Having missed the previous three instalments of this years Wicklow cross-country championship, it was heartening to see a big squad of our runners out for today’s Wicklow Masters Cross-Country Championship held in pristine conditions in Shanganagh Park today and hosted by Bray Runners. Thanks in advance to our hosts for a marvellous event!
A great Nollaig na mBan
Our women where up first and we sported our biggest team yet with 5 runners: two of our ‘regulars’ (Yvonne Brennan and Donna Quinn) with Catherine Devitt and Aoife Joyce making their come-backs after extended breaks and Rachel Wisdom returning to cross-country for the first time in many years.
Rachel went off in an early lead but Parnell’s Catherine O’Connor quickly asserted herself and dominated the majority of the race to finish first – 24 seconds ahead of Aisling Smith. Rachel battled midway for the last podium spot with another Parnell runner – Ann-Marie Kenny – but lost out by 21 seconds in the end. As a consolation she took the Gold Medal in the F35 category. Behind our Catherine Devitt set out in second but had been caught midway by Yvonne Brennan and Donna Quinn.
The girls worked together and packed well and in the end Donna Quinn paced herself best to take 5th overall – Yvonne and Catherine followed in quick succession in 6th and 8th spot and then Aoife in 15th. Such tight packing was duly rewarded: our women took Gold in the team competition with 15 points – 7 ahead of second-placed Parnell and four individual medals – the Gold, Silver and Bronze in the F35 category (Rachel, Donna and Catherine respectively) and the Bronze medal in the F40 category for Yvonne. This was the 5th team medal in cross-country in our history so far but only the 2nd gold.
‘A’ means medals: awards for Angus and Anthony
Not to be completely outdone, our men also took home two individual medals: Angus Tyner had another excellent race – as is his habit – finishing 13th overall and taking the Bronze medal in the M50 category. Not far behind was a determined Anthony Breen in 20th who was rewarded for his efforts with the Bronze medal in the M45 category. Barry O’Neill and Rene Borg worked together for the mid-part of the race and finished 28th and 31st respectively with Johnny Conway (making his senior debut in the discipline) in 37th. Next in was another first-time cross-country runner – ultra-man Duncan Barrett in 47th followed by Colm Kenna and Keith Mulvey in 49th and 50th place. Winner of the men’s race were the hosts Ian McGrath.
Overall, our men finished 5th out of 6 teams with 51 points – avoiding finishing last by a mere two points ahead of the Kilcoole B team – every place counts!
All in all, 1 team GOLD, 1 individual gold, 1 individual silver, and 4 individual bronze medals represented a fantastic haul for the teams which will hopefully encourage everyone ahead of the 2019-2020 cross-country season!
A special thanks for our hosts Bray Runners for putting on a smoothly run event on a superb course.
WOMEN’S RACE (4K)
- Catherine O’Connor, Parnell AC 15:35
————–GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS—————
4. Rachel Wisdom 16:39 , 1st F35, TEAM GOLD
5. Donna Quinn 17:03, 2nd F35, TEAM GOLD
6. Yvonne Brennan 17:07, 3rd F40, TEAM GOLD
8. Catherine Devitt 17:25 , 3rd F35, TEAM GOLD
15. Aoife Joyce 19:06, TEAM GOLD
MEN’S RACE (6K)
- Ian McGrath, Bray Runners 20:24
————–GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS—————
13. Angus Tyner 22:01, 3rd M50
20. Anthony Breen 22:51, 3rd M45
28. Barry O’Neill 23:30
31. René Borg 23:36
37. Johnny Conway 24:12 (XC debut)
47. Duncan Barrett 26:33 (XC debut)
49. Colm Kenna 26:55
50. Keith Mulvey 27:08
WOMEN’S TEAMS
- Glendalough AC 15 pts
MEN’S TEAM
- Kilcoole 10 pts
5. Glendalough AC 51 points
Glendalough AC 