The Western Region Cross Country mens and womens Intermediate and Masters Championship races for 2006 were held in Dangan, Galway yesterday the 5th of November. After a strong program of juvenile races incorporating the Western Region even-ages races for boys and girls, the adults had their turn on a fine autumn day. Many athletes were familiar with the layout from previous Galway and regional championships but that didn't make the work of actually running laps of the course any easier. With recent dry weather the going was firm underfoot and the races were exceptionally well organised. Starter Oliver Geraghty made efficient work of getting each race underway with the minimum of fuss and delay and PJ Coyle and his team of stewards and administrators deserve great praise for their managment of entries, medals and results. There was no room for any possible complaint from any athlete adult or juvenile and for that the organisational team deserve the thanks of all concerned.
When the adult races got underway the sensible decision was taken to start the entire field of men and women together. The masters and intermediate women competitors were to cover 4,000m with masters and intermediate men racing over 7,000m and 10,000m respectively. Starting all athletes together meant that nearly fifty athletes went to the starting line to race.
In the womens intermediate division GCH's Michelle Lynch made a welcome return to competition after a recent injury and displayed fine form in winning this race. She was followed over the line by Jean O'Connor, also from Galway City Harriers. Both athletes must have been aware that Castlegar's Kathryn Casserly was present at the races and, although not yet fit to race, looks to be in the later stages of her own recovery from injury. I'm sure we all wish Kathryn continued good luck in training and hope to see her racing again soon.
The womens masters division was a closely contested affair. When the athletes crossed the line the strength of Mayo AC in this division was clear as that club provided the first three past the ‘post’. The winner was B Blehien with N McManoman in silver medal position and A Murray took the bronze. Needless to say, Mayo AC also claimed the team event in this division with Josephine Gardiner completing the scoring positions for Mayo in 7th place.
The race with the largest number of adult entries was the mens masters race. Loughrea's Martin Corcoran came out on top here with another fine run. Martin was closely pursued by P Murray from Mayo AC, who had brought a fine team of athletes down to yesterday's championships and John Manion, another Loughrea man took the bronze medal.The field for the masters race featured many of the regular racers on the Galway athletics scene and proved a highly entertaining affair. Craughwell AC fielded a full team with Mike Tobin, Gerry Fahy and Diarmuid Quill in action. The GCH team contained yet another athlete on the road to recovery from recent injury in the person of Martin McEvilly. Martin was joined by John O'Brien, the irrepressible Thomas Porter and John Devlin to make the GCH team. Clare River Harriers colours were held high by Terry Grogan and Padraig Farragher. The team prizes in this division were captured by Loughrea, Mayo and GCH in Gold, Silver and Bronze medal positions respectively.
The longest race of the day, the men's intermediate division contained some real quality in the peronages of Sligo's Patrick Brennan, GCH's Ruaidhri Geraghty and Athenry's Brian O'Connor. When the field for this race sorted itself out after the departure from the field of the masters division Ruaidhri Geraghty was left in the lead and it was a lead he never relinquished. Patrick Brennan, a fine athlete, seemed to have a bad race and despite running freely in the early stages dropped back again mid race before recovering once again in the final stages. Unfortunately for the Sligoman he could only finish in sixth place on the day a position probably not consistent with his obvious ability. Athenry's Brian O'Connor carried the maroon and white of his home club over the line in the silver medal slot and Castlegar's Ronan O'Flynn came home third after a titanic struggle with Loughrea's Dara O'GBrien oner the final two laps. Athenry took the team gold medal here.
When all was said and done another fine day's racing had taken place in Dangan and memories had been made to keep both athletes and spectators in conversation for the winter months ahead.