A large contingent from the club took the bus to Mullingar for the Leinster Novice XC 2011. The race took place on the same hilly course as last year. A slippery course meant long spikes and made the going bit tougher than last year.
After a few hours putting up the new club gazebo the ladies race was first up. After slogging it out in Novice races for a few years Ciara Foster put in a great performance to finish 9th securing some rest and relaxation next year when Novice cross country season comes a-knocking. Ciara was quickly followed by Natalia and Catriona who both keep getting better and better each race. There was also some great runs by cross country newbies Any and Erin.
In the mens race Michael was always going to take some beating in his beloved mud. He got into a strong position on the first lap and continued to stretch out a good lead. Damien in only his second cross country finished second on the team. Damien keeps getting stronger each month. I had a feeling of deja vu as he passed me out on the last lap after a similar move in the Dublin Novice. This year we have a strong novice mens cross country team. If we run well we should get a good placing at the Nationals in December.
In the Master Helen White gave a demonstration of running perfection as she sailed to victory making it look easy. The rest of the master team finished well.
A full list of results is shown below. Paddy did a great job on the camera. Like the album on Facebook.
9 246 Ciara Foster Sportsworld 16:51
11 245 Natalia Sokolowska Sportsworld 17:01
12 248 Caitriona Higgins Sportsworld 17:08
23 252 Amy Wright Sportsworld 17:47
28 250 Eirn O’ Connell Sportsworld 17:59
37 249 Maura Ginty Sportsworld 18:36
47 254 Orlagh Fleming-Lavery Sportsworld 19:17
51 251 Lynn Merrimon Sportsworld 19:32
54 253 Nuala O’ Connor Sportsworld 20:10
Helen Dixon ?
29 1767 Michael Cunningham Sportsworld
39 1771 Damien Kelly Sportsworld
42 1766 Gareth Murran Sportsworld
53 1768 Kevin Curran Sportsworld
61 1773 Tony Ryan Sportsworld
66 1769 Conor Butler Sportsworld
1 255 O45 Helen White Sportsworld
16 261 O40 Aideen Downes Sportsworld
27 256 O40 Sandra Armstrong Sportsworld
35 257 O40 Val Lacey-Power Sportsworld
37 258 O40 Ann Sweeney Sportsworld
