St Peter’s don’t get the rub of green

ST PETER’S AC athletes suffered misfortune but also enjoyed some success when they competed in the Leinster Uneven Age Cross-Country Championships in Tyrellspass, Westmeath, at the weekend.

The weather was perfect and underfoot conditions ideal for running and the club had two girls competing in the Girls Under-11 race, with Ellie Smyth - who had an excellent race two weeks earlier -joined by her training partner Isabel Fitzpatrick.

Both tried really hard in the very large field, and although Ellie was unlucky to lose one of her spikes in the early stages this didn’t stop her, although it probably hampered her progress. Isabel tried really hard also and both athletes made the Louth County team that finished fifth.

In the Boys Under-11 race St Peter’s had a four-strong team compete and Jack McLaughlin led them home with an overall 18th place finish, very closely followed by clubmate Harry O’Reilly in 19th, Padraic Tinnelly (38th) and Conor Litchfield finishing well up the large field also.

When the points were added the club team finished in fifth, but the County team was fourth in the inter-county competition and qualified for the National Championship, with three of the six coming from the St Peter’s club.

The club also fielded a team in the Boys Under-13 race and all four boys acquitted themselves well. Sean Allen, who had a bad start, worked his way up through the large field of competitors to finish in 17th position and was the fourth scorer on the Louth team that finished second in the inter-county competition to help the county to win silver medals.

Rory McLoughlin was also on course to stake a claim for a county team position, but unfortunately he went over on an ankle on the back straight with around 200m to go and had to retire. Cian Loy and Mark Litchfield also battled well and the experience will stand them in good stead as both of them, along with Sean Allen, are eligible to run Under-13 again next year.

The championship races were precede by Under-9 races which were put on by the host club Mullingar Harriers and promising St Peter’s girl Orla McLoughlin finished in an excellent sixth place.

Training continues this week and the club will prepare the cross-country relays which will precede the County Senior Cross-Country Championships on Sunday at Drogheda & District’s new training facility.