Galway athletes and clubs were once again on the podium on the second day of the 2019 Connacht Cross Country Championships in Belleek Woods park in Ballina, Co Mayo, on Sunday.
Tuam AC won the team event in the U11 girls with the squad of Grace McGrath, Sarah Murphy, Rebecca Moynihan, Clodagh Gannon, Taillte O'Callaghan and Kate Halligan
Alan Hallinan of Craughwell AC won bronze in the U11 boys' race, with Tuam AC taking bronze team medals.
Eva Burke of Tuam AC produced a great run to take bronze in the U13 event, and led her team to gold, with Myah Gallagher, Aoibheann Redington, Aine Maguire, Danielle Moynihan and Abbi McGrath combining well to take the Connacht title. Tuam AC Boys won another medal for the club in the U13 team event, with Cian Halligan leading them home in sixth place.
Fauve Aylmer of GCH had a great run to take silver medals in the U15 race, leading her team to Connacht gold, with Mia Craughwell, Saoirse Coleman and Clodagh Quirke all running well.
Mathys Bocquet of Craughwell AC continued his good season with a commanding win in the U15, while South Galway AC U15 took silver medals in the boys' team event.
Sean Cotter of Craughwell produced a great front-running performance to win gold in the U17 race. Barry Murphy of GCH was another who excelled on the day for the city club, with a fine third in the U19 event, helping the club win team gold in the with Rian De Bairead, Cian Coyne and Aidan Brock also competing.
Caron Ryan of Craughwell AC continued her good form with a clear win in the senior women’s race, while in the senior men’s race, John Moroney of GCH continued his good season with a hard-fought third place finish
Fit4Life 5k Athenry: Deirdre Moran Smyth of GCH won the annual Fit for Life 5k hosted by Athnery AC on Saturday. The winner clocked 22.14 for first place, ahead of clubmates Sarah Johnson in second and Avril Timmins third.
Irish Life Health All-Ireland Schools Combined Events: There were three Galway medal winners at the All Ireland Schools Combined Events championships on Saturday in Athlone IT. Liam Shaw of Presentation Athenry won bronze at the event in the minor section, while Conor Hoade also claimed a bronze in the intermediate event for Presentation Athenry. Leanagh Gilligan of St Brigid’s Loughrea was Galway's third bronze medalist with a great performance in the senior girls' event.
Fixtures
IUAA Road Relays: The Irish Universities Athletics Association Road Relay Championships will be hosted by National University of Ireland Maynooth on Saturday November. NUII Galway will field strong teams, led by Pierre Murchan and Rhona Pierce.
Ballinderreen 10k: South Galway AC hosts the ninth annual Ballinderreen 10k on Sunday at 12.30pm. The race starts at Ballinderreen village. The course is AAI certified measured, and chip timed and on a fast-flat course.
British and Irish Masters Cross Country International: The British and Irish Masters Cross Country international takes place in Aintree, Liverpool next Saturday, with three Galway athletes representing Ireland. Mark Davis of Craughwell AC runs at V45 level, Ian Egan of Castlegar AC goes in the V50 race, with Martin Keane of Athenry AC competing in the V75 category.
