Last Sunday the National Senior Cross Country Championships were held in ALSAA, Dublin and once again the Valley Golden Girls rewrote history by regaining the National Team Title.

The clubs history of winning the ladies AAI Cross Country Club title began in 1993 and for the following eight years the Valley girls reigned supreme. In 2001 Valley lost their title to Drumdrum South Dublin and many critics thought it as the demise of a team and the end of an era.

However the Valley girls and their coaches were having done of it and never discouraged. With Neil Martin as team coach preparation began for the challenge of regaining the title. Obstacles were meet throughout the year with members leaving through injury etc. This did not impede the Valley's troops who with Neil endeavored the challenge and today they reaped their reward.

Noeleen Porter team captain lead the Valley team home to victory in 11^th place. Noeleen who won individual silver medal two weeks ago in Ballybofey at the National Veteran Cross Country Championships has gone from strength to strength since returning home from England with her family some years ago. This is Noeleen's second All Ireland Cross Country team medal. Catriona McGranaghan a previous all Ireland junior cross country champion was just behind Noeleen in 12^th spot and this is Catriona's 7^th all Ireland CC team medal. Clodagh McCool is Valley's new kid on the block and what an addition Clodagh is to the Valley squad. Clodagh won silver last week in the 1500m Indoor All Ireland Championships in Nenagh and today scored on the valley team finishing 17^th and winning her first ever cross country team medal. Clodagh who recently graduated from John Moore's University, Liverpool now teaching PE in Omagh has now proved to be a serious senior athlete. Kay Byrne completed the final score for Valley in 21^st and made history by scoring on all Finn Valley's nine winning teams. This is an outstanding record by the Ballybofey athlete. The individual race was won by Ann Keenan Buckley and 2^nd was Rosemary Ryan. Valley won the team from Civil Service and Mayo AC. A proud and delighted team captain Noeleen Porter lifted the Ursula Noctor Trophy for the ninth Finn Valley team victory. A team that believed in themselves and inspired to go for what they believed. Congratulations to all and to Neil Martin team coach who trained, directed and motivated this team thoughout the year

Click here for action pictures of the winning team.

It is interesting to note that all this Valley team started their career as juveniles in the Donegal Primary Schools Sports and their achievements continues today.

Valley's senior men also performed very well finishing 4^th club overall. Kieran Carlin was Valley's lead runner in 14^th. Jamie Lewis who is preparing for a Marathon 19^th , Charlie Gallagher making a good return from injury 32^nd and Barry Harron making a good transition from junior to senior 33^rd. Barry is studying for a Masters Degree at Magee University. The team was well supported by Pat Hegarty and Dominick Bonner who both finished in top 45. This is a strong men's team and when you consider the loss of Mark Morgan, Joe Byrne and Jerome Brooks through injury, with all resources Valley can have a bright future with this men's team.

This is Finn Valley 5^th National Cross Country club title this season. With Juveniles boys winning U11 and U12 Cross Country Championships, and U10 boys winning the National Relay Championships and Valley's Veteran men winning All Ireland Veteran Cross Country Team Title.     

Finn Valley wish to congratulate Tirconaill's Junior girls on their success in winning silver medals in the Junior girls championships. This reminds Valley of past times and the club wish them all the best for their future.

This was a very historic and exciting day for Valley and the club wish to thank all the supporters who traveled and encouraged the athletes to their success.

Club chairman Patsy McGonagle now looks to the future. Strong runs today from Kieran Carlin and Catriona McGranaghan means both will be focusing on the Short Cross Country Course Trails for Irish teams to be selected for the World Cross Country Championships. Also Clodagh McCool and Barry Harron have set themselves up for selection on Irish University team which will be competing in the World University C.C championships to be held in April.   The club will also have senior men and womens teams competing for club titles in the short cross country course.

Patsy McGonagle received news this week of an new and interesting innovation for Donegal from the Irish Mountain Running Association. Following representations made by Lindie Naughton to the IMRA that their would be an interest in hillrunning in Donegal the IMRA have decided to add two races to their calendar of events for 2002. They are Glengesh on 15^th March and Mount Errigal on 16^th March.

The Glengesh route is a horseshoe course of 5.6 km with 370m of climb. It is completely off track although the ground is soft in places it is not rough as hill races go. In the case of poor visibility a road race up the Glengesh Pass will be considered.

The Mount Errigal run is up only and takes in the summit of mackoght.

If interested in these runs contact jlalor@eircom.net .

The road season is now drawing close and the up coming events are

National Road 7th April in Raheny

National 10K 14th April in Navan

Next weekend (Friday Night) Finn Valley will be celebrating another historic occasion when Patsy McGonagle will be presented with Donegal Person of the Year. A large number of club members, family, friends and parents will be traveling to Dublin to support Patsy on this special occasion. The bus leaves Finn Valley at 12noon.

Also next Saturday Finn Valley have 90 juveniles travelling to Belfast to compete in the Ulster Indoor track and field championships. Elibhlin Crampsie and Richard Alcorn are team leaders and parents are asked to give their help on the day as a large number of coaches will be in Dublin for Patsy's presentation.   Numbers of juveniles are increasing every week and it is important that more people come forward to help out.   The club are at present hoping to get a level two coaching course organised at the club and this would give parents or anyone interested the opportunity to learn coaching skills.

Finn Valley track suits are now for sale at the club. The cost is 50 and all athletes are encouraged to purchase same. These tops would be a fitting present for birthdays etc.

Training continues at the club every Tuesday and Thursday night at 7.30pm and Sunday morning at 10.30pm