FARRANFORE MAINE VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB

MUNSTER NOVICE & JUVENILE EVEN AGES XC

Limerick Racecourse was the venue for the first Munster Cross Country Championships. The Munster Novice and Juvenile Even Ages, Sunday 20th October on a dry chilly autumns day. However the ground was very heavy underfoot following the torrential rain dropped over the last two weeks. Even before the first race kicked off almost every blade of grass was trodden into ground and a sea of wet stick mud formed over the one kilometer loop. A credit to all athletes who took part.

First on the cards from our club was Ryan Vickers in the U10 1000m. Ryan, as usual took off a a very fast pace and was amongst the lead group of well over 100 runners from the start. He continued to battle for positions and with the finish tunnel in sight he up the pace to pass another few runners and finished in an impressive fourth place.

Next up was Rhian McCarthy in the U12 2000m. With 165 competing, it was one of the largest races of the day. Rhian held her nerves and settled into a good pace as the course was now very difficult with very little ground for fast running. Into the second lap Rhian began to push her way through the pack and eventually crossed the line in eighteenth place overall. Isaac Vickers was in the U12 Boys race. Again a big field with a very fast start. Isaac, competing out of age ran well to finish well up to the top group of runners.

Shauna McCarthy in the U16’s 4000m where now a section of the course was diverted as it was like a sea of slurry. Shauna, no stranger to these conditions was doing very well as she worked her way to the lead group of eight runners. This group continued to open a big gap form the rest of the field as the conquered each lap. Shauna did well and held on to finish in seventh place overall. She now goes forward to represent Munster at the National’s in November.

The last race of the evening was the Novice Men’s 6000m, 6 laps of pure gutter. George McCarthy could not go home without experiencing the hurt our four juveniles had to endure. George started to find his rhythm going into the third lap and began to advance through the tiring pack of men, picking off one by one he worked his way up the field to finish just outside the top 10 finishers.

It was a great experience, and one to remember as the course that John Treacy won the World Cross Country Championship back in 1979 in very similar conditions.

On Sunday November 3rd we have the County Juvenile B and Masters XC in Killarney. The age categories are U10/U12/U14/ U16. The distances are reduced to 600m/1200m/2000m/2000m respectively. We would encourage all our club members to take part in this event as the distances are much shorter and your training every Tuesday night proves you will have no problems.

CLUB TRAINING

Juvenile U8 to U16 Tuesdays from 6-7pm at GAA Grounds Farranfore. €2. Maria’s Strength, Endurance & Flexibility Exercise Classes from 7pm at the Sports Hall in Farranfore. Class is designed for all abilities from secondary school upwards. €5 per class.

ATHLETICS FIXTURES

Sun 3rd Nov.: County Masters & Juv. ‘B’ XC , Killarney

Sun 10th Nov.: Munster Juv Uneven Age, U/20 & Senior XC, Conna Cork

Sat 16th Nov.: British & Irish Masters Cross Country International, England

Sun 17th Nov.: Munster Masters & Juv. Inter-Club Relays XC, Beaufort Kerry

Sun 24th Nov.: National Juv. Even Age & Sen. / Jun. XC, Abbotstown

Sun 1st Dec.: Munster Juv ‘B’ & IntermediateXC, Turnpike Tipperary

Please contact club secretary, Mary, 085-1909509 to register for competitions in advanceSee Kerry & Munster Athletics website for full fixture lists & timetable for events.