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Happy Christmas and a Fit & Healthy New Year!


Happy Christmas folks and a great New Year from everyone at Sportsworld!

We’d an outstanding year of success….don’t believe me? Then check out the 2009 section of our club titles!

We won Gold medals, silver medals, bronze medals, chocolate medals. We’d athletes selected for international duty including Helen White at the European Mountain Running Championships in the hills of Austria, Ed McEntee at the World Masters in the snow of Norway, then Aoife Brady with the National Senior Cross Country Team in the sand at Belgium and Lucy, Helen & Carol at the Masters CC at Spaghetti Junction. We’d trips to Ballyvaughan, Ballycotton, Roddy Bolands, Kilmore Quay, Lanzarote and Waterford not to mention marathoners running from Chicago to Berlin. We had another classic 5 mile, thats 25 I believe now, a quarter of a century of Sportsworlds world record (Ismael Kirui in ’93) road race and we even won the Dunshaughlin 10km super cup (see facebook for those pics!).We’d also highly successful track runners, road runners, cross country runners, mountain runners, mini-marathoners and our all conquering meet and train runners. We’d generous fund raising and cake sale nights. But most importantly we saw Joe Byrne’s endangered retro horizontal striped Sportsworld singlet somehow survive another safety-pin-holed year.

Long may it continue! Enjoy!

European Cross Country Championships 2009

Santry, Dublin 13th December 2009

Euro2009

Saturday 13th December 2009 had finally arrived. Irish running enthusiasts had the chance to have the great spectacle of the European Cross Country Championships in our own back yard -the Santry demesne, rather than on TV in our sitting rooms. The course that was graced with Merrick, Cunningham, Duffy et al. at the national inter-clubs only a few months ago, now hosted the cream of Europe’s running talent fighting it out for the big prize.

A huge crowd turned out to watch the days events; consisting of Ladies and Mens Junior, U-23 and Senior races. The young Irish teams gave a great account of themselves, representing their country with great distinction. The Senior Ladies was dominated form start to finish by the relentless Liz Yelling. In a feat of great courage and confidence Liz blew the rest of the field away with an awesome display of front running. She powered around the course with mechanical efficiancy, her arms driving her along like pistons while the rest of the field struggled through the heavy mud.

The strongly fancied Portugese athletes fought it out for the remaining places, but claimed the team prize as expected. The Irish challenge did not materialise as hoped. Fionnula Britton was first home with a highly creditable tenth place and return to form after a frustrating couple of years. Mary Cullen had high hopes here but could not find the big performance when she needed it the most. She started off towards the front before falling back after half way and looked to be struggling. Mary dug deep though and showed to work her way back up the field, eventually finish in twelfth place. She will be glad to put 2009 behind her – a year in which she faced great adversity following her brilliant bronze in the European Indoors in March. Class though… is permanent. Deirdre Byrne put in a brave display, looking at one point the strongest of the trio after closing in on her team mates and puttig the team in a strong medal position. It was tragically not to be though as Deirdre fell away on the last lap. It appeared that she hit the wall, but could well have picked up an injury, such was the diminished pace of her final kilometre. Deirdre is a calibre athlete though who will no doubt have a great track season come the summer.

The men’s race was expected to be a rerun of the epic duel of last year between the Ukranian legend and nine time winner of this title Sergei Lebed and Mo Farah, Britain’s main man in long distance who pushed Lebed all the way last year. The men tore off like the wild horses pulling the chariots of fire around the colesseum. It was quite something to witness these thoroughbreads at such close quarters. It was clear from early on that Lebed was not going to complete a decade of dominance. Farah and the Spaniard Bezabeh (born in Africa) quickly escaped and made a two horse race of it. The two went stride for stride before the Spaniard turned the screw around half way. Farah dropped off but then fought his way admirably back onto the shoulder of the Spaniard. However, as is often the case with such a titanic effort Farah had shot his bolt and could not match his opponent in the finishing straight. Farah collapsed at the end, needing medical attention such was the heart and soul he put into the race.

The Irish men overall flattered to deceive. The performance of the day came form the Dublin-based Mark Kenneally, who overshadowed his more celebrated US-based team mates to finish a fantastic eighth. Mark went out hard and held his own all the way, showing great stamina and strength inachieving a career high. Fagan was next in in 26th, a disappointment given his promising display in the past two years. Cragg was 40th, not appearing to relish the difficult conditions. Many anoraks waxed lyrical about their preparation for the race, flying into Dublin at the last minute to avoid the after effects of ‘coming down’ from altitude. It would appear the finer details of race preparation can be over analysed and simply having a few days of R&R is the way the way to go. Andrew Ledwith finished along with Cragg. The remaining athletes, both based in Dublin, Sean Connelly and Mick Clohessy both ran good steady races. This will have been a good learning experience for both men who have each had superb years and were very deserving of their places on the team.

Report By
Phil Kilgannon

Christmas Party

The Sportsworld Christmas party is this Sunday at 7.30 at Eatery 120 in Ranelagh. There are quite a few people signed up for the meal already but if you contact Emily or Elen you might get a place depending on what you got them for Christmas last year. Sean asked for a bike, a Harry Potter book and a surprise incase your wondering.

Sportsworld Bring & Buy Cake Sale 2009

Cake Sale 2009!

They bought apple cake, Birthday cake, Back Forest cake, Bundt cake, Butter cake, Butterfly cake, Carrot cake, Eoinys Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate cake, Christmas cake, Chiffon cake, Cupcakes, Devil’s food cake, Eccles cake, Erotic cakes, Fairy cake, Fruit cake, Garash cake, Mary Finns Infamous Sponge cake, Gingerbread, Gooey butter cake, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Pound cake, Queen Elizabeth cake, Brown bread, Red velvet cake, Seed Cake, Spice cake, Stack cake, Suncake, Stephs Very Special K with Milky Bar Cakes, Tres leches cake & Wedding Cake?

A big thank you to everyone who organised, contributed cakes/prizes and bought at another roaring success of Sportsworld’s bring & buy cake sale, run fun and raffle. An impressive €860 was raised in aid of turn2me last Tuesday evening. Also great work by Jakub for capturing the evening with some photos in the above album.

NOTICE FOR WATERFORD HALF MARATHON
For those that are booked on the bus to the Waterford Half Marathon day trip this weekend, it leaves on Saturday at 7.15am sharp from the clubhouse.

National Novice Cross Country 2009


Sunday 6th December 2009, Coleraine

It was a cold but at least dry day when Michael, Emily & Packie collected me in Swords for the long drive up north to Coleraine for this year’s National Novice XC. The last race of the year promised to be run in more favourable conditions than the Dublin Intermediate the previous week and hopefully Clann Lir would be absent from the course today.

We got up to Coleraine in plenty of time and managed to find a pool table in the Students Union, which kept us occupied for a while. Paul Duffy continued his fine run of form on the pool table and when he got bored beating everyone, Packie took a turn giving us all a pool lesson.

The team assembled, we made our way to the course to catch young Sean Wall (Waller) in action in the Under 19’s race. Waller had a great race and worked his way through a very competitive field. It was a tough race for him aswell as the U19’s had to run 6k, same as the novice.

Next up was the girls (Stephanie, Lorna, Ruth, Susan and Helen) over 3k. Lorna Quinn (19th) came through very strongly and continued to show her fine running form. Ruth(27th) and Stephanie(28th) were next in, only a hare’s fart seperating them. Next up was Susan (45th) with Helen(56th) the final scorer. No medals today with fifth spot team place but Rathfarnam were seventh, so every silver cloud and all that…

Next up was the lads. There had been some controversy surrounding the start of a lot of the junior races and our own start wasn’t the most clinical. No chutes and little warning but that’s another day’s argument. 140 novice men went off like the hammers of hell straight into a bottleneck. If you don’t know cross-country, this is what it’s all about. Pushing and jostling are part of the game. Ahead of me I could see Liam and Colm in the middle of the melée and further ahead Michael and Paul.

When one lad got pushed off the course and was running outside the barrier, he decided to leap it, straight into Michael Cunningham’s path. Michael informed me later he nearly tripped the guy up when his spikes connected with him. It’s the quiet ones you watch out for…

The race was a bit crazy for the first lap as you fought for space around the wood at the back and people went through any space they could find. Leading the charge home for the club was Paul Duffy (77th), followed by Michael (81st), myself (93rd), Packie (99th – who fought the whole way, fair dues to ya Pack!), Colm (108th) and Liam (122nd).

The business end of things done there was only one thing on all our minds – refreshments. They actually had showers at this race ( and the water was hot!!) so the drive home wasn’t the usual mud-caked ordeal. Although there was an ordeal of other sorts when the hunger pangs hit half way between Coleraine and Newry. I was starting to know what they felt like in that movie Alive, when we found Kinder eggs in Michael’s car which he (wisely) decided to share. After a well-earned meal in the Carrickdale, we were on our way. Well done all. Next up Leinster Senior.

For results click here and racepix365 gallery here.

Report by
Ronan Merrick

Jingle Bells 5km 2009

Saturday 5th December, Phoenix Park

Santas, reindeers and brack……..It could only be one thing. No not the Sportsworld christmas Party, The Jingle Bells 5k. Conditions were ideal with the air dry and crisp and a mammoth field of 1500 runners who kicked of the seasons festivities and cheer with this staple of the Irish running calender. It was like a pantomine cast with Lucy bouncing around tinsel and all and Trevor grumbling Ba Humbug…….For some there were serious business to attend to. Stephen Willoughby and Eoin O’Brien stood askance like two mean lookin cowboys in a spaghetti western. They cast each other a cool side ways glance at the start, matchsticks in mouth, and the scene was set.

There was a quality field of runners on display. We had the honour of the great Ronnie Delaney gracing us with a few words and setting us on our way. The stampede commenced at the Furry Glenne and the field was starting to string out by the first corner at the main road. The thoroughbreads assembled up front with the prodigious John Travers from Donore (remember that name), Thomas Fitpatrick, Pat McCartan, the great Peter Matthews and some of Raheny’s finest to the fore. I was joined by my usual cronies a ways back with Dave Byrne, Paul Cowhie and Ronan Kearns within strides all the ways along.

The kilometres passed quickly, especially with the great support on the sidelines. In the heel of the hunt Travers held of Fitzpatrick to deliver a popular home win in a blistering 14.33, followed by Fitzpatrick and McCartan, who will all be gearing up for a promising indoors season in the new year. Over a minute behind the Dave Byrne held off the encroaching group with characteristic grit. Kearns and Cowhie put on the nitros to drop me easily on the finishing straight. A satisfactory day nonetheless to finish in 22nd and 15.48. Give me the cross country any day.

Crona Brady capped off an epic year in which she has been making huge strides, storming home in 7th place in a brilliant 17.55. I notice Eoiny Fellony isn’t making bets with her anymore………Lucy was next in with a fine 18.14, also wrapping up an Annus Briliantus after her marathon glory. Just behind her stormed Santra Armstrong in 18.45. The crowd then huddled in (popcorn in hand) to see Eoiny hold off Stephen in the Clash of the Titans. I believe their people are in talks to arrange a rematch, due to popular demand. Judith cruised and Trevor clambered home to cap off a red ribbon day of racing.

Edel Madigan took a break from winning meet & train races in the mud and rain to try her hand on the roads and Amy Fitzgerald also braved the cool crisp morning after returning from another successful Lanzarote trip. We also had crossing the line Colin Mahon, Irene O’Connor, Sibeal Waldron, Karen O’Connor, Lorna Roe & Lucie Coley flying the flag for the club. A great day was had by all. Bring on the turkey……

Full results here and racepix photos here.

Report By
Phil Kilgannon

Lanzarote 2009

For those who don’t know each year members of the club travel to Lanzarote for a week to take part in the International running challenge which takes place at Club La Santa over four days from November 22nd. As one of the club La Santa newbie’s I was elected to write the report.

Travelling on Friday the 20th this year we had plenty of time to get acclimatised before the first run on Sunday. Club La Santa offers more than 30 sports facilities, which enable you to practice almost any kind of sports. The roads that surround the resort are excellent for runners and cyclists with almost zero traffic and lots of choice of terrain.

With the first race only a few hours away we spent Saturday lounging around the pool, doing a slow 10K loop around La Santa to get familiar with the terrain, the pre race weigh in and then the annual Sportsworld crazy golf competition, which Susan McDonnell won with ease.

Mr Iron man himself Ed McEntee arrived (as an aside as well as racing four times Ed did a mini-tri and duathlon on race days and performed excellently in both) on Saturday evening and over dinner Ed suggested we do 2K on the track each morning at 7am to warm up for the races. At 7 am on Sunday morning the ritual began. Five pale Irish men running laps and strides around the La Santa track before breakfast to get the system going. Ed’s words of advice clearly worked as a great weeks racing was in store.

As there is so much to cover it’s not possible to mention everything that happened in the races. I’ve included my perspective on each race which really comes from number one Club La Santa aka “The boys room”. Not to be confused with Jedward’s room which was on the other side of the complex The overall results are listed as well.

Race 1 – Lanzarote Classic-10K Road Race
Starting at the Stadium we ran on asphalt roads toward the villages of La Santa and then across to Caleta de Caballo (2 loops race course). The men’s team going by POC, PD, TS and MC were especially confident going into the race. The Danish runners always perform well in the International Running Challenge but nothing prepared us for the push Jeppe Farsøht made from the start line. Five metres ahead on the first bend of the track. Jeppe continued to stretch out an impressive lead. In 28 degree heat 10K on a reasonably challenging course it was always going to be tough but everyone ran well. As this is a separate event a medal is awarded after the race.

Race 2 – 13K Ridge Run
Starting at the Stadium the runners do a bit on the road and then veer off onto both dirt trails and asphalt roads around one of the big volcanoes near to Club La Santa. The race then finished back on the track. For me this was the most challenging of the races and my only disappointing race of the week. Making a rookie mistake I was passed by MC about half way around then by TS about five minutes later. MC ran an incredible race that left TS comparing him to a mountain goat at the finish line. Personally I think it’s all the ice cream he ateover the course of the week, but that’s just my two cents.

Race 3 – 5K Beach Race
This was the one I was dreading. I’m not at all light on my feet and only really get going on the flat. I hate cross country always struggling to keep good posture and not fall on my ass. The thoughts of struggling in the sand sent me to bed early on Monday night as PD and TS danced the night away with the green team girls in the night club.

For the 5K race buses take the participants on a half hour ride to the beach in Puerto del Carmen, where the races takes place on soft sand. Well that was the plan at least until POC leading the race on the first of two laps decides he doesn’t want to run on the soft sand and decides to run on the shoreline. Of course runners are like lemmings so everyone follows. The race marshal’s flag go up but it’s too late as nobody pays any attention until after the race that the runners were being called back.

To my surprise I faired allot better on the sand than expected and managed to stay the course. In hindsight sand is easier to run on than mud. I really enjoyed the beach race and felt I could have pushed on a bit more after the race.

Race 4 – 21K La vuelta de Tinajo
The last race starts a short bus ride from La Santa at Los Dolores Church in Mancha Blanca and will take the runners around the volcanic Montaña de Tinajo (1 loop) through Tinajo and back to Club La Santa on both asphalt and dirt tracks.

Credit has to be given to PD for his tough performance in this race. Earlier in the week I asked PD why he went out so quickly. The response could only have come from Paul, he said “I wanted to see what it’s like to be first”. As the rest of us are settling in for a long half marathon in thirty degree heat PD decides to see what it’s like to be first again. Flying off at the start PD has a time to make up on his age category rival and nobody was getting in his way.

The best moment was when we got to a hill that looked more like a loop in a rollercoaster than a road in Lanzarote. The steepest hill I’ve ever seen had myself and TS slow down to a crawl, look at each other and start laughing. I later learned that two minute ahead POC had cursed at PD, thrown his hat on the ground and decided to walk up the hill. After nine kilometres the race is a mostly flat ride back to La Santa.

The half marathon was my favourite race. I enjoyed everything about it. I ran most of it with TS up until around 17K when TS had too much and pushed ahead. The support all week was amazing, especially on the half marathon were we had about 10 supporters out on bikes ready with water, gels and encouragement.

The race week finishes with 300m of the track in the Stadium before receiving your International Running Challenge medal. I got to the finish after really struggling for a few kilometres to see PD sitting with a big grin on his race. PD ran an incredible 73 minutes, beating Sport

sworld’s current number one in the process. After all the lads had finished we did our daily cool down which was back out on the course to support the rest of the club home.

This year the competition was tough but well down to our two winners PD and POC. Both picked up age category awards. POC also picked up a 3rd place award in one of the races at the race awards on Wednesday night.

The Danes were the big winners of the 21st International Running challenge, with Jeppe Farsøht taking the men’s overall titles in the 10k, 13k, 5k and 21k. Marie-Louise Brasen, also from Denmark was the female winner. I introduced myself on the last night and promised we would have our secret weapon Lucy Darcy back next year to annihilate her. The pair won the Vuelta de Tinajo (21k), the Ridge Run (13k) and Clásica de Lanzarote (10k). In fact it was a clean-sweep for Marie who also won the 5k Beach Run.

Wednesday night saw everyone in the disco. The night was spent dancing and partying until the wee hours in the night club followed by a sobering cycle to the beach on Thursday. Thursday evening was spent in Restaurant Amura in Puerto Calero – one of the island’s Michelin Guide Listed and most luxurious restaurants. Then it was on to the night club for more fun and games. POC minus his luminous yellow hat from the night before tried to lead the YMCA out but couldn’t match the style of the Danish girls in the club (video to follow). A quieter night than Wednesday finished with me and TS being escorted to our room by security at 4AM for violating the noise laws in the hotel.

The race organisation and value for money is fantastic with drinks, food and a great atmosphere after each race. Being in a sub-tropical climate, the pace on Lanzarote matches the climate. It’s an ideal place to relax and soak up the sun on golden beaches, or by the pool even for those not running. La Santa was a great experience that offers something for everyone. When can I go back?

The overall results for those that took part in the races are listed below. Full results are online. If I missed anyone apologies please let someone know and it can be edited. Photos in the gallery with more to come.

Womens

21 19 Bernie White 40-44 IRL 00:48:37 01:02:03 00:26:04 01:47:05 04:03:48
22 184 Irene O’Connor 40-44 IRL 00:48:38 01:04:12 00:28:10 01:43:58 04:04:57
27 168 Tara Murphy 40-44 IRL 00:49:05 01:05:41 00:28:53 01:47:57 04:11:33
30 170 Breda Browne 45-49 IRL 00:50:18 01:08:44 00:26:52 01:51:10 04:17:03

Women’s Individual

10K

17 203 Susan McDonnell 25-29 IRL 00:22:52 00:23:34 00:46:26

13K

23 325 Helen Dixon 35-39 IRL 01:03:12

5K

11 203 Susan McDonnell 25-29 IRL 00:25:46
25 325 Helen Dixon 35-39 IRL 00:27:12
52 208 Amy Fitzgerald 25-29 IRL 00:31:28

21K

31 325 Helen Dixon 35-39 IRL 01:47:51

Mens

5 205 Paul O’Connell 30-34 IRL 00:33:28 00:44:54 00:19:03 01:14:09 02:51:33
11 183 Paul Duffy 25-29 IRL 00:35:13 00:46:23 00:19:40 01:13:27 02:54:42
14 282 Trevor Sweeney 35-39 IRL 00:36:03 00:48:25 00:20:01 01:16:25 03:00:52
16 178 Gareth Murran 25-29 IRL 00:35:48 00:49:08 00:20:21 01:17:56 03:03:10
19 180 Michael Cunningham 30-34 IRL 00:36:18 00:47:52 00:20:27 01:19:44 03:04:19
29 284 Edward Mc Entee 40-44 IRL 00:37:26 00:49:27 00:21:52 01:23:12 03:11:55
35 262 Declan Horgan 40-44 IRL 00:40:50 00:52:54 00:22:27 01:25:13 03:21:23
76 227 Killian McMorrow 50-54 IRL 00:46:18 01:00:25 00:25:29 01:38:57 03:51:08

 

BHAA NSRT-SMART Cross Country

The Ward, Saturday November 30th – There was a healthy Sportsworld turnout at the NSRT/SMART BHAA XC held on farmland just off the N2 on Dublin’s northside. Beneath tremendously cold conditions and a thick fog lay an enterprising farmer that had built a fine indoor astro park facility on his land that could hold full sized football matches. After registration we jogged around the course, which consisted of land that had maize harvested recently; and the ground was very soft due to both heavy rainfall and the fact that some of the land had been recently ploughed. From mid morning, a crowd of people including volunteers, photographers, journalists and on lookers had assembled at the drama point of the course – an almost waist high stream that had to be briefly waded through en route to completing the course. The river wasn’t as bad as one’s mind could lead it to imagine – what was a bigger test was the short steep hill up the valley straight after it when your momentum had been absorbed by the river. If anything it served as a well needed wash along the way! This clip from last year will give you an idea:

Onto the action, and 24 competitors toed the line for the girls race (4k), won by the brilliant Raheny based Pole Patrycia Wlodarczyk. Our own girls didn’t disappoint either, with Helen battling through the thick mud and fog for a podium finish; and Stephanie finishing a magnificent 4th.

For the men’s race, the sluice gate was opened to allow a greater volume of water to enter the stream (which before that was below knee height). The 6k race of 130 men was won by one of Meath’s finest runners Rory McDonnell. Performance of the day went to Paul O Connell, who had got back from the canaries well after midnight and a few hours before the starting gun. Completing four races in four days (including a half marathon) during his ‘holiday’ in Lanzarote was not enough to deter Paul from a top 6 finish.

Having run the Dublin marathon less than five weeks previously, Eoin ran his first cross country in a little over a year and did very well indeed. Elsewhere in the field, Packie, Billy and Brian put in some decent performances ahead of next week’s national novice.

For all racepix365 photos click here but make sure you view this photo!

Womens 4km
1 Patrycia Wlodarczyk 19:33
3 Helen White 20:36
4 Stephanie Bergin 21:03

Mens 6km
1 Rory McDonnell 23:14
6 Paul O’Connell 24:40
17 Packie Enright 26:05
26 Billy Tyrell 27:01
72 Brian Conway 30:45
77 Eoin O’Brien 31:34

Report By
Packie Enright

Ballycotton 10 Registration Open


As some people have been querying, it’s now possible to download entry forms for the 2010 Ballycotton 10 Road Race here. The first 2500 postal entries opened will be automatically accepted. These spots go like the proverbial hot cakes. AAI registered runners will be accepted by post up to and including Tuesday December 15th. Click here for full entry procedures.

It will be 33rd edition of this classic race and Sportsworld has been well represented at it throughout the years. School books of Irish folklore have been updated with the epic battle of a certain husband and wife back in 1984. Way back then, when Miami Vice first beamed into our lives on the small screen, John Treacy picked up silver in the marathon at the LA Olympics and Star Trek III – The search for Spock hit the silver screen, this competitive duo left Dublin and hiked to east cork and lined up with the good and great of Irish athletics. They stood side by side (playing elbows) on the start line. The wife was feeling confident as she hummed Cyndi Lauper’s new No.1 “Girls just wanna have fun”. But it was the husband who first stormed up through the fishing village, over the crest of the hill to the finish line in 56.13 followed by his better half in 57:42. After not talking the whole way home the poor lady had to endure months of gloating across the kitchen table – pass the salt….ahh to slow! So in 1985, Emily Dowling lined up again and ran a stunning 56:00, knocking 13 seconds off Mick’s time to get a classic Dowling time!

Dublin Intermediate Cross Country 2009

Sportsworld Delay Cross Country Start – Again!
Reports of an ark being constructed on the grounds of Aras an Uachtaran, presumably to evacuate the President and selected residents of the zoo, have not been confirmed. However Met Eireann have confirmed that if water levels rise any further Ireland will be transformed into an amusing archipelago of Lugnocoille, Croagh Patrick, Carrauntoohil etc.

Awaking to the, now, all too familiar sound of rain drumming against the window I was relieved not to hear water flowing around my bed. Wrapping the duvet tightly about me I pondered what was in store and secretly hoped that today’s Dublin Intermediate Cross Country Championships would be called off. Alas, it takes more then a flood of biblical proportions to stop a Dublin Athletics Board Cross Country Race.

Arriving with Mike Cunningham at Tymon shortly after 1pm, it didn’t bode well to find the Children of Lir resting on a lake formed at a bend in the course.

Paul Duffy and Ronan Merrick trotted up to tell us that we had 10mins before the mens race so with an air of controlled panic we made a bit of a dash down to the start. The great advantage of being late is you don’t need to bother about warming up and you don’t have to keep going to the toilet. One by one the rest of the mens team, Gareth Murran, Trevor McSweeney and Colm Kennedy arrived – with minutes to spare.

Unfortunately, due to our lateness, we missed the ladies race. I did bump in to Ciara, Helen and Louise, and I know that Ruth had another very strong run – well done to all on what must have been ‘Character Building’! In fact Ciara told me that she felt like she had just completed an Iron Man competition.

And so to the mens race… We are assembled ready to go when, is it a bird, is it plane – no, it’s Mark Dunne doing the 100m dash to the start line. Harry’s anxious to get this one started – there’s no messing about ‘toe behind the line’ this time – everyone just wants to get this over so we can go home. BANG and there off!

The underfoot conditions were the worst I’ve experienced over the two years of Cross Country I have raced. The opportunities to run were limited to a few short sections on the higher section of the course – but for the most part it was trudging through deep muck or standing water – up to 25cm in places.

Paul Duffy tore off with the leaders followed by Mike, Trevor, Ronan, Garret and Mark. Colm and I fought a rear-guard action – objective: Try not to be last. After a week of warm-weather, high altitude training in Lanzarote great things were promised by our elite – on reflection, perhaps a bog snorkelling trip to Yorkshire would have been more beneficial?

After the first lap I lost sight of our elite runners and settled down to run with Colm, exchanging the lead between us as the course rose and fell. We worked well together for the first two laps but then I lost contact with him and ran on my own. Passing through half way I could see Garret dropping back through the field and tried to give chase. By that stage I had developed a pretty bad stitch in the lower abdomen and was also dropping back, and was never within 30m of him.

A steady stream of runners passed me on the 3rd and 4th laps and I had nothing in the tank to stay with them. In the last 500m a Rathfarnham runner went by and I used him to take me home – just about holding off the following pack and sneaking by him on the line as an added bonus. Colm followed a couple of seconds later.

Top of the Sportsworld pile was Mike, who secretly loves running in slop, followed by an impressive Trevor in his Cross-Country debut. For full results check the Dublin Athletics Board Website – in about a month.

Thanks to Sportworld faithful for their supporter – the conditions may have been harder on you then on us. The cheers were certainly appreciated if not acknowledged.

For racepix395 photos click here.

Report By
Paul Mitchell

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