The County Galway Cross Country Championships at juvenile even-age grades and adult grades took place in Tuam yesterday afternoon in bright sunshine. The conditions were superb for fast cross-country running and the local club, Tuam AC, under the leadership of Brendan Monaghan, deserve great credit for their efforts in the organisation of the event. There were strong entries for all of the juvenile races as well as for the adult divisions. The county board continued their practice of recent years in combining the competing male and female adult grades into a single male and a female race. This, once again, proved a distinct success with a sizable and competitive field lining up for both of the combined races.

A detailed result should be available later today, but on the men's side GCH's Gary Thornton continued his comeback to competition in good style by romping home unchallenged in the senior men's race. In the women's senior division Kathryn Casserly of Castlegar AC also proved an impressive winner with a 'pillar to post' win over Loughrea's Caroline Clancy. Bothe Kathryn and caroline look set to make quite an impression over the remainder of the cross country season. Our very own Jane Ann Healy returned to fine form in claiming the bronze medal. Leading the Athenry women home.

When the team standings were calculated the men of Craughwell AC had claimed a well deserved win over GCH in silver and Athenry in the bronze medal positions. In the women's team division it was Athenry AC who claimed well deserved gold medals with fine performances throughout the team. As mentioned, Jane Ann Healy ran strongly in third place overall to secure an individual senior bronze medal and Eimear Butler was hot on her heels in fourth place. Eimear also claimed the gold Novice grade medal. The Athenry women's team was completed by the gallant trio of Valerie Glavin, Maeve Noone and Maire Teresa Beatty. Our warm congratulations go to all members of the team for a fantastic effort.

The Athenry women's team deserve great credit in taking their first senior gold medals at county level and we wish them all the best for the remainder of the season where, no doubt, even more success awaits.