Last weekend was another historic weekend for Finn Valley AC when their ladies team took their 10^th National Cross Country Senior Team Title and their second National title in two weeks. Valley's Kay Byrne made an unique record by scoring on all ten teams. An outstanding achievement by the Ballybofey athlete.

This race was an inaugurate 4k championship and trails for the up coming World Cross Country Championships to be held in Leopardstown on 23^rd and 24^th March. The Finn Valley ladies were on a high after regaining their all Ireland Team Title two weeks ago. This was a new championship and Valley were out to win. The Castlefinn athlete Catriona Mc Granaghan led the Valley team home to victory in 11^th place with Clodagh McCool 17^th. Clodagh is having a great season winning her 3^rd all Ireland medal in four weeks. Kay Byrne was the final scorer in 18^th place and made history as been the only athlete to score on all of Valley's winner teams. Noeleen Porter was 19^th and has had a great cross country season. Valley won the team on 46 points from St Finbarr's of Cork. The race was won by Sonia O Sullivan and Maria Cambridge of DSD was 2^nd.

Noeleen Porter has been named as 1^st reserve on the Irish Team for the 8K long course world championships with Catriona McGranaghan 2^nd Irish reserve. Well done girls

Kieran Carlin fought a gallant race and made a great effort in the men's race but was not able to maintain the pace and finished 23^rd. Kieran has improved greatly this season and should now look forward to the track and field season. Mark Connolly finished 36th and should be pleased with his performance.

The World Cross Country Championships takes place in Leopardstown on 23^rd and 24^th March. Over 70 countries will be taking part with over 1000 of the world greatest cross country athletes. This will be an excellent weekend of competition. Anyone wishing to attend should now be making arrangements for travel and accommodation.

Barry Harron ( University of Ulster) ran in the National Universities Cross Country Championships last Saturday and finished 9^th overall. Barry is training well and continues to improve in each race.

The All-Ireland Schools cross-country Championships were held in Tinryland, Co. Carlow on Saturday last on a very good but tough, hilly course. Finn Valley athlete Nikki Alcorn was on the winning Loreto Letterkenny team which took the Gold medals on 74 points ahead of Loreto College, Stephen's Green, Dublin on 82 points and The Ursline College, Thurles on 112 points. Joanne English led the team to victory with an individual 4^th placing which secured a School's International vest at Junior level in Derby on the 23^rd March. Congratulations to all the team Joanne English, Ciara Ryan, Ciara Connolly, Yvonne McLaughlin and Nikki. This was the first time Loreto Letterkenny has won this National Junior Title which has only come to Donegal on four occasions so far. In 1981 and 1987 St. Columba's College, Stranorlar were Gold medal winners and in 1991 Carndonagh won the title.

Finn Valley wish James Gibbons and Bosco Reid the best of luck next weekend as they both travel to Glasgow to compete in the British Veteran Indoor Championships to be held in Kelvin Hall.

Finn Valley juveniles had a good coaching session last Sunday morning and the club wish to thank all coaches who attended. Bernie Alcorn, Christine Feely, Shaun Carlin, Peadar McGranaghan, Patsy Doherty and George Gallen.

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