Hat-trick of titles for NER men’s team
DESPITE a wet, blustery, early morning, the clouds lifted in time for the 50th running of Rás na hÉireann on the banks of the Boyne at Oldbridge.
The runners still had to contend with a strong head-wind in places, but conditions underfoot were superb for the special anniversary of this magnificently organised race by Duneer A.C.
The ladies of the North East Runners were first up to tackle the 4k course. Despite numbers being down on last year’s team, the quartet of Sarah Farrington, Ursula Noone, Patricia Mulholland and Anita Bolton gave a fantastic account of themselves against a very competitive field and just missed out on team medals, finishing fourth overall.
There was joy, however, for two NERds in their age-category with Patricia Mulholland adding silver to her second place finish in the Leinster Masters Cross Country held in DKIT two weeks ago. Anita Bolton, who led the team home on the day, was rewarded for her gutsy run with a convincing win in her age category – finishing a minute and a half ahead of her closest rival.
The men were chasing a hattrick of titles in the Noel McGuill Cup having won the team event for the past two years. A very strong men’s line-up assembled at the start line of the 6k course with many international runners taking their marks for the 50th anniversary running of the Rás, but the North East Runners had travelled to the south of the county in determined fashion with nine runners.
Despite a lead group of five runners moving clear of the field very early on, Maurice McMahon, Declan Toal and Niall Fergus fought hard to position themselves in the thick of the next bunch of runners. Current Louth Novice XC champion, Liam Fergus, was just behind this bunch, with Niall Gorham, Gerry Kenny, John Tumilty, Pat McElerney and Mark O’Connor battling hard for every position. The lead trio of Dundalk runners worked hard and were rewarded with 12th, 13th and 15th places respectively.
With Liam Fergus the fourth team finisher in 19th position, the wait after cheering on the final 5 members of the club’s team was agonising. In the end it needn’t have been as their final tally of 59 points was well clear of second place Dunboyne’s tally and so the Noel McGuill headed back up the M1 to much celebration.
The medals didn’t end there as Kenny picked up a 3rd place finish in his age category, McMahon picked up a silver medal in his age-category and Toal finished top of the pile in his own age-grouping.
After a hugely successful day in Drogheda, eyes will turn closer to home as many NERds tackle the Fitzers 5k road race that takes place around the streets of Dundalk this weekend.