FARRANFORE MAINE VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB

CROSS COUNTRY

The Cross Country Season kicked off on Sunday last with the County Novice & Juvenile Even Age Cross Country held in the Demesne, Killarney. Weather conditions were perfect with no wind and beautiful sunshine. First Juvenile race of the day was the U10 Girls. Rhian McCarthy took the lead of the 1000m race. Running out of age this showed great courage and determination. With only 200m to go Rhian was overtaken by two other athletes, not holding back she picked up the pace and finished in second place overall. Mairead Walshe was not far behind finishing just outside the medals. Grainne Costello and Niamh O’Shea also ran very well and in doing so won silver for the team. In the U10 Boys we had a team where they were all out of age and new to cross country. They all finished in the middle of the pack so did themselves very proud. Next up was the U12 Girls 2000m. Competing for us was Doireann O’Shea and Eabha McCarthy, again both competing out of age.

Doireann & Eabha ran the first 1000m lap just off the lead bunch, on the final stages of the last lap both Doireann & Eabha began to pick up the pace and gained a lot of positions to be placed just outside the top 10. A great show of team work by the two girls. In the boys U12 we had Cormac Costello competing. Cormac ran the first half very strong holding fifth place, but on the final stretch Cormac felt the pace and lost a few places to finish just outside the medals. In the U14 Girls 3000m, Shauna McCarthy was competing, again out of age. Shauna found a good pace in the first lap holding 4th position and within 20m of the leader. By the end of the second lap Shauna was now in second place and still looking comfortable.

Throughout the last lap Shauna slowly picked up the pace and began to close the gap on the leader. In the final stages of the race Shauna made her break and sprinted past the leader to win the U14 title. In the U14 Boys, Cian Spillane ran a very solid race. From the start three runners made the break, and Cian was one of those. Cian sat in behind the leader for the most of the race and with less than 500m to go Cian took the lead and held it to win the U14 Boys title. We had no athletes competing in the U16’s. David Kenny won the U18 6000m race in fine style. In the Women’s Novice & U23 4000m race, there was a big field compared to recent years. Niamh De Hora (U23) lead from the start and over the four laps slowly opened up a fine gap to win the race overall very comfortably.

She was soon followed home by Marie McKenna, Mary O’Shea, Grainne Tierney, Ciara Tierney, Christine Spillane & Pauline Joseph. With some fine running by these ladies and some competing in their very first cross country race picked up silver in the Novice team. Well done to you all, great to see such a large turnout. In the Novice & U23 mens 6000m race we had Aidan McCarthy & Dermot Dineen competing. It was great to see Aidan back again wearing the club singlet after been out for some time. Aidan ran a very good race finishing well up. Dermot equally ran well, picking up pace as the race progressed. Well done to all our club members who participated, our coaches, and family members who attended the event. It is much appreciated. Next Sunday at 11am our club will be hosting the County Intermediate, Masters & Juvenile Uneven ages XC in PJ Walshes farm, Firies. We hope to see a good turnout for this event.

CLUB TRAINING

Juvenile Training is on every Tuesday and Thursdays in Farranfore GAA grounds starting at 6pm. Open to all registered juveniles aged 8yrs (Born 2008) and upwards. This will be in preparation for the Cross Country Championships €2 per session

Cardiorespiratory, Strength, Endurance & Flexibility Exercise Class every Tuesday @ 7pm indoors at Farranfore Sports Hall, Coached by Maria McCarthy, this programme is designed to improve all the components of fitness that constitute physical fitness of an individual.

Secondary School/Junior / Senior training every Thursday starts at 6:40pm in GAA grounds Farranfore. This is endurance training for cross country preparation. €2 club member, €4 non club member.

ATHLETICS FIXTURES

Sun 9th Oct. Kerry County Inter/ Masters & Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country, Firies Sun 16th Oct. National Open Cross Country incorporating the British & Irish Masters Trials, Abbotts Town. Sun 23rd Oct Munster Novice/U23 & Juvenile Even Age Cross Country, Ballinahina, Carraig na Bhfear, Co. Cork Sun 30th Oct. Kerry County Senior / Junior & Juv. Relays, Cahersiveen TBC