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29th
Nov 2010
Gransha's Winter Wonderland
for National Cross Country Championships
Derry Womens Quartet Win Inter County Team
Silver
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Despite the Christmas Card vista of Gransha Park on Sunday
when sking could easily been accomodated,the National Juvenile
and Inter Counties cross country championships went ahead
with over 1000 athletes from all over Ireland, serving up
a snowy spectacle to keep the big crowd thoroughly entertained.
Despite the Christmas Card vista of Gransha Park on Sunday
when sking could easily been accomodated,the National Juvenile
and Inter Counties cross country championships went ahead
with over 1000 athletes from all over Ireland,serving up a
snowy spectacular to keep the big crowd thoroughly entertained
throught.
The weather conditions however disrupted the travel plans
of many athletes,including a significant number from counties
Derry,Donegal, Tyrone and Antrim and of course from further
down the Country, but on an unusual glistening white carpet
,running conditions underfoot were excellent even if a couple
of heavy snowfalls during the early Juvenile races were problematic,in
the visual sense for both runners and officials.
With athletes from all parts of Ireland chasing honours the
local runners found it tough but the Derry senior womens squad,despite
losing half their full complement to travel problems performed
brilliantly to claim the B grade silver team medals and there
was also a good run from City of Derrys Aoife Laverty,fifth
in the Girls U14 championship. Greg Roberts in 27th led the
Derry county team to fourth in their event,losing out to neighbours
Donegal in the battle for team bronze. Letterkenny,s Darren
McBrearty was fifth in the U20 mens race and should have done
enough to clinch a spot in the Irish team for next months
European championships in Portugal.
Dawn McDaid 33rd, Marina Campbell 39th,Jackie McGinley 40th
and Rosie O Brien 47th, combined magnificiently to secure
Inter County team silver behind winners Clare and were the
only local medallists on the day. Hit by a pre race loss due
to travel problems,of Anne Paul and the three Springwell girls,they
lined up nevertheless,determined to perform well. Led from
the gun by the impressive Dawn McDaid,only recently back in
competitive action and up against red hot opposition the Oak
Leaf women dug in to deliver a terrific battling collective
effort.
McDaid ,a team gold medallist at this level back in the day
showed her class for 33rd in the 8K four lapper, won by the
proverbial mile by the flying Fionnualla Britton from Wicklow
and the Derry City Council employee,s strong running inspired
similar efforts from Marina Campbell 39th and Jackie McGinley
four seconds behind in 40th. This pair both ran really well
and were backed up by the vital fourth scorer Rosie O Brien
who was experiencing this level of competition for the first
time but was not found wanting as she closed out the Derry
squad in 47th place to guarantee team silver.
Aoife Laverty won the Ulster U14 championships and was in
medal contention again on Sunday. Third after the first 1000
metres lap she
lost concentration in the middle stages but rallied well for
a fifth place finish. Obviously disappointed,especially as
she had beaten Sundays winner Aodagh O Reilly at the Ulsters
some weeks ago,Aoife will learn from this experience and look
forward the championship action in January and February with
renewed conviction.
At U16 level Shane McGowan did well for 16th,the second Ulster
finisher in a classy 4000 metres;Paddy Doherty 32nd was the
top U20 local finisher and Amy Jackson was 31st in the Girls
U16 leading her City of Derry squad to seventh in the team
standings. DSD,s Joe Sweeney was a comfortable senior mens
winner and the Derry squad were pipped by Donegal for third
team as Dublin and Cork took team gold and silver. Greg Roberts
and Declan Reed,both very strong from their marthon training
were the top local finishers,27th and 38th. Aaron Doherty
ran 42nd, Diarmuid Grant 58th and the scoring six were completed
by Kieran Hurley 60th and Emmet McGinty 61st as the 10K race
drew the eleven race programme to an end after a long but
very entertaining day.
Gerry Lynch
Photos here
from the senior races
 
It is
worth noting that events like this don’t just happen
by themselves. Particular thanks are due to a number of people
for making the event such a success.
• Brendan McDaid and
the team at Athletics Ireland
• Jeff Ashe and all at
Derry City Council
• Gransha estate and
all involved with it
• All club members of
City of Derry Spartans AC who helped out in any way, especially
Mr Gerry Lynch without whom this event wouldn’t have
happened, as usual!
Eoghan
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