The Gerry Farnan CC race held in honour of the Eamonn Coghlan’s late coach on the traditional “Munich” hill loop in the Phoenix Park is always an exciting prospect, representing the first cross country outing of the season for many.

It was a fine sunny day but blustery at times and the deceptively energy-sapping mile-long lap was tackled three times in the ladies race.  Sinead Lambe was our first lady home and she had an excellent race against seasoned senior runners in a top field who are aiming at European and Masters selection.  She moved well through the field to finish 30th and 9 seconds behind was Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill in 36th place – boding well for the Dublin Seniors in a fornight’s time.  Janette Strickland will be well pleased with her 63rd place in only her 3rd ever cross country race and it will set her up for next week’s Leinster Masters CC.

In the men’s race, Niall Lynch’s marathon training paid off in the 5 mile race where he finished 45th and also gained selection on the M40 team for the British and Irish Masters CC in Cardiff as did Terry Mee in the M70 category.  Well done too to Andy Kinane 77th, Des Tremble and Gerry McDonald 101st.

On the roads, Ian Redican came 10th in the Clane GAA 5k in 19.49 while Tom Fagan ran 41.49 in the 10k event on the same day.  George Brady warmed up for the Dublin marathon in the Defib for Kidz Laurels 10k in Corkagh Park in very wet conditions finishing 2nd man in 35.51.  Grace Kennedy continued her impressive racing comeback in 38.50 which made her the first lady home.

At the World Masters Track and Field in Porto Alegre Brazil, Anne Gormley representing Ireland was 8th in the W50 5k race walk in 34.36.31 in hot conditions and she will be competing again during the week