These ladies are over the hill as they head for home during the Meath cross-country championships at Ballinacree. Included in the leading group are Brigid Clarke (1077) first master, Ursula Byrne (1073) second master, Linda Fahy (1067) first novice, Elaine Plunkett (1063) second novice.

Hanratty junior storms home to win Meath novice athletics title

Published: Wed 13 Oct 2010, 4:56 PM

Donal Hanratty (Tara) took control from early on to score a good win in the men’s novice race at the Meath masters novice and even age cross-country championships at Ballinacree. The St Brigid’s club marked the 40th anniversary of their debut in senior cross-country competition by hosting the Meath novice championships. The club used a new course which was a good test of endurance and stamina and will serve those who qualified for the Leinster championships well due to similarities with the course at Belvedere House near Mullingar. In that novice men’s race, Hanratty finished ahead of former Meath hurler and Dunboyne athlete Neville Reilly with Conal Campion of St Andrew’s in third place. Reilly showed a natural ability for cross-country running in what was his first outing for the club at this level. Tommy Maher (Dunshaughlin, pictured) led the men’s masters field with clubmate Paddy Mangan heading the M50 grade and that duo, along with Domo Moran, took the team award for Dunshaughlin. Dunboyne collected medals in the masters race with a fine runs from Phelim Glynn for runner-up in the over-45 category and a similar finish for Jimmy Henry in the over-60 category. The rest of the Dunboyne masters team performed well with good runs from Sean Kinnane, Aidan Keegan, Michael Cornyn and Ray Mitchell In the M55 and M60 grade there was a double for Trim’s Noel Hanratty following his son onto the podium and Pat Comey made a winning return to action in advance of the Irish masters trials The women’s novice race was won in convincing style by Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin) with Elaine Plunkett of the host club putting in a great run over familiar terrain to claim second in her senior championship debut. Dunshaughlin also took the team award with Fahy, Shauna Moran and Ann Hunter completing the line-up. Bridget Clarke (Na Fianna) and Ursula Byrne (Dunshaughlin) battled it out over the 3,000-metre course for honour in the women’s masters with the Na Fianna athlete shading the verdict. Deirdre Fitzsimons was Dunboyne’s representative in the masters race where she had a good run finishing well up the field. Grace Higgins ran in the u-18 race over 5,000m and finished in a creditable second place behind Rachel Neary (Na Fianna) with Emily Sheridan (St Brigid’s) in third place. There were very impressive wins for Eva O Donovan (Navan) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea) in the under-age races. RESULTS MEN Novice - 1, Donal Hanratty (Tara); 2, Neville Reilly (Dunboyne); 3, Loughlin Campion (St Andrew’s). Masters - over-45: 1, Tommy Maher (Dunshaughlin); o-50: 1, Paddy Mangan (Dunshaughlin); M45: Phelim Glynn (Dunboyne). BOYS U-18 - 1, Thomas Moran (Dunshaughlin); 2, Eoin McNamee (St Brigid’s). U-16 - 1, Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea); 2, Robert Tully (Star of the Sea); 3, Brian McGrattan (Bohermeen). U-14 - 1, Conor Leech (Na Fianna); 2, Ciaran Leech (Na Fianna); 3, Ben Clarke (Na Fianna). U-12 - 1, Alan Monaghan (Bohermeen); 2, Shane Hanly (St Brigid’s); 3, Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen). LADIES Novice - 1, Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin); 2, Elaine Plunkett (St Brigid’s); 3, Karen Crean (St Brigid’s). Masters - 1, Bridget Clarke (Na Fianna); 2, Ursula Byrne (Dunshaughlin); 3, Maggie Higgins (Na Fianna). GIRLS U-18 - 1, Rachel Neary (Na Fianna); 2, Grace Higgins (Dunboyne); 3, Emily Sheridan (St Brigid’s). U-16 - 1, Laura Farrell (Fr Murphy); 2, Alison Daly (Na Fianna); 3, Ciara Rooney (Navan). U-14 -1, Deirdre Healy (Ratoath); 2, Rose Finnegan (Bohermeen); 3, Niamh Gallogly (Dunshaughlin); U-12 - 1, Eva O Donovan (Navan); 2, Sarah Clarke (Na Fianna); 3, Martha Reidy (Fr Murphy) U-10 - 1, Eimer Fagan (Na Fianna); 2, Leah Devine (Na Fianna); 3, Brenda Hoey (Na Fianna). Teams will be selected for the Leinster even-age, novice and masters championships over the coming weeks. These selections will be largely based on the results of the county championships with a few discretionary places available. Mullingar Harriers will host the event at Belvedere House. WORKSHOP This Thursday night there will be a road running and endurance workshop, 7.30, at St Fiacre’s Centre in Kilkenny with registration at 7.15. Covered on the agenda will be different types of endurance training, recovery methods, training for various distances up to marathon, useful tips, nutrition in sport. There will also be a questions and answers session and Asics technical representative Toju Neburagh will offer information about gait / foot analysis.