RACE REPORT

Gowran A.C. hosted this years Juvenile Relays, Master and intermediate XC Championships. The weather conditions contributed to a great day of racing and entertainment for onlookers and supporters. Clear skies greeted the athletes as they made their way into the XC venue. This event gives Juvenile athletes a chance to run short distances leg of a relay without having to exert themselves too much. There was a great atmosphere as both the young athletes and their parents enjoyed a fun day out. Some clubs made a right good day out by hiring buses to get to the event.

The adults races started with the Masters Womens race. From looking at the participant booklet before the race, we could see there would some mouth watering battles fought throughout the race. Age cats from 35 to 70 along with teams scoring for over 35s and over 50s were all up for grabs. This was a chance for clubs to start the year of a good foot for the year ahead.

The overall Female Masters winner was Karen Costelllo of Dunleer A.C. Sli Cualainn took the women's over 35 club team top spot over Sportsworld and Newbridge A.C. Dublin won the County over 35 team with Wicklow and Meath in 2nd and 3rd.

The Men's Master race was similar to the women's with some fierce competition among athletes and clubs for honors.

The overall winner of the Men's Masters race was. Eoin Flynn of Rathfarnham WSAF. Ratharnham won the over 35s with Dublin winning the county with Laois and Offaly 2nd and 3rd.

The intermediate races followed the Masters events. These races did not have the same amount of participants as the Masters races, however, they were hotly contested. The women's race provided a hugely entertaining and tight race. Raheny's Niamh Colbert and Tullamore's Emily Grennan were nip and tuck all the way to the end. From pretty much after 500m into the 4,000m race we knew we had a race. It went right to wire both athlete's kicking it out to the end. Niamh managed to take the title in the end.

The Men's Intermediate race was won by Padraig Moran who was a comfortable winner of this race. Mullingar Harriers won the club event and Kilkenny won the county team