Well done to all Civil Service Harriers competing and training this week.
There was a good crowd of CSH’ers taking part in the Business Houses Athletic Association (BHAA) Garda XC race on the green grass of home at Magazine Fort, Phoenix Park on Saturday morning. ‘The Garda’ is widely regarded as one of the most testing XC races on the calendar, taking in much of the ‘Munich-mile’ lap, with the added hills of ‘the gully’ and ‘the Khyber Pass’.
Anna was a smooth winner of the ladies two mile race, always looking comfortable throughout. Claire Egan was next in with a well paced race coming through very strong in the second mile to finish in 7th place and 2nd in her o35 category, a great performance by Claire. Just one place behind in 8th was the ever-improving Mairead O’Shaughnessy with Laura Cullen having a fine race in 11th and Sonia Carey in 34th. Marie O’Connell ran steady in 39th, as did Marie Norris in 44th and Caroline Fallon in 48th. Margaret Moloney was 2nd in her o55 category and Eithne Ni Mhurchadha out braving the hills.
Neil O’ Rourke was first of our men home in the four mile race, finishing in 4th position, running with one eye on next weeks National Senior XC. Bernard Duggan had a much improved performance in 14th place and Jason Reilly in 17th place always looking strong. It was an XC baptism of fire for newcomer Eoin Devlin who had an excellent race in 35th, following closely were Eoin Kealy in 40th position and Stephen Burke in 48th. As the runners streamed in at pace we had Sean Ryan in 54th, Paul O’ Neill in 66th, Noel Ryan had a great race in 75th with Nick Devery in 79th, Bren Farrell in 81st and Andrew Davies in 83rd. Vincent O’ Neill won his o60 category in 84th and Paul Cullen, (CSH legend) Loughlin Campion Sr, Keith Farrell, Owen McFeely and Barry Ryan all in action. Tom Turner picked up both 1st in his o70 category and Team honours also, very well done to Tom.
Full Results available from BHAA website: https://bhaa.ie/events/garda-cc-2016/ Videos also available to view on BHAA youtube homepage: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwIOgvu7BX1sWKptwaxdmw Thanks to all who came to support and thanks to Joe Delaney for pictures.
Dublin Athletics Board have issued County Teams for next weeks Athletics Ireland National Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Tuam, Co. Galway, with two CSH’ers making selection. Anna Sadowska, who led her Dublin Masters team to National Gold has made selection for the Senior ladies 8,000m race. Neil O’ Rourke, who led both Dublin Novice and Intermediate teams to National Bronze and Silver respectively, was selected for the Senior Mens 10,000m race. Full Dublin County teams available here: http://www.dublinathletics.com/team-selection-for-national-inter-county-cross-country-championships-2016.html