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28 November, 2009

<b>
<a href="http://www.imra.ie/forms/Irish Schools Results 2008.xls"> Full results</a> </b>

<a href="http://www.imra.ie/ad-hoc/Munster Results 2008.xls"> Munster Schools results</a> </b>

Not even severe gale weather warnings could dissuade over 250 participants making their way to Millstreet Cork for the Irish Schools Mountain Running Championship on Wednesdays 12th March 2008.

Despite high winds, hail and rain showers throughout the previous night, the course marking remained intact. We were lucky with the weather, as with the exception of one rain shower before the junior girls race, the bad weather died down for the duration of the event.

Conditions underfoot were very slippery and mucky with many participants losing a runner or spike along the way. Shawn McCormack managed a good run in the inter race despite loosing both runners! Thankfully all footwear seems to have been recovered &#61514;

The junior girls kicked off the event with their 1500m course. Alanna Allen last years bronze medal winner ran a great race to take the gold medal home to Kinsale. As in the Leinster schools, Colaiste Iosagain team mates Megan Ni Rian and Sorchan Ui Umfraidh battled it out all the way to the finish to take silver and bronze medals. Colaiste Iosagain blew away the competition in the team event. Great excitement saw them take an unprecedented top three places in the team event, with 16 runners finishing within the top 22.

Eimear Tangey from St Bridgets Killarney had a great run to retain the top spot for the second year in a row in the Inter girls race. Laura Hannigan took the silver medal and led Loreto Foxrock to victory in the team event. Last years winner of the Junior girls, Gayle Finn stayed in the medals taking the bronze medal in her first year in the inter category. St Peters Dunboyne put in a strong team performance to take silver in the team, with Dunmanways Maria Immaculate taking bronze.

Becky Hand from St Marys Charleville had a very strong run in the senior girls race; after running in Ballycotton at the weekend it seems the 2500m course was too short for her! Elma Nugent from Ard Scoil na Denise improved on last years 6th place to take the silver medal, with team mate Jenny Hurley taking the bronze. Four in the top ten ensured victory for Ard Scoil na Denise, with St Marys taking the silver team medals back to Charleville.

At this stage, the excitement was palatable as cheers and roars could be heard from the starting area as the junior boys got underway. The largest race of the day saw 102 junior boys take on the 2500m course. It is a rare occasion to see spectators laughing out loud, but when you see a group of lads who seem more intent on splashing into every mucky puddle on what is already a testing route - you cannot help but admire their spirit! Not to take away from what was an extremely competitive race. Colaiste Eoin secured first in the team event, with Donal O Gormlaigh taking gold and team mate Cillian O Mhaonaigh taking bronze. Maria Immaculates Mark Quinn improved on last years 4th place to take the silver back to Dunmanway. St Benildus took the silver team medals and CBS Dungarvan taking the bronze.

By far the most exciting race of the day saw John Harrington and Emmet Jennings battle it out in the Inter boys. Emmet and John left the rest of the field behind, as they raced down the final hill with Emmet leading until the final climb to the finish, where he slipped in the mud. John was quick to take full advantage and snatch first prize. Such a thrilling race for spectators, but heartbreak for Emmet. We can look forward to many more battles between these two great competitors who could teach us all about determination and fighting right to the line. Jordan Logue put in a fine performance to take bronze back to St Aidans CBS in Whitehall. The team event was just as competitive with St Marys Knockbeg putting in a great team performance to take gold, with Maria Immaculate of Dunmanway taking silver and St Peters Dunboyne taking bronze.

After a long wait, the final race of the day saw Kian Jennings make up for his disappointment in the Leinsters, with a strong performance to win the senior boys event for the second year in a row. Blackrocks Michael Cassels fought all the way to take silver. Sadly the race was marred by the fact that Michael Dowling and Richard Owens who were in third and fourth place respectively took the wrong route. Despite this, they both fought back well to take joint third place. Well done to both lads on their good sportsmanship.

Another strong team performance saw Blackrock take All Ireland Gold to add to their team win in the Leinsters. Colaiste Treasa put in a fine performance to take silver in the team.

Congratulations to all participants who had to dig deep to face the challenges of a though course on cold, wet, windy day. Their enthusiasm was paid off with a fabulous spread at the post race refreshments back at Millstreet GAA hall. The prize giving ceremony was rushed to ensure over 70 athletes made it back to Millstreet train station on time for the train back to Dublin.

Now for all the thanks you notes that must go out for the organisation of such a big event. Firstly thank you to the teachers and schools for supporting the event ? we do appreciate the headaches it takes to get teams entered and to the race! To Matt Twomey and his fabulous team of volunteers; the course was well marked despite the best efforts of the gale force wind to blow the markers away! To Mary Ashe for her assistance at the finish ? Matt is right, who needs a computer to work out the team results when you have Mary with her nerves of steel.

The GAA hall was laid out so that all participants could sit down at the prize giving with their tea, sandwiches, cakes and buns. To the ladies in the kitchens, THANK YOU for the goodies....was it just me or was that the nicest cup of tea ever! To Pat Donlon, after years of helping running the junior races for the IMRA ? thanks for all the assistance with the medals this year. And last, but by no means least, to the legendary Vivian O?Gorman who has been keeping the juniors organised on behalf of IMRA for longer than he cares to remember ? thanks for all the advice and assistance on the day!

Congratulations to all participants for giving us all such an enjoyable day. Hopefully we?ll see you all again soon at some of our summer races - check the IMRA website for event details and if you?ve any queries, just contact me on caroline.reid@imra.ie

<b> Junior Girls </b> (1500m, 44 finishers)
1st Alanna Allen, Kinsale CC
2nd Megan Ni Riain, Colaiste Iosagain
3rd Sorchan Ni Umfraidh, Colaiste Iosagain

Teams
1st Colaiste Iosagain
2nd Colaiste Iosagain
3rd Colaiste Iosagain

<b> Junior Boys </b> (2500m, 102 finishers)
1st Donal O Gormlaigh, Colaiste Eoin
2nd Mark Quinn, Maria Immaculate CC Dunmanway
3rd Cillian O Mhaonaigh, Colaiste Eoin

Teams
1st Colaiste Eoin
2nd St Benildus
3rd CBS Dungarvan

<b> Inter Girls </b> (2000m, 23 finishers)
1st Eimear Tangey, St Bridgets Killarney
2nd Laura Hannigan, Loreto Foxrock
3rd Gayle Finn, Colaiste Treasa

Teams
1st Loreto Foxrock
2nd St Peters Dunboyne
3rd Maria Immaculate CC

<b> Inter Boys </b> (3500m, 52 finishers)
1st John Harrington, Maria Immaculate CC Dunmanway
2nd Emmet Jennings, Oatlands College
3rd Jordan Logue, St Aidans CBS, Whitehall

Teams
1st St Marys Knockbeg
2nd Maria Immaculate CC
3rd St Peters Dunboyne

<b> Senior Girls </b> (2500m, 13 finishers)
1st Becky Hand, St Marys Charleville
2nd Elma Nugent, Ard Scoil na Denise
3rd Jenny Hurley, Ard Scoil na Denise

Teams
1st Ard Scoil na Denise
2nd St Marys Charleville

<b> Senior Boys </b> (4500m, 17 finishers)
1st Kian Jennings, Oatlands College
2nd Michael Cassels, Blackrock College
3rd Richard Owens, Blackrock College
3rd Michael Dowling, Scoil Congeas, Baltinglas

Teams
1st Blackrock
2nd Colaiste Treasa