On the 31st of August, West Limerick AC organised an Open Cross Country event in Newcastlewest, Co.Limerick. The purpose was to promote the sport and to introduce new people to it.
39 men took part in their race over 8k while 17 women took part in a shorter 5k race.
1 139 MAC DOMHNAILL, Aogan Donore Harriers Senior Men
2 127 MICHAEL, Dullea Skibbereen AC Senior Men
3 131 O CONNOR, Tim An Riocth AC Senior Men
1 JOHNSON, Tracey Dooneen AC Senior Women
2 AHERNE, Noelle West Limerick AC Senior Women
3 BOURKE, Fiona West Limerick AC Masters Women O40
Team results...
Position Team Name Totals
1 Limerick Ac 39
2 West Limerick AC 47
3 Limerick Ac 75
4 Bilboa AC 94
5 West Limerick AC 103
6 West Limerick AC 140
Results of Womens Team Competition
Position Team Name Totals
1 West Limerick AC 14
2 Doneen AC 31The full results can be seen
HERE
Photos...
1) A gallery of photos from Declan Guina can be seen
HERE
From West Limerick AC.......
The Demesne Newcastle West was the venue for the first cross country of the season on the last day of August 2014.First race off was our Fit4life race. This was the brain child of Liam Healy club chairman and it turned out a major success. It was a non competitive race for newcomers to cross country over a two mile course and it was great to see runners take on cross country for the first time.
Second race was our Ladies 5km event. Top three were Tracey Johnson, Noelle Ahern and Fiona Burke. Tracey had a fine run and was pushed all the way by our very own Noelle and Fiona who are naturals over the grass.Next in were Paula Collins and Rita Brouder also West Limerick Ac. That made it four West Limerick ladies home out of the top five. Next home in the green and white were Carmel MacDomhnaill 8th, Karen O'Brien 10th, Tara Carr 11th, Joanne Kelly 13th and Barbara Kelly 14th. Great to see so many ladies out on the day. When you have four in the top five it goes without saying West Limerick took the team prize followed by Dooneen Ac.
Final race for the day was the Mens 8km race which was five loops of the one mile course. When you see the top three athletes in this event running for clubs in Dublin, Cork and Kerry you know this event has potential. First home was Aogan MacDomhnaill who was a very popular winner ahead of Michael Dunlea and Tim O'Connor. These three had a battle throughout the race with Aogan making the telling break on the final lap. In fourth spot was Paul Fitzgerald closely followed by Dermot Kearns in fifth and Ger Guina sixth. Next home for West Limerick were Denis Hayes 12th, Liam Hurrell 13th, Niall O'Riordan 22nd, Declan O'Keefe 24th, John Barrett 27th, George O'Sullivan 30th, Gerard Dore 33rd, Gerard Donovan 34th, David Condan 36th, John Barrett 37th and Kieran O'Connor 39th. It was great to see so many of our own runners out today representing the club with pride. In the team event Limerick Ac were clear winners with 39 points, 8 points clear of West Limerick Ac in 2nd place. The winning Limerick Ac team were Paul Fitzgerald,Vincent O'Brien,Keith Ryan and Keith Daly. It was great to see a strong Limerick contingent in the race with Limerick Ac, Bilboa and Dooneen represented.
Not everyone can run when you are hosting an event like this and thanks has to go to all club members and friends of the club who helped out on the day whether you were on the computer, donated a spot prize, Ballygowan for supplying the water, took entries, set out the course, marshaled, on the pr system, gave out the spot prizes or helped feed people. Thanks to every one and hope ye all come back next year to make it a bigger and better event.
