Gerry Brady

10 April, 2010

Brennan and Totten win Youths trials

Claire Brennan (Celtic DCH) and Eoghan Totten (Newcastle) both led from the gun to tape to record convincing victories in the trials for the Irish Youths teams in Howth. First off were the girls with two laps. Brennan opened a lead on the first lap and held it well to finish 43 seconds ahead of Emma Sharkey (Lagan Valley). Close behind in third place was Meghan Ryan (DSD) who had returned a few days earlier from a hard training stint in Portugal with Dundrum athletics club. Raheny newcomer Alice Fennell started well but eventually found the going too hard as the race progressed.

2009 British and Irish champion Eoghan Totten (Newcastle) ran hard from the start and opened up an immediate lead. Michael Treacy and Shaun McCormack (Gowran) followed him in the early stages before newcomer Carl Dunne (Dunleer) moved into second place. As the race progressed Dunne gradually narrowed the gap on the leader before it opened up again in the last 600m. Treacy held on for third ahead of a fine run by Shaun McCormack (Gowran). Shane Walsh (Dunleer) ran a solid race for fifth ahead of Fintan Doherty (Clonliffe) and newcomer Adam Daly (Mullingar).

Thanks to Howth GAA club for allowing us to use their grounds and facilities, and to the IMRA and guest volunteers who made the race possible. Thanks also to Peter Brennan and the person who alerted us that some woman was misguidedly removing the course marking tape shortly before the start!

The international teams will be selected in the coming week.