The club had a great start to 2016 with outstanding performances at the Dublin Masters competitions in sodden St Annes Park On Sunday .  On a beautiful, sunny , cold day our Masters Ladies team packed strongly over the 3,000m to deliver second place , just two points behind the winners Sportsworld. The scoring team lead by Kim Hickey in 6th place, Barbara Murray 14th, sisters Florence and Anne Curley in 15th and 16th places scored 51points and were well supported by Karen Behan 38th, Julia Hackett 43rd, Mary Murphy 99th.  Ann Woodlock won the o.70 category.

In the men ‘s race Michael Mc Mahon lead the race from start to finish in an outstanding performance of front running, with last year’s winner John Dunne and club mate in 2nd place. Niall Lynch and Ciaran Mc Carthy completed a very impressive winning team performance, its third successive win in this event. However The depth of the squad was reflected in Fergal Whitty, Chris Muldoon , Andy Kinnane,  Des Tremble , Philip Hennessy and Andrew Wilson applying  constant pressure throughout the race. The latter two finished first and second in the 045 category. Peter Nugent and Tom Fagan, fought their own battle down the huge field of 17 teams and the indestructible Terry Mee won the 070 category.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh on Saturday, Louis O’ Loughlin made his first appearance in an Irish singlet competing for Ireland in the Celtic Games u17 race which formed part of the Great Edinburgh XC.  against athletes several years older than him. Watch out for Louis in the coming years. One of Gerry Naughton’s young guns, he is a young athlete with great potential.

John Travers lead off for the Irish senior mixed relay c.c team which were a very impressive third to Scotland as part of the same event in Edinburgh. John had a good run.

Later this month the schools cross-country championships will get underway with the West Leinster championships.

Looming up large is the first round of the National Indoor Inter-Clubs track and Field championships. The club is entering a ladies and men’s team in this very useful competition, aimed very much at our emerging juvenile athletes but not solely so.