Celtic DCH

We had a busy day in Tymon park today starting with the under 10 races and finishing with our senior athletes in the womens Novice. Great running from Senan, Canice and Edward in the boys under 10, Juliette, Ellen, Rion, Aoife, Matthew, Hector and Max in the under 11.

Out of 18 under 12 athletes registered with the club it was disappointing to see only one competing today. Saoirse Quinn ran a brave race despite getting a nasty spike wound in her foot , well done Saoirse!

In the under 13 race Jessica continues to impress with Pearl, Saoirse Bergin and Saoirse Rogers also running well today. Maggie unfortunately wasn’t feeling well and had to stop.
Daire and Tom were very competitive in the boys under 13 and good to Lucien back in action.

Abigail and Ella finished close together and Hugh finished very strongly in the under 14 races.

Goda was an impressive 2nd under 15 with Nina not far behind. Aimee and Aoibhinn both ran very well over the 2k.

Lily had a great run in the under 16 race in quickly deteriorating weather and finally Christopher had his customary strong last lap to finish well up in his age group.
Well done to everyone and thank you to the parents who brought and supported their children.

The Dublin Novice is a difficult championship to defend because all of last years medalists render themselves ineligible and therefore a whole new team has to be gathered. It was in that light that we assembled back at the foot of the Hellfire Club with confidence tinged with caution. The weather turned very windy with plenty of rain in the hour or so just before the start.

Coach Fitzpatrick had laid out clear instructions as to how to approach the race and the dye was set with Faye, Lucy and Orla making their team competitive debuts in the Blue singlet. Summer who is too young this year for the Novice ran well in the under 19 race.

From the off Faye and Lucy were in the leading group with Eimear not far behind. Christelle was in the first fifteen, Aoife in the first 25, with Sarah running together within the first fifty.

These positions were held more or less throughout the second lap with Lucy and Faye running together in the lead. With a full 1400M lap to go Lucy made a break for home and ran hard up the hill opening a gap with Faye in pursuit. Over the course of that final lap Faye gradually closed up and with a strong last 800M ran home a winner. Lucy having spent a lot of energy in her quest to win hung on for third with Eimear running very strongly got up to fourth place. Christelle fought off a large group to finish twelfth with Aoife improving by twenty five places from last year for 30th. Sarah closed in in 49th and Orla 52nd.

These were excellent individual results all round and our team score of 20 points was actually less than last year. So the first cross country championships has come and gone and its off to the Leinsters in Dundalk in two weeks time, to race in a championship we have never won.

The following teams have been entered for the relays on the 16th of Oct in Abbottstown Under 11 girls panel
Ellen , Juliette, Aoife, Rion, Cara

Boys under 11
Canice, Edward,Matthew, Senan

Girls under 13
Pear, Jessica, Maggie, Saoirse, Saoirse

Girls under 15
Aimee, Goda, Nina, Jocelyn, Erin, Aoibhinn.

Details will be posted during the week.
Cliodhna Ryan and Hugh o Connor are doing the under 18 and under 14 race respectively.

Sat 8th Oct sprints and anyone not racing in Tymon park on Sunday, meet at 10.15 at HITW.

Sun. 9th Oct races for all from under 9 up to under 19, in Tymon park. Details on previous post. Aim to be on site 1 hour before the scheduled race time. Factor in carparking. Could be a wet morning so bring rain gear and a dry top to wear in car on way home. Bring 3 euro for entry fee. No previous racing experience needed for this event. Look out for club flag, where we are meeting.

Sprints group meet at 11am at the Hole In The Wall.

Tue 11th Bogies at 4pm for anyone who’s free. Everyone else Grangegorman at 7

Thur 13th 5 pm group meet at HITW. Everyone else Grangegorman at 7