Front-running Boyne pair’s classy double
THE Athletics Louth Cross-Country season got off to a great start for Boyne AC, with half of their competing athletes enjoying first-place finishes at the Novice and Even-age Championships in Darver.
The novice ladies were first to test out the challenging course over 3,000m and Catherine Tiernan-Bell took an early lead and ran strongly to hold her position all the way to the finish line, clocking 12:25. She had a 20-second margin over the second-placed athlete.
Patricia Gaughran, Sandra McGuinness and Barbara Carr made their cross-country debut in style and Boyne were placed sixth in the ladies team competition.
The men’s race was contested over 6,000m, and once again Boyne AC dominated from the outset, with some superb front running from Oisin O Gibne.
Tackling the course with his usual flair, O Gibne finished with a 24-second lead, crossing the line in 20:01. James Bull finished 27th in a time of 23:59, with Cathal O’Donnell a fraction behind in 28th.
With the adults enjoying a well-earned rest and coffee, the juveniles then stepped up to the mark, with the Under-10s getting things under way.
Sholah Lawrence made light work of the 800m distance, finishing in first place, with clubmates Kate Culhane and Chloe Cooney just behind her in second and fourth respectively, while newcomer Chloe Hanley finished in a fine 17th place. Those results were good enough for Boyne to win the team prize.
The Under-10 Boys took team bronze, with fine runs from Lorcan Forde Dunne and his brother Tadgh to finish third and seventh respectively.
Luca McLoughlin was 13th, Rhys Clarke 17th, Callum Byrne 18th, Daniel Hanley 22nd and Fergus Nolan 24th.
The Under-12 Girls race saw a super run from Emer Cooney to take fourth place over the tough 2,000m distance. Ella McLoughlin finished in a fine 15th, with sisters Isabella and Allie Garcia in ninth and 29th respectively.
It was team gold again for the Boys Under-12s - a culmination of superb runs from Paddy Price who took individual gold, Shea O’Donnell (out of age) taking silver and Amitesh Bala and Sean Cummins finishing eighth and 15th respectively.
The Under-14 Girls took on a gruelling 3,000m, but it certainly didn’t deter the young ladies from Boyne AC as they took team gold and all but one of the top seven spots!
Anna Faulkner was second overall, with Siofra Devine third, Lily Cummins fourth, Caer NÌGhibne fifth, Eabha Cosgrove sixth and Meadhbh Nolan seventh.
It was another one-two for Boyne in the Under-14 Boys race, with a strong run from Danny Nugent to take gold, followed closely by teammate Neil Culhane in the runner-up spot, Cathal Monaghan ninth place and Adam Byrne close behind in 14th, with the young men awarded the silver team medals.
Tom Cummins was the sole representative from the club in the Under-16 Boys race, where he ran superbly to take third overall over the 4,000m distance, while Tadhg Everitt Thompson finished in a fine sixth place in the Under-18 6,000m.