Galway City Harriers' Niamh Hennelly has claimed the senior ladies' crown of the Connacht Senior Cross Country League.
Hennelly finished the third and final day of the league held on Sunday on a testing and muddy course in Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle in second place, which was enough to give her the title after the three leg event, giving her a well deserved first provincial title.
For the second week in a row, Kathryn Casserly of Castlegar AC took the honours in the race.
Casserly led from gun to tape, ahead of Hennelly who moved through the field as the conditions took their toll on others. Grainne Ni Uallachain, also GCH, crossed in third.
Dermot Mcdermott of Sligo AC was a clear winner of the men’s race over 8km, and was followed home by Peter O'Sullivan of Craughwell AC, who also won the overall senior men's crown. Brian O'Connor of GCH ran well in seventh, which was enough to give him the Masters silver medal.
At juvenile level GCH again took home a large haul of medals, both team and individual. Emma Moore of GCH took bronze in the U13 girls, with the team of Moore, Shauna Brennan, Kara McCleane, Eimear Rowe, Ciara Dunne, Joanna Healy and Sinead Duggan, taking gold. GCH U17 girls Aoife Sheehy, Aoife King, and Laura Nally also won gold as part of the Galway squad at county level. Aaron Brennan of GCH won the U15 boys with a great display of front running.
The U17 boys event saw a very talented squad of four GCH athletes toe the line. Eanna Folan of the city club stormed into an early lead that he would never lose, winning the Connacht title. New GCH signing Gary Martyn ran well to be second club man home, with Mark Powell and Ronan Dirrane third and fourth scorers, ensuring team gold.
Fit for Life 5km
Athenry AC held its sixth annual 5km Fit for Life race on Saturday with Derek Naughton of Milltown AC taking victory in a time of 18.27, ahead of Patrick Fleming of Tuam and Shane Begley. Noelle Gannon of Tuam AC was first woman home in 22.11.
Masters International
Several of Galway’s top masters athletes run for Ireland in the Home International Cross Country races in Santry in Dublin. Tuam AC's Roger Rushe runs on the O75 squad, with GCH Martin Mcevilly going in the O65 category. Michael O'Connor GCH and Peter O Sullivan of Craughwell run on a strong Irish O40 team. Kathryn Casserly of Castlegar runs in the Open 6km race and Gerry Ryan is a reserve on the O50 men’s team. The event pits Ireland versus Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales across the 35-50, 50-64 and 65 plus categories.
