County XC Relays and Short Course Competition
The County Short Course and Juvenile Relays Cross Country were held for the first time in Kilkenny Castle Park on the 16th of September. The park is a beautiful location to run in, is centrally located and with free carparking in the County Council Offices, it has the potential to be an ideal venue.
In a fantastic show of force with 84 Gowran juvenile athletes participated.One parent, arriving late commented that he came over the hill and just saw a sea of red. Our new singlets and half zips shone brightly in the sun. As a club participation is very important to us – so we thank all those who made the journey and pulled on the red singlet.
The U7s started with a short sprint as an introductory race for most of these young athletes. In the girl’s race, Mia Kennedy arrived only just in time and won her first County race beating off neighbouring Thomastown. Kate, Emma and Maebh were all right behind her. In the boy’s race, Dylan McGee was fast out and finished 7th. Sean, Ted, Danny, Bobby and Daniel all with older siblings and cousins in the club were cheered into the finishing shoot by 26 of our U9s. Everyone went home happy with a medal and dreams of future outings.
The U9 distance was short, very short with sharp bends so race navigation was essential. A slow start meant a leading position was unlikely. The girls race had 36 and the boys 31 which was amazing to see. In the girl’s race, Holly Drennan came 2nd to Zoe Beck from Thomastown. Holly had a good start but Zoe made it to the bend ahead which left Holly chasing with little time to catch up. Lauren Phelan got a great start and came storming home with Niamh and Orlaith. Emily O’Keffee and Heidi Ryan stepping up in age showed great promise for the future.
In the U9 boys, Robert and David battled for the first place. This was David’s first XC race, while Robert is an experienced XC runner and is well used to fighting till the end, giving him the extra edge to secure gold. Sam, Darragh and Evan tumbled in through the shoot with spikes waving dangerously in the air. But a few cuts and scrapes wouldn’t stop this hardy trio. MJ Carroll stepping up from U8 ran a tremendous race coming in 8th.
The U11 Girls came 3rd in the relay with Kate, Órla and Eimear. Kate Hayden up from U10 ran well but had a tough first lap and finished in 6th position. Órla Brennan gained a place on the straight before the bend and then another on changeover putting Eimear Brennan in fourth position. Eimear held well and found it difficult to get through the runners ahead on the tight curves. Coming up to the line she passed KCH to get the 3rd.
U11 Boys was a clear win for Gowran coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd but itt didn’t mean the race was not competitive. Charlie Ryan got a great start and led till Odhrán Prendergast passed at the second last bend. Conor Carroll was coming in fast too but Charlie held on to second. Odhrán passed it to David Magee while Tom Kehoe received it from Charlie. Tom closed some of the distance but David stayed strong till hand over to Aidan Keating. Tómas Carroll did all he could but Aidan was in flying form and finished first over the line with a few meters to spare. Great run from all the U11s.
U13 Girls is always one of the most competitive of categories, there were 7 top class teams in this year’s race, amongst them Gowran had 2 complete teams and one team with Órla Brennan stepping up. The girls ran great to pick up a bronze medal, a 5th place and 7th. It was a race where the shortened course didn’t suit – the full distance would have definitely served our athletes better.
Similar to the Girls, the u13 boys is also super competitive, there were fewer teams in this, but all were quality athletes. Our boys finished 3rd and 4th – which was remarkable considering there was only one true u13 amongst them.
U15 Girls and U17 Girls race was run together, Catie, Maria & Emma shook off the summer cobwebs to finish 3rd u15, while Eve, Robyn and Lizzie finished 2nd in the u17 age group
Disappointingly the U15 Boys had no competition but had to run the relay anyway. Two laps on your own is a little dull so when 3rd runner Cillian Dunne was on his last lap, the U11/12 boys chased him around for support! A great finish to the day. Thanks to Kilkenny City Harriers, OPW and the County Board for hosting.
Gowran Results
U7 GIRLS
1.Mia Kennedy
3. Kate Langton
4. Emma O’Connor
6. Maebh Farrell
U7 BOYS
7. Dylan McGee
8. Sean Carroll
9. Ted Kelsey
11. Danny Comerford
12. Bobby Coomey
14. Daniel Carroll
U9 GIRLS
36 in the race
2. Holly Bolger
10. Niamh Brennan
11. Lauren Phelan
12. Orlaith Carroll
14. Anna Kelsey
19. Aoife Brennan
21. Emily O’Keffee
22. Heidi Ryan
23. Aisling O’Neill
24. Jane O’Connor
28. Daisy Coomey
U9 BOYS
31 in the race
1. Robert Coogan
2. David Timmins
5. Sam Corr
6. Evan Ryan
7. Darragh Carroll
8. MJ Carroll
15. Liam Treacy
17. Dylan Drennan
18. Gearoid Farrell
20. Rory Treacy
21. Micheal Langton
22. Charlie Gardiner
25. Aidan Malone
26. David Carroll
31 Noah Comerford
U11 GIRLS RELAY
18 teams
3rd – Kate Hayden, Orlaith Brennan. Eimear Brennan
9th – Mixed team: Niamh Brennan (G), Holly Drennan (G) and Thomastown
10th – Lucy Coomey, Molly Lynch, Kathy Phelan,
11th – Ailish Keating, Eve Doyle, Ceola Leamy
U11 BOYS RELAY
10 teams
1st – Odhrán Prendergast, David McGee, Aidan Keating
2nd – Charlie Ryan, Tómas Carroll, Tom Kehoe
3rd – Conor Carroll, James Kelsey, Sam McAviney
8th Noah Denieffe, Conor Malone, Eabhan Kehoe
9th Thomas Hayden, Oisin Morrow, Eabhan Kehoe,
U13 GIRLS RELAY
7 teams
3rd – Hazel Coogan, Alex Brennan, Rachel O’Neill
5th – Roisin Brennan, Emily Maley, Orlaith Brennan
7th – Chloe Lynch, Rachel Gardiner, Molly Nolan
U13 BOYS RELAY
5 teams
3rd – Liam O’Dwyer, Darragh Dunne, Erin Doyle
4th – Ruairi Phelan, Matthew McAviney, Ben Drennan
U15 GIRLS RELAY
3rd – Emma Corr, Catie Maley, Maria Connolly
U15 BOYS RELAY
1st Billy Coogan, Cillian Dunne, Darragh Nolan
U17 GIRLS RELAY
2nd Elizabeth Maley, Eve O’Dwyer, Robyn Denieffe
OVERALL RELAY RESULTS
Gowran 15
St. Josephs 9
KCH 7
Thomastown 5
Barrow Harriers 2
SENIOR MEN 4k – 1st Team
2. Niall Sheehan
3. Dean Rowe
5. Mick Kelly
6. Derek Kehoe
7. Lyndon Barcoe
8. Cormac Buggy
SENIOR LADIES –