2020 County Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships

Newport was the venue for the start of the 2020 County Cross Country Championships on Sunday 4th October. These championships were organised and ran following strict Covid 19 guidelines, ensuring everyone’s health and safety. The main differences were no spectators were allowed onto the course, parents and guardians had to remain in their cars and view races on livestream and there were no medal presentations at the end of the races.

Moyne AC had 49 athletes entered to compete on the day. The day itself was windy and at times wet for the athletes but ground conditions were very good overall. Moyne AC came home with 5 individual medals and eight sets of team medals!

First out were the Girls U10 running 800m. Erin Delahunty was the first Moyne girl home finishing 12th, followed by Caoimhe Slevin 15th, Caoimhe Doyle 17th, Muireann Casey 19th, Helen Renehan 21st, Abbie Manton 24th and Cathleen Cussen 25th.  Erin, Caoimhe S, Caoimhe D and Muireann were 2nd in the team event winning themselves silver medals.

Next out was the Boys U10 also running 800m. Billy Flanagan crossed the line in 10th place earning himself an individual medal! Billy was followed home by Gerard Delaney 14th, Michael Doyle 20th, Dylan Delahunty 21st and Dannan Sweeney 23rd. Billy, Gerard, Michael, and Dylan came 3rd in the team event winning bronze medals.

U12 girls were next to the start line to run a distance of 2,000m. Arlene Flanagan led the Moyne girls home finishing in 7th place, Ciara Joyce was hot on her heels finishing in 8th. Both girls won individual medals. Eleanor Doyle finished in 11th, Ruth Phelan 12th, Olive Spillane Leane 16th, Laura Fogarty 18th, Reiltín Morrissey 20th and Leah Delahunty 26th. Maria Doyle also took part but unfortunately did not finish the race. Arlene, Ciara, Eleanor, and Ruth finished 2nd in the team event and Olive, Laura, Reiltín and Leah were placed 5th in the team event.

Boys U12 also ran 2,000m. Moyne had four boys running and first home for Moyne was Noah Murphy in 16th, followed by Jack Renehan 19th, David Nolan 21st and Daithí Cussen 29th. These four boys finished 4th in the team event.

U14 girls were up next facing a distance of 3,000m. Alana Spillane led the Moyne girls home finishing in 3rd place, earning herself an individual medal. Alana was followed home by Dearbhla Gleeson in 13th, Emma Delaney 15th, Kate Delaney 16th, Gráinne O’Loughlin 20th, Saoirse Doran 22nd and Ellen Nolan 23rd. Alana, Dearbhla, Emma and Kate finished 2nd in the team event winning silver medals.

U14 boys followed running the same distance of 3,000m. Jack Flanagan led the boys home finishing 7th, followed by Adam Phelan 8th, Adam Spillane Leane 10th, Frank Doyle 11th, Bill Cussen 12th and Paddy Cussen 13th. Jack, Adam, Adam, and Frank took gold medals in the team event by placing 1st.

Mary Cussen, Moya Brennan, Aisling O’Loughlin, and Sarah Wepler competed in the Girls U16 4,000m finishing 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th respectively. Mary, Moya, and Aisling finished 2nd in the team event.

Aaron Moore finished 3rd in the Boys U16 4,000m, he was followed home by Micheál O’Mahony 6th and David Doyle 7th. These three boys were also first in the team event taking gold. Jake Bowe was 8th, Aaron McLaughlin 10th and Cormac Burke 12th. These three boys placed 2nd in the team event winning silver.

Well done to all athletes today, some of you competing competitively for the first time.  Our thanks also to the parents for your support and to all team leaders for stepping up to help, in these challenging times. 

2020 County Novice Cross Country Championships

Novice Men – Pakie Bowe, John Renehan, David Russell, Shane Kenny, Jody Sweeney, Stephen Flanagan, Brian Carroll

Novice Ladies – Sharon Cantwell, Sinead Tynan, Aisling Maher, Bernadette Spillane

While it would normally be the ladies who would have the bigger numbers competing it was the turn of the men on Sunday as 7 men and 4 ladies took part in the County Novice Cross Country Championships.  The ladies were the first away and with a field of 19 athletes it was always going to be a tough task for all involved.  With a red-hot pace being set at the front, it took its toll on the athletes and while Sharon Cantwell pushed to the head of the field from the off, the relentless pace out front eventually took its toll but credit to Sharon as she continued her push throughout the race to finish 5th overall.   Having the race of her life was Sinead Tynan who started very conservatably but as the race progressed moved steadily through the field to finish 6th with Aisling Maher running strongly throughout to finish 8th and Bernadette Spillane having a very steady run to finish 11th.  The girls combined brilliantly to finish second team and the silver medals. 

 

The might of 42 men faced the starter in the Novice Men’s event over 6k with club debutant Shane Kenny moving to the front from the off.  While he tried to break the field by his fast start, the quality behind gradually reeled him in and though keeping his strong pace going throughout he was eventually joined by Stephen Flanagan.  Both athletes worked off each other and at the finish Stephen was 7th with Shane in 8th.  Jody Sweeney and another debutant at this level David Russell traded places during the race with Jody finishing 24th and David 25th.  Brian Carroll, Pakie Bowe and John Renehan, another first timer, all settled into the pace of the race and fed off each with Brian coming through for 26th, Pakie 29th and John 30th.  The men were very much in the hunt for bronze team medals but in the end had to settle for fourth place. 

 

Well done to all the athletes for the commitment on Sunday and with the County “B” not far off, these performances will give them a boost ahead of this championship.

 

County Uneven Age Juvenile & Intermediate Cross-Country Championships

Turnpike, Two-Mile-Borris is the setting on Sunday next for the County Uneven Age Juvenile and Intermediate Cross-Country Championships.  All athletes who are competing in this event must give their names to competition secretary, Geraldine Hickey by Tuesday night next, 6th October to ensure that they are entered by the closing date of 7th.  We hope that those athletes who are attending training and who did so well in Sunday’s competition will once again don the green and gold.  The emphasis has always been on club teams and hopefully we can fill as many teams as possible for this competition. 

 

Munster Even Age Juveniles, U/23 & Novice Cross Country Championships

The club will be returning to the Turnpike on Sunday 18th October for the Munster Even Age Juveniles, U/23 & Novice Cross Country.  Entries close this coming Friday 9th October.  Please contact Geraldine with your entry.  Athletes should note that anyone contemplating running the National Juvenile or Novice must compete in the Munster Championships – the top fifteen athletes will go forward. 

 

Club Lotto

Winners this week were Tom & Mary Ryan, Eileen Curtin, Alanna Spillane, and Thomas Flynn. Thanks to everyone for their continued support.

 

Fixtures

11 October, County Uneven Age Juveniles & Intermediate – Turnpike, Two-Mile-Borris

18 October, Munster Even Age Juveniles, U/23 & Novice – Turnpike, Two-Mile-Boris

25 October, County Juvenile Relays & Novice “B” – Thurles

01 November, County Senior & Junior – Clonmel (TBC)

08 November, Munster Uneven Age Juveniles, Junior & Senior – Clarecastle, Co. Clare

15 November, County Juvenile “B” U/23 & Masters – Galbally

29 November, Munster Juvenile “B”, Intermediate & Masters – Cork AAI County Grounds