All Ireland Novice Cross Country Championships 06-Dec-2015

Post date: Dec 14, 2015 2:30:54 PM

Aoife Cooke wins Novice individual title and club team wins club title.

These Championships were held in conjunction with the Uneven ages All Irelands in Dungarvan on Sunday 6th December. The Youghal AC ladies team including Aoife Cook, Ruth Mellerick, Evelyn Cashman, Julie Kenneally and Lisa Walshe lined out for this race. This team had already won the County and Munster club team events and Aoife Cooke won both County and Munster individual titles.

Aoife went into the race not knowing what to expect but excitement built up at an early stage when Aoife went in to an early lead. She ran very comfortably and thrived on the underfoot conditions, She increased the lead at the half way stage and from thereon looked like a convincing winner. Ruth Mellerick who has been injured since the Munster Senior Championships in Beaufort had a brilliant run to finish in 11th. Evelyn Cashman also ran very strongly to finish in 27th place. All three of these ladies were also on the Cork team. Julie Kenneally who is in her first season of Cross country had a very good run also finishing very strongly and picking up points to the end to conclude the scoring finishing in 48th place. Lisa Walshe also ran very well.

There were scenes of jubilation and excitement as Aoife crossed the finish line to win the National Novice title. She was joined by family members and club members. It was tremendous for all the ladies to see Aoife win and when news broke that the club team had won the team title with 87 points with 2 points to spare over Dundrum South Dublin 89 points and Galway City Harriers 3rd 104 points all were thrilled and were overwhelmed. Aoife also led the Cork team to victory with 38 points; Dublin were 2nd with 76 points and Meath 3rd with 83 points. Ruth was the third scorer on the team. Earlier in the day both Ruth’s daughter Avril 5th and Evelyn’s daughter Alex 42nd ran in the U11club team which came 2nd only beaten by 3 points by Dundrum South Dublin.

Nigel Sheehan ran on the Cork Novice team. Nigel who is competing in his first Cross Country season and improving with every race had a very solid run. He was 10th for Cork which finished in 4th. There was a huge field and highly competitive. Nigel has had two wins on the road recently both the BHAA 5K in Little Island and the first race in the Cloyne 5K series.

More photos available at www.youghalac.com/photos

WINTER LEAGUE

The winter league continues on Thursday night at 7,30pm and all Senior members and athletes attending secondary school are welcome to participate.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

The Christmas party is being held at the Nook on Saturday 12th December at 9pm. Please confirm to Deirdre Ansboro if you are attending as she needs to have an idea of numbers for food.

CHRISTMAS RUN

An easy run is being organised at 10am on St Stephen’s morning from Farrell’s at Summerfield. All are welcome! Watch facebook for any forthcoming events or runs that may be organised over holiday period!

We wish all our athletes,club members and their families a very Happy Christmas and a Very Happy and Healthy New Year with lots more Athletics success! Congratulations to all those who have competed on road, track/field and cross country for the club during 2015 and to so many victories whether on podium or personal bests. It has been a brilliant year for Youghal AC in all sections Juvenile, Junior, Senior and Masters.