The curtain came down on a busy weekend of cross country running on both sides of the Atlantic for our club at this exciting new course today. The event excellently hosted and organised by Tallaght AC was held on a disused golf course with plenty of undulation, muddy patches following recent rain in addition to stretches of good running. Something for everyone you might say.
Our under 19 womens team of Cliodhna, Claire and Summercombined to take 3rd team. Christopher finished an excellent 13th in the boys section while Alex, making his DCH debut was came home in 15th place in the junior men’s race.
Having split the squad in order to race in the Leinster Championships the previous day the pressure was on the Senior Women to deliver against a strong field. Jodie and Faye led the group for lap and a half with Cliona in close proximity and Alison operating just outside the top ten. Eimear and Aoife by agreement maintained places in the early 20’s.
Heading into the final lap Faye had moved into third ahead of Jodie. Cliona was holding 5th/6th under pressure and Alison having a fine run was gaining all the while. Eimear and Aoife made steady progress and were just outside the top 20 at this stage.
At the finish Faye came in 3rd closely followed by Jodie in 4th, Alison running a storming finish finished 6th with Cliona 7th. Eimear worked her way into the top 20 and Aoife, who sacrificed a run in the Leinster’s the previous day to support the team gain a couple of places more. Full results here; https://www.myrunresults.com/race-results/all.
With a low total of 20 points we retained the Jim McNamara Trophy, struck in honour of the late Olympian and coach.
There are nine major cross country championships on offer each season, three novice, three intermediate and three seniors. We have won the first 4 but the sterner test has yet to come.
To round off the day we witnessed a fantastic run by Pierre in the men’s senior section. Always in the first four Pierre produced a magnificent final lap to finish second and claim the individual silver medal. This is the first men’s medal won by a DCH athlete at these championships since Roy Dooney in 1989.
So far so good.
Celtic DCH 