National Juvenile Cross-Country Championships

Our juvenile athletes travelled to Mullingar last Sunday for the even-age National Cross-Country Championships. Although the course was very testing the conditions were perfect with excellent organisation from the local club, Mullingar Harriers A.C.

Aoife Gallagher was our only competitor in the U12 age group putting in a solid performance and will have gained from the experience.

Our under 11 boys team who had won the club team Championship in Dungarvan competed in the under 12 age group and did very well to finish 5th team out of their age group. Congratulations to Letterkenny A.C. who won the Club Title. Mark Bonner put in another storming run to finish in 17th position with Ryan McNulty finishing in 32nd despite a painful foot injury. Dean Bonner 67th, Justin Browne 80th, Emmet Patterson 81st making up the team. Mark and Ryan both won Gold medals as members of the victorious Donegal Team in the Intercounty Championships. Mark also won a Silver medal on the Ulster Team in the Inter-provincial Championships.

Best wishes to Colm McLaughlin for a speedy recovery.

Our Under 14 girls were very unlucky to finish just out of the medals in 4th position led home by Eilish Patton, who is having her best season ever, in 40th position, Karen Ferguson also running very well in 44th, Niamh Doherty 50th, Jodie Stewart 58th, Fionnuala Lindsey 61st, Gemma Vance and Aoife Whelan making up the team. However, this is a very encouraging performance from this team who will certainly be excellent medal prospects in the future.

Our Under 14 boys also finished 5th with Daniel McLaughlin 36th, Pauric McLaughlin 37th and Lorcan McMenamin 39th all putting in great performances finishing together in a sprint finish, Dermott Brennan 75th,Philip Browne 84th, Ciaran McAteer 115th and Patrick Geary also running well making up the team.

Our Under 16 girls were led home by Breda McGinty who put in another great performance to win an individual medal in 10th place running a year out of her age group. The team of Breda, Maeve 54th, Tara Hegarty 74th, Laura Reid 94th, Fionnuala Bruton 97th finished in 7th place.

Our Under 16 boys were very disappointed with their performance finishing in 6th place and although the entire team is under 15 they would have been expecting to be in medal positions nonetheless. The team was led home by Ian Ward in 27th, Darren McGlinchey 36th, Ryan McDaid 43rd, Shane Bonner 51st and Aiden Connolly 60th.

Nikki Alcorn was our only competitor in the under 18 girls running on the Donegal Team in the Inter-county Championships and was delighted with her Silver medal as a scoring member of the Donegal Team which where 2nd behind Dublin and just 6 points ahead of Cork.

We did not have a full team for either Club or County in the Under 18 boys but good performances from Alan Cavanagh 27th who is improving with every race, Alan was unlucky to miss out on an Inter-Provincial silver medal by just two places, Enda Doherty 40th and Stefan Connolly 86th.

National Novice Championships

The National Novice Championships were also held in Mullingar. We had two athletes competing in the Men's Novice Championships: Frank Chaney who finished 91st and Gerard Bogle who finished 99th.

European Cross Country Championships

Congratulations to Patsy McGonagle, Irish Team Manager and the Irish Men's Junior Team who won the Silver medals at the European Cross Country Championships in Germany last weekend.

Christmas Party

The Christmas Party for the juvenile athletes will be held on Thursday, 16th December. 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 for under 13s and 9.30 to 12.00 for over 13s. Fancy Dress prizes for all age groups. Any help from parents or committee members would be greatly appreciated.

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Dinner for coaches, committee members, senior athletes and parents will be held on Saturday 18th December at 8.30 p.m. Please ring Finn Valley Centre to book - 074 (9132053). Cost of meal 10 Euro.

Boxing Day Race

The Annual Boxing Day 5k Handicap, Fun Run and Walk will take place as usual. Entry Fee 5 Euro. All Proceeds will go to St. Joseph's Hospital, Stranorlar towards the funding of a new enclosed garden specially designed for Alzheimers patients. All club members, parents, local people, family and friends are asked to support this worthy cause.

Bernie Alcorn, P.R.O.