Allen takes nationals by storm
THE curtain finally came down on the athletics season with the National Cross-Country Championships for uneven ages and movice men and women.
The conditions at the excellent Navan venue were very challenging on a cold, wet and windy Saturday.
The St Peter’s club had eight athletes competing on various Louth teams that had managed to qualify from the Leinster Championships.
The best performance on the day was from the ever-improving and consistent Dearbhla Allen who moved up an age to finish in 56th position. Dearbhla has enjoyed a great cross-country season and has got her just desserts for her efforts in training.
Dearbhla was joined in the Girls Under-13 race by Ellie Smyth and Isabeal Fitzpatrick who gave it their all.
The day commenced with the Girls Under-11 race and both Emily and Hannah, who are always willing to compete, moved up an age from Under-10 to run their first national cross-country and both gained valuable experience.
The Boys Under-13 race had two St Peters athletes. Harry O’Reilly and Ben McKeown, who are both still Under-12, had strong runs and did themselves and their club proud.
The last race affecting the St GLENMORE AC athletes Joan Farron and Sarah Dooney braved the elements and battled through extremely difficult weather while completing the very popular annual Georgina Christmas Pudding Run over in Carlingford last Saturday morning.
On Sunday, in slightly better weather conditions, Peter Noone stormed over the finish line in Camlough at The Race Around The Lake 2018 in a super time of 46:58 for the seven-mile event.
Elsewhere, Dara Fagan (26:14) and Ciaran Flynn (18:20) represented the peninsula club in the BEKO Christmas 5k organised by Drogheda & District AC, with a superb Christmas-y finish in the Lourdes Stadium.
The club’s very popular Operation Bush4mation 2019 kicks off on January 7th, running for four weeks at the Bush track at a cost of €50.
It’s a programme packed full of activities to kickstart a stronger and healthier you in 2019 - and there’s something to suit everyone!
For further details and a timetable, check out the Operationbush4mation facebook page and twitter. Peter’s club was the Girls Under-15 race in which Niamh Brady moved up an age to compete.
Niamh has had a great cross-country season this year, but a fall at the start of the race left her with a lot to do and although she powered through the large field of athletes she had to settle further down the field than she would have hoped. Unfortunately that happens in cross-country running and when she looks back at her season she should take great pride in her achievements for 2018.
The club will now take a break from training until the new year. In the meantime the club would like to wish all members and supporters a very happy Christmas. Peter Noone was in fine form in Camlough.