Munster Uneven Age Juvenile Cross Country Championships

A total of eight Munster medals were brought home by our young athletes at a rain soaked Munster Uneven Age Juvenile Cross Country Championships in Killarney on Sunday last.  Each athlete is especially to be commended on their performances as the conditions were none too pleasing with wind and rain making it very difficult.  23 athletes represented the club from U/9 to U/17 with eight of them – Saoirse Doran, Adam Spillane-Leane, Frank Doyle, Louise Hickey, Helen Cleere, Aaron McLoughlin, Jake Bowe and Emma Gleeson all members of the various Tipperary teams that won bronze medals.First away on the day were the Girls U/9 where we had Saoirse Doran and Blathnaid Lloyd in action.  With over 70 athletes participating the two girls pushed hard all the way to finish 27^th and 39^th respectively.  Saoirse was the 4^th athlete home for Tipperary and helped the County to third place in the team event.  Blathnaid was just out of the medals finishing 7^th Tipperary athlete home – the first six athletes home from the County represent the team.  The club had a team in the Boys U/9 race and what a performance by Adam Spillane-Leane who ran an excellently judged race to finish 18^th overall.  Next home was Frank Doyle who also ran a great race to finish 37^th as did Adam Phelan in 48^th with Fred Power completing the team in 75^th.  Competing in Munster for the first time these four athletes combined to finish 5^th in the club section.  In addition both Adam and Frank finished 4^th and 6^th athlete home for Tipperary and this secured the bronze medals for the County.  Well done to Saoirse, Adam and Frank on winning their first Munster medals in athletics.

Five girls represented the club in the Girls U/11 race and again all performed with great heart.  Leading them home was Louise Hickey in 36^th with Helen Cleere in 42^nd, Tara Gleeson 69^th, Amy Reddan 95^th and Una Duggan 116^th to finish 9^th club in the inter-club competition.  Louise and Helen were 5^th and 6^th athlete home for Tipperary which helped the team to bronze medals.  The Boys U/11 were not to be outdone by the girls with Aaron McLoughlin, Jake Bowe and Cormac Burke facing the starter.  A superb run from Aaron saw him finish 21^st with Jake closing fast at the finish to claim the 24^th spot while Cormac came through the field to finish 120^th  Again the club supplied two members of the Tipperary team in Aaron and Jake and the County finished third in the Inter-County championship.

Just three athletes represented the club at U/13 level with Emma Gleeson putting in a tremendous effort to finish in 33^rd place and secure a place on the Tipperary team that finished 3^rd.  Aine Duggan and Blake Walsh also had two great races to finish 84^th and 95^th respectively.  Aoibheann Duggan was our lone representative in the Girls U/15 race and this did not deter her with a very steady performance to finish 66^th overall.   Three athletes went to the start line for the Boys U/15 event and again it saw some very steady running from our athletes.  Jack Hickey was our leading athlete throughout most of the race but sucummed to injury with less than 800mts to run.  Dylan McLoughlin was gradually picking off the athletes and produced a great finish to clinch 21^st place overall with Sean Burke growing into the race the further it went on to finish 45^th.

At U/17 level Roisin Daly and Nathan Bowe were our representatives and again two very steady and controlled performances followed from both athletes which saw them finish 30^th and 34^th respectively.

Once again congratulations to all our athletes on their performances and many thanks to all the parents who supported and encouraged the athletes on the day.