The National Inter Clubs Cross
Country Championships held in Santry on Saturday last had a surprising
and delightful outcome for our senior men. After a number of late
withdrawals on the eve of the race any opportunity of featuring amongst
the team winners seemed to have evaporated. However, our five
competitors were determined to put in the maximum effort and this they
did throughout the entire 12k race.
|
Davey Byrne |
Niall, Nilton, Desie & James |
|
(Photos –
Courtesy of Alan Cowzer) |
Davey Byrne, who has missed
some quality training runs in recent weeks with a niggling injury was
always the leading Tallaght athlete with the other four, Niall
Coppinger, Nilton Demorez, Desie Shorten and James Crowley well grouped
together during the early exchanges. As the race reached the final few
kilometers and with the large field stretching out, Davey managed to
retain a prominent position and finished strongly to cross the line
30seconds ahead of Nilton who was followed by Niall, Dessie and James.
All were happy they had satisfactorily completed the race and having
returned to the changing rooms on completion of their cool down, they
were, to their pleasant surprise, informed they had combined to take the
category C team bronze medals, which they duly deserved for their
committed and determined running efforts.
Elsewhere, the club hosted the Dublin juvenile uneven age cross country
relays in Bancroft Park on Sunday. Mixed teams of both boys and girls
from U11 to U19, from Clondalkin AC, Rathfarnham, Fingallians, Skerries,
Raheny and Tallaght, despite the bitter cold, bravely did battle for
team honours, with Tallaght winning both the U17 and U19 contests.
Killian |
Emily |
More photos of this
event in the photo gallery