HIGHLIGHTS: Emily Bolton romped to individual glory in the National Under 12s cross-country championship. Her brother Thomas took a battling bronze in the U14 Boys. The Under 14 Girls team finished a very creditable 7^th.

 

After one of two 1-kilometre laps there was no doubting who would win the Under 12 Girls NATIONAL JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP at Abbotstown on Sunday (24.11.2019). The soft ground and steady climbs proved no obstacle to Emily Bolton as she powered her way to victory. A spectator from the Swinford Athletics Club proclaimed “that winner is something else” as Bolton stretched a 40 metres lead at the half-way stage to finish about 80 metres clear of runner-up Isa McCarron of Lagan Valley AC at the finish line. Sholah Lawrence of Ace AC (Co. Louth) came 3^rd. Bolton led the Dublin County team (199) to 3^rd place behind Clare (115) and Cork (155).

 

Emily’s brother Thomas (Bolton) had a more intense battle in the Under 14 Boys race over 3-kilometres. With 600 metres to go a group of 5 athletes led the field. At that stage Sean Cronin of Clonliffe Harriers kicked on for victory with Conor Murphy of St. Coca’s AC giving chase. In the gradual incline to the finish line Bolton withheld the challenge of Shane Buckley of DSD AC and Mathys Bocqet of Craughwell AC to claim the bronze medal. Dylan McKenna, a relative newcomer to the sport, came 138^th and Joe Kinsella placed 164^th. Bolton was 2^nd scorer on the Dublin County team (160) that took silver behind Tipperary (137) and ahead of Mayo (201).

 

Donore Harriers were well represented in the Under 14 Girls race, also over 3-kilometres. The team was led home by fast-finishing Lorraine O’Connor in 22^nd place, with Eva Crowe in 25^th. Laura Nunan in 64^th and Honor Lynch in 82^nd completed the scoring team. Donore Harriers finished 7^th team (193) behind winners Leevale AC (130). The non-scoring athletes were Katie Delaney (150^th) and Sarah Tolan (159^th). O’Connor and Crowe, who were both stepping-up an age group, were the 4^th and 6^th scorers on the Dublin County team (104) that came 2^nd behind Cork (74).

 

In the Under 16 Boys race over 4-kilometres an improving James Bolton came 31^st. He was the 5^th scorer on the Dublin team (108) that won gold just 6 points ahead of County Antrim (114).

One of the most respected young athletes in the club is Gavin Curtin. The 17 years-old Moyle Park College student is fearless and totally committed both in training and competition. But sometimes sport can be cruel! In the Under 18 Boys race over 6-kilometres Curtin was well-placed in the top 20 after 3 laps. At a point when he looked to gain places he suddenly ‘stitched’ and was forced to reduce his pace to a mere jog, eventually crossing the line in 79^th place. A devasted Curtin said afterwards “I just couldn’t shake if off. There was nothing I could do”. He will now focus to the Under 19s championship on the 15^th of December.

 

In the NATIONAL SENIOR WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP over 8-kilometres Barbara Cleary (32.06) put in another tenacious effort to place 20^th. Putting 46 years-old Cleary’s performance into context it should be noted that only one athlete from the incorporated Under 23s competition finished in a higher place. Maura Kearns (35.26) came 59^th with 78 finishers. Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill withdrew from the race at the halfway point. Fionnuala McCormack comprehensively won the individual title with Leevale AC the team winners.

 

In the 10km SENIOR MEN’S RACE there were strong performances from Daragh Fitzgibbon (35.26) and Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (35.29) who crossed the line in 36^th and 37^th positions. Master athlete Niall Lynch (38.59) placed 108^th of the 166 finishers. Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers was the individual winner, with Clonliffe Harriers regaining the team title. One of the non-finishers was John Travers. Having recently recovered from a back injury he was unable to stay with the pace at the front of the race and retired after 2 of 7 laps. Travers said afterwards “I just felt flat out there today – and the conditions didn’t suit me”.

Elsewhere, Alasdair Brown (35.18) won the 10km MORUN in the Phoenix Park on Saturday.

In the PARKRUN SERIES (26.11.2019) Matthieu Proffit (18.09) was first home at Brickfields. W80 athlete Ann Woodlock (34.27) came 40^th. Jonathon Daly (18.41) and Fred Kiernan (19.45) were 2^nd and 3^rd home at Poppintree. Other results below.

 

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

NATIONAL SENIOR WOMEN’S 8KM CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at ABBOTSTOWN (24.11.2019)

20^th Barbara Cleary (32.06)

59^th Maura Kearns (35.26)

DNF Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill

78 finishers.

NATIONAL SENIOR MEN’S 10KM CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at ABBOTSTOWN (24.11.2019)

36^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (35.26)

37^th Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (37.29)

108^th Niall Lynch (38.59)

DNF John Travers

166 finishers.

NATIONA JUVENILE EVEN-AGES CROSS-COUNTRY at ABBOTSTOWN (24.11.2019)

U12 Girls 2km: 1^st Emily Bolton

U14 Girls 3km: 22^nd Lorraine O’Connor (step-up), 25^th Eva Crowe (step-up), 64^th Laura Nunan, 82^nd Honor Lynch, 150^th Katie Delaney, 159^th Sarah Tolan

TEAM: 7^th Donore Harriers (193)

U14 Boys 3km: 3^rd Thomas Bolton, 138^th Dylan McKenna, 164^th Joe Kinsella

U16 Boys 4km: 31^st James Bolton

U18 Boys 6km: 79^th Gavin Curtin

MORUN 10KM at PHOENIX PARK (23.11.2019)

1^st Alasdair Brown (35.18)

634 finishers

PARKRUNS (23.11.2019)

Brickfields: 1^st Matthieu Proffit (18.09), 40^th Ann Woodlock W80 (34.26)

Bushy: 73^rd Tommy Halton M60 (29.18)

Castletown: 57^th Joan McTernan W60 (27.22)

Corkagh: 5^th Aidan Kelly U19 (19.41)

Griffeen: 93^rd Terry Mee M75 (29.14)

Naas: 47^th Mary McDermott W50 (24.33)

Poppintree: 2^nd Jonathan Daly M35 (18.41), 3^rd Fred Kiernan M45 (19.45), 64^th Eilish Joyce W35 (30.05)