County cross-country
The first round of the county cross-country championships was held at Ballycurran Cross on Sunday in windy conditions.
Almost 300 athletes took part in the very competitive races, and standards were high all round. Races were held for juvenile athletes from under-eight to under-18, and also the men’s over-40 six kilometre race.
Honours were spread between the clubs. Host club St Joseph’s had three winners: Thomas Mulally, Killian Griffin, and Helen Hoynes. St Senan’s also had three winners: Saoirse Allen, Hugh Morgan, and Bronagh Kearns.
Gowran and KCH each had two winners: Ruth Kennedy and Rebecca Kennedy for Gowran, and Luke Fitzpatrick and Conor Mahon for KCH.
Ciara O’Keeffe for Thomastown and Conor Clarke of Castlecomer were also winners.
The complete results for all the athletes are available on the county athletics website: www.kilkennyathletics.net Special thanks to the Grennan family for their continued support of athletics in the provision of a wonderful venue for the staging of the races. Also thanks to the host club St Joseph’s for their preparation and organisation of a great athletics day out for all involved.
The second round will be held in Castlecomer this Sunday at 11am.
Masters cross-country
The race was held on a six-lap course with a testing hill, which had to be negotiated six times – and with a strong wind waiting at the top of the hill.
Sean Caulfield was equal to the task, and ran strongly to establish a clear lead, which he maintained all the way to the finish. Gowran athlete Simon O’Dwyer was second with KCH athlete Denis Corrigan finishing in the bronze medal position.
St Joseph’s (16 pts ) won the team prize – despite losing Larry Lacey with an injury – with brothers Michael and Seamus Power finishing fourth and fifth, and the ever-reliable Rocky Mernagh in seventh completing the team.
The team battle for second and third place was close with St Senan’s coming in second, and Gowran AC having to settle for bronze on countback.
