Cross country events dominate the athletics calendar next weekend with Galway clubs competing at both juvenile and senior level on the national stage.
Strong men's and women’s senior squads are heading to Kilkenny aiming for medals in the novice cross country event, while the national juvenile uneven age championships also take place with Galway clubs well represented on Connacht, county and club teams from U11 through to U19.
The Galway men and Craughwell club teams look strong, and include rising star William Fitzgerald and Jamie Fallon of Craughwell fresh from great runs at the national seniors, along with the in-form Patrick Noonan and Jack Miskella. Add in Keith Fallon and Aaron Brennan of GCH, and Abbas Edris and Stephen Casserly of Castlegar, and all will be hoping to bring silverware back west.
Galway women's team is also strong, led by Ellen Moran and Barbara Dunne of GCH, who are in top form all season, and this duo, allied to clubmates Maebh Brannigan, Olive Gleeson, Niamh Hennelly and Aine O Farrell, with Craughwell's Sinead Gaffney and Aisling Moyles of Castlegar, make up a top-class eight.
Both men's and women's squad will also field a second team given the huge numbers and talent at the selector’s disposal, and GCH and Castlegar have strong club teams
The men’s race is over a 6km distance, with the women's over 4km, and both events are traditionally fast and furious affairs.
Ballinderreen 10k
The Ballinderreen 10k was held on Sunday hosted by South Galway AC, and doubled as the county championship.
The talented Hugh McCardle of Roscommon Harriers claimed the honours in a time of 32.58, Enda Marren was second and Gary Higgins finished third.
Stephen Casserly of Castlegar AC was the first Galway club athlete home taking the Galway title, while the first woman home was Grainne Ni Uallachain of Galway City Harriers in a fast time of 37.50. The city club took all the podium spots and Galway championship medals, with Neasa De Burca in second and Clare Rowe third.
