County Senior Race Report

Hard fought individual victories for Niamh Richardson and Brian Maher of KCH and team victories for the women of St Josephs AC and the men of Gowran AC were the highlights of the County Senior Cross Country Championships.

The races were held on the excellent Bramblestown Course in the winter sunshine and special thanks for this  to Gowran AC and the generosity of the O Donnell family.

In the womens 3K race  Maria Griffen, St Josephs, forced the pace from the early stages by was closely followed by  Niamh Richardson, KCH and after the first lap it was dificult to pick a winner.

However on the second lap the KCH athlete pulled away to win  but the St Josephs athlete battled all the way and ended a close second and was joined by Mary Doolin, St Josephs in third place.

The team race  ended with KCH and St Josephs even on 20 points, but as St Josephs 4th place athlete Anita Barry finised 8th one place above Sinead Foley KCH the team victory went to St Josephs. Frances Mulally (7th) was the other scoring athlete for St Josephs and Caoilte Malone and Anne Marie O Grady were the other scorers for KCH.

Aoife O Connor, Thomastown, had a great run to finish 5th overall and lead the Thomastown team to the bronze medals.

St Josephs winning cross country team

The mens 10k race was set up be an intriguing battle up front. Coming into the race Brian Maher having won six consecutive titles looked to have a race on his hands with Eoin Everard  recently crowned national Novice Champion lining up at the start and the Gowran athletes Tommy Evans and Niall Sheehan in great form and sure enough it was this group who broke away from the field in the early stages.

On the second lap Niall Sheehan dropped off the leading group and KCH were looking good Thos Hayes and Eamon O Connor were going well for KCH and David McPherson and Paul Cody were going well but Paul Deegan was well placed and young Sean McCormack was going really well for Gowran.

Meanwhile St Senans athletes Conor Rochford and Sean Caulfied were well placed in 5th and 6th position.  Then  David McPherson, KCH, had to withdraw due to injury but Brian Maher was pushing on with Everard in close pursuit and Tommy Evans seemed to loose some ground. The die was cast when Eoin Everard went down on his ankle and was suddenly out of the race.  KCH now had Brian Maher 1st and Thos Hayes 4th but Paul Deegan ( Gowran)7th was well ahead of Eamon O Connor (KCH) 8th and Sean McCormack (Gowran) 9th had a big gap on Paul Cody (KCH) 10th.

This was how it finished with Brian Maher crossing the finish line to win a record breaking seven county titles in a row.

Tommy Evans was second making up a lot of ground on the last lap and Nial Sheehan having flown in to take part in the race was rewarded with well deserved individual bronze and team gold medals.

St Senans were third team and special mention must be made of the great performances by the young athletes, Conor Rochford, Eamon O Connor and sean McCormack who all finished in the top ten on a tough deamnding course.

Team Results

Women

1st St Josephs (20); 2nd  KCH (20); 3rd Thomastown (56 ), 4th KCH (57);  5th Gowran  (80)

Men

1st Gowran (21) 2nd KCH (23) 3rd St Senans (60) 4th Gowran  (61) 5th St Josephs (71)  6th Gowran (102)

Individual Results

Chrismas Day Charity  Fun Runs

Why not take part in a Christmas morning charity run, they are open to all ages and running abilities. Come along ready to run and a few bob for charity

KCH: starting at Kilkenny Castle at 11.00am. All proceeds  for St Vincent De P aul

Gowran AC  starting outside Gowran Church at 11.15 am

St Senans: Chrismas Morning Run at 9.00am

County Athletics Board Fund Raising Draw

Hamper: Conor Clarke Castlecomer; €100: Ciaran Madden; DVD player: Tom Moran Castlecomer; Brandy: Dara Nolan Johnswell; Whiskey: KCH Coaches; Biscuits: Peter Connellan Thomastown, Chocolates: St Josephs