Senior cross country championships

THE Clare Athletics Association Senior Cross Country Championship plus Juvenile B Championships for U-9, U-11 U-13 and U-15 will take place on the lands of  John and Brid Collins, Kilnaboy this Sunday at 11.30am.

The senior ladies 5000m will start at 1pm followed by the senior men’s 10,000m at 1.30pm. The ladies’ race will see last year’s winner, Marie Carey, starting as slight favourite from the 2009 champion Claire Madigan (St John’s) with Anna Crooks (Ennis Track) looking to add to her novice and intermediate titles. Also expected to be in contention are Noreen Mackey, Dympna O’Dwyer (both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), Imogen Cotter and Cushla Brid Hehir (Ennis Track).

In the team contest, the 2011 champions Ennis Track Club are fancied with St John’s, Marian, St Mary’s, St Cronan’s and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare all battling for the minor placings.

Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) the 2008 and 2009 champion, who has been away in Kenya training for the past few weeks and Rory Chesser (Ennis Track), runner-up last year will be amongst the favourites in the men’s race. Dermot Galvin the 2003 champion, Michael Shannon, the local man now running with St John’s AC, Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s), James McIntyre (BMOH), Keith Lynch (BMOH), Brian McGinley (Ennis Track), Damian Landers (St John’s) the Munster Cross Country champion and Jake O’Regan (St John’s) should all be in contention.  The team contest for the All-Army Perpetual Cup should see a mighty battle between titleholders Ennis Track and St John’s.

Fixtures
November
3: Munster Athletics Health and Safety at Rathkeale House 11am to 4.30pm.
4: Clare Athletics Association Senior Cross Country Championships plus Juvenile B U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 on the lands of John and Brid Collins, Kilnaboy starting at 11.30am.
11: Munster Intermediate plus Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships U-9 to U-19 at Waterford IT starting at 11.30am.
14: North Clare versus West Clare National Schools Cross Country Championships on the lands of the McGuire Family, Carhunagry, Mullagh at 11am.
16: Clare Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships for Minor, Junior, Intermediate and Senior at Lees Road Sports Complex, starting at 10.30am.