Tallaght's Johnston and Fitzsimons storm Belfast
(by Ray Fitzsimons)

Two of Tallaght Athletic Clubs leading juvenile talents travelled to Belfast on Saturday to compete in the prestigious Belfast International Cross Country Championships at Stormont. The event is officially recognised as one of the most competitive races in Ireland and the British Isles and is part of the Reebok Cross Challenge series of races.

First into action was Aisling Johnston in the U13 1600M event. The line up was formidable with Eilish Mc Colgan, daughter of former world champion Liz Mc Colgan the pre-race favourite. It was felt however that any one of the 75 runners could win the race. Johnston made her intentions very clear when racing to the front from the start and proceeded to lead the field for most of the 1600 metre lap. With 400 to go Mc Colgan challenged and overtook Johnston but Johnston kept coming back to challenge. At the end however the Tallaght athlete had to settle for second place and this has got to rank as the best performance we have ever seen from this young athlete.

Tallaght's only other runner on the day was Robert Fitzsimons who lined up with 74 others to compete in the U15 3200M race. Also in the line up was DSD's Brendan O Neill who was the first Irishman in 18 years to win the International Schools title last year.
The race went off at a blistering pace with Fitzsimons and O Neill battling for supremacy to the delight of the large crowd. After lap one O Neill and Fitzsimons were still in charge of the race but O Neill had managed to edge ahead. Coming up the long hill in the final lap and in front of Stormont Castle, O'Neill was starting to extend his lead and the pack were gaining on Fitzsimons. The Tallaght athlete was challenged by a pack of 6 English athletes but bravely held on to secure 3rd place .

The achievement of two places on the podium from only two athletes entered was recognised by the race organisers who publicly announced the clubs success during the presentation ceremony. 

Meanwhile the club's Veteran athletes completed in the Dublin Cross Country Masters Championships in Tymon Park on Sunday. The conditions were dreadful following rain overnight and that morning but pride of place goes to Anna King who secured her place on the Dublin Team which will compete in the National Championships in Dungarvan. The club had two Men's teams in action and they will be well pleased with their 5th and 9th place rankings in a race that attracted all of the count's top veteran athletes. For the record the men's placings were as follows:
Dessie Shorten 14th, Derek Quinn 21st,Bill Murphy 26th, Garry Moralee 35th. Kevin Donohue 36th, Garry Clarke 41st, Jimmy Phibbs 45th, Liam O Riain 47th, Ray Fitzsimons 54th, Vivian O Hanlon 55th and Chris Jones 57th.