Another great outing for the club came to pass on Sunday 24th October as our five athletes in action in the Munster Novice Cross Country Championships all came home with medals, something that has not happened in quite several years.
For most of this season Jody Sweeney has single handled kept the flag flying for the club at the various cross-country championships and Sunday was no exception as he once again togged out in the Munster Novice 6k race. With close on 80 athletes from across the Munster region taking part, Jody ran a splendid race and as the athletes streamed across the line, literally side by side, he claimed 39th overall in 21.51. With the top six Tipperary athletes across the line making up the Tipperary team it got even better for Jody as he was the fifth man across the line and when the results were announced Tipperary had won the bronze medals and for Jody his first ever Munster Cross Country medals. Congratulations Jody and well deserved.
Our ladies’ team of Louise Fogarty, Sharon Cantwell, Lisa Quinlan, and Aisling Maher took on the 4k distance in the women’s novice championship race. The race appeared to pass in a blur, such was the speed throughout the event but credit to all our athletes involved as they dug very deep and were rewarded for their dogged efforts with third place in the team event – again not something that has been seen in a while at this level for the club. Louise led them home in an excellent 7th place, timed at 15.38. Sharon followed with a 16th place finish in 16.08, then Lisa in 18th in 16.14 and Aisling 31st in 17.05. Their combined score of 71pts saw them comfortably win the Munster Inter-Club bronze medals but event better they were just four points shy of winning the gold medals such was the effort put in by all four athletes. To add to the success Louise was a member of the Tipperary team that won the gold medals in the Inter-County competition.
What a great return and congratulations ladies on your well-deserved success. I’m sure the encouragement from our club members on the infield had a little to do with it as well!
