Seven brave Galway souls made the slippery journey to Cavan at the weekend to take part in the National Novice Cross Country Championships. The team was deprived of the services of our own Brian Bruton after Brian cracked some ribs in a fall on Friday. Undaunted Brian travelled to Cavan to cheer on Athenry AC's Rob Staunton. Craughwell sent a strong representation with Martin Corcoran, Mark Davies, Tony Nevin and Johnny Lane making the trip. Loughrea AC supplied Darragh O’Brien and GCH sent forth County Galway Cross Country Champion Matt Locket.

The undefoot conditions were as could be expected, very, very tough, with muck, ice and hills to contend with along the six kilometre route. There was also ample evidence that quite a lot of well fed cattle had been in the area recently. As is usual with this race the pace was hot from the start but to his credit Matt Lockett stuck with the leaders and was in the leading bunch of runners, and placed seventh, at the end of the first lap. Matt remained in the leading group throughout the second and third laps but started to falter on the next loop around the tight Cavan course. To his great credit he came good again on the fifth lap and managed to fight his way back up to third by the end of the race to secure a well earned bronze medal. Alan O’Brien won the men’s race ahead of Barry Minnock and Matt Lockett. Raivis Zakis and Cian Murphy completed the top five places. Our congratulations to Matt on a great run.

Place No Name Status Club/County County Time

1 1509 O'Brien, Alan Crusaders A.C. 22.35

2 1421 Minnock, Barry Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. A.C. Offaly 22.48

3 1375 Lockett, Matthew Galway Galway 22.55

4 1340 Zakis, Raivis West Waterford A.C. Waterford 23.00

5 1331 Murphy, Cian Iveragh A.C. (IND) 23.09

6 1048 King, James Unattached (IND) 23.14

7 1351 Fitzpatrick, Thomas Tallaght A.C. (IND) 23.14

8 1334 Halley, Frank Ferrybank A.C. Waterford 23.15

9 1305 Mc Donnell, Rory Dunboyne A.C. Meath 23.20

10 1535 Connick, Andrew Slaney Olympic A.C. (IND) 23.21

Martin Corcoran was the next Galway scorer home in 18th place, not far ahead of his Craughwell club mates Mark Davis in 29th and Johnny Lane in 30th. Rob Staunton flew the Athenry colours in 82nd and Darragh O’Brien completed the Galway men’s team in 87th place. The six Galway men who travelled deserve great credit for such a strong performance and indeed were only narrowly run out of bronze medals in the team competition. Well done lads.

In the women’s race Loughrea AC’s Caroline Clancy delivered a superb performance to secure 9th place in a very strong field. Unfortunately no other qualifying Galway women were available to travel at the weekend which is a pity as there surely is the talent available in the county to make an impression on this race. Congratulations on a fine run Caroline.

Place No Name Status Club/County County Time

1 1546 Barry, Patricia Ferrybank A.C. Waterford 12.42

2 1634 Cuskelly, Liz Tullamore Harriers A.C. Offaly 12.51

3 1641 Ni Amhlaibh, Maire Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 12.54

4 1636 Keane, Mary Triona Tullamore Harriers A.C. Offaly 13.06

5 1655 Scully, Mary Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13.19

6 1598 Roe, Niamh Cork Cork 13.27

7 1610 O'Brien, Patricia Ennis Track A.C. Clare 13.30

8 1611 Carey, Marie Ennis Track A.C. Clare 13.31

9 1623 Clancy, Caroline Galway Galway 13.35

10 1580 Crossan, Karen Inishowen A.C. Donegal 13.38