Dublin Intermediate XC
The day after our own Jingle bells 5k, there was no slacking for some of our hardworking volunteers. They had to to tackle a testing course in Tymon Park for the Dublin intermediate cross country championship. An unfortunate last minute injury and unavailability for some runners meant that the women did not have a full team on the day but admirably the three runners decided to compete anyway. A 5k course with one small lap and two big laps was the test for the 60 runners out. First home was Audrey Gahan who worked through the field well to come in 20th place, Ariana Ball had her first race since her excellent Dublin marathon and she was not far behind in 27th, claire mulligan in her second championship race for the club ran a very controlled race picking lots of people off to finish 30th. Winners of the team and individual title were Sportsworld.
The men were next up tackling 4 big laps 8k. By the first lap Matthieu Profitt was in a good position near the top. Two Rathfarnham runners (eventual Gold and silver Mitchell Byrne and Robert Murphy) started to string the field out though and get ahead but Matthieu was in the second bunch and eventually got out on his own finishing an excellent 6th. Emmet O’Briain can always rely on his track speed in these races and he had a strong run to finish in 14th. Paul Cummins had an excellent run and was well pleased with his 21st placing. Alan Farrell who had a hectic day coordinating at the jingle Bells (and being a Chief Elf!) the day before gave it everything to finish 31st and Alasdair Brown likewise in 37th. They all just got in before the heavens opened in Tymon Park! As we tried to dry off at race HQ in Templeogue United there was an anxious wait for the men’s team results as it became clear there may be a tie for first place. Nonetheless Donore Harriers were delighted to secure the bronze with 72 points, 9 ahead of Sportsworld. Brothers Pearse beat Rathfarnham WSAF on countback.
Well done all and see some of these runners back in action for the national novice this weekend.