Sligo

Sligo

On a fine, crisp winter afternoon for cross-country running Athenry AC runners enjoyed a great outing to Sligo yesterday for the Connaught Junior and Senior Cross Country Championships. Sligo racecourse, the venue, always provides challenging conditions for such races and this year’s event was no exception. The ‘going’ was soft to heavy and bottomless only in places. Athenry got their campaign underway in the men’s junior race with Seamie Gilhooley and Adrian Healy representing the club with great distinction. Seamie was competitive from the start and this rising star of Athenry athletics came home third in a very competitive field. Adrian came home close on his heels and the only regret on the day for our juniors must have been that we were unable to find just one other athlete to make up a junior team. Congratulations to Seamie and Adrian.

On the men’s senior side Paul McNamara, Galway Athletics Sports Star of 2006, continued him recent improved form in taking the individual gold medal. His main opposition on the day came from Mayo’s John Byrne but in fairness to both Paul and John their relative finishing positions were never in doubt. P. Brennan from North Sligo took the bronze medal. Athenry were glad to be able to field a full senior team on the day and Brian O’Connor continued his build up to the Ballycotton ‘10’ mile road race in March with a strong display and crossed the line in 6th position. Former club captain Gary Doherty in 8th was next home getting his 2007 campaign off to the same strong start that stood him in such good stead last year. Club cross-country debutante Derek Conerney in 9th position ran perhaps the race of the day filling the final scoring slot for Athenry AC. Derek had agreed to run the race at short notice and ran through the tough conditions like a seasoned veteran. Having run a fine road-race over 8km in Tuam recently there’s surely more to come from this improving athlete over the spring and into the summer of 2007. The ever-dependable James Corbett in 10th place completed the Athenry team on the day in hot pursuit of his team-mates all the way to the line delivering yet another great performance in club colours for Athenry. TJ Whyte of Tuam AC put in another storming performance on the country to take 7th place for his club.

When the results were analysed the club senior team were delighted to realise that their efforts had earned then quite a haul. In addition to winning the Connaught Club-Championship title each of the team members had scored on the winning County Galway Team along with TJ Whyte of Tuam AC. Congratulations to all involved.

In the women’s junior race E.Neary of North Sligo took gold with E.Cullen, sister of Mary, in second place and R.Keane in the bronze medal position. In the women’s senior race Brid Blehein McHale of Mayo just held off the challenge of Mayo AC’s A.Murray.