (MHAC), 17. Fintan Harte (MHAC), 18. Jamie Hoey (MHAC), 19. Luke Wallace (MHAC), 20. Cian McDonald (MHAC).

Under 14 girls 3,000m – 1. Chloe Bell (MHAC), 2. Amelie Kelly (MHAC), 3. Sheeva Leonard, 4. Shaynah Mitchell (MHAC), 5. Kate O'Donoghue (MHAC), 6. Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 7. Lucy Kilmurray (MHAC), 8. Lily McDonald (MHAC), 9. Alice Hyland (MHAC), 10. Mina Sheridan (MHAC), 11. Emily Tully (MHAC), 12. Muirin Dunne (MHAC), 13. Cadhla Guilfoyle (MHAC), 14. Clodagh Doran (MHAC).

Under 14 boys 3,000m – 1. Antonio Bertolo (MHAC), 2. Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 3. Gareth Glennon (MHAC), 4. Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 5. Louis Kiernan (MHAC), 6. Seamus Clarke (MHAC).

Under 16 girls 4,000m – 1. Tianna O'Leary (MHAC), 2. Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), 3. Isabel Tynan Daly (MHAC), 4. Blathnaid Peters (MHAC), 5. Yves McCague (MHAC), 6. Lisa O'Brien (MHAC), 7. Evie Kilmurray (MHAC), 8. Emma Lagan (MHAC).

Under 16 boys 4,000m – 1. Conor Walsh (MHAC), 2. Cormac McGrath (MHAC), 3. Cian Hyland (MHAC), 4. Daniel Glennon (MHAC), 5. Morgan Isdell (MHAC). Under 18 girls 4,000m – 1. Ailbhe O'Farrell (MHAC).

Under 18 boys 6,000m – 1. Jamie Wallace (MHAC), 2. Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 3. Donagh Carey (MHAC), 4. Oisin Kehoe (MHAC), 5. Txema Lozano (MHAC), 6. Conor Mulvaney (MHAC).

Under 19 girls 4,000m – 1. Grace Byrne (MHAC), 2. Louise Callaghan (MHAC), 3. Jessica Cunningham (MHAC). Under 19 boys 6,000m – 1. Conor Sherwin (MHAC).

Under 20 women 4,000m – 1. Aisling Lane (MHAC).

Under 20 men 6,000m – 1. Conleth Mullen (MHAC).

Senior Women 4,000m – 1. Susan Glennon (MHAC).

Novice Women 4,000m – 1. Orlaith Flanagan (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – 1. Sinead Whitelaw (MHAC), 2. Linda Cunningham (MHAC), 3. Claire Ross (MHAC), 4. Sharon O’Dowd (MHAC), 5. Catherine Gavin (MHAC), 6. Siobhan Farry (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/50) 1. Anna Marie O'Dowd (Athlone AC), Maura Dervin (MHAC), 3. Caroline Mullen (MHAC), 4. Eva McMorrow (MHAC). 5. Vera McCool (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Brigid McCabe (MHAC).

Master Men 4,000m – (o/65) 1. John Bannon, 2. Greg Duggan (MHAC).

Senior Men 8,000m – 1. Matthew Glennon (MHAC), 2. James Keegan (MHAC), 3. Gerard Gavin (MHAC).

Novice Men 6,000m – 1. Aidan Gorry (Coralstown Kinnegad), 2. Ian McCormack (MHAC) but ran 8,000m.

Master Men 6,000m – (o/35) 1. Enda O’Carolan (MHAC), 2. Ken Whitelaw (MHAC), 3. David Cahill (MHAC), 4. Stephen Underwood (MHAC), 5. Ciaran McManus (Athlone), 6. Patrick Muldoon (MHAC), 7. Brian Boyle.

Master Men 6,000m – (o/50) 1. Eddie Lynch (MHAC), 2. Tom McGrath (MHAC), 3. Paddy Daly (MHAC), 4. Matt Glennon (Coralstown Kinnegad), 5. James Carton (MHAC), 6. Bashir Hussain (Athlone), 7. Jason McKevitt (MHAC), 8. Paul Ginnell (MHAC), 9. Mairtin Savage (MHAC), 10. Kevin O’Brien (MHAC), 11. Paul McCool (MHAC).