With some big running talent on show in Santry last Sunday week a high placing was always going to be a tough ask for Lyall Guiney & Ray Somers but they did both their club & county proud as they lined up for the Galway team in the National Cross Country Championships.

As there were spots on offer for the European Cross Country team some of the big names were always going to go out hard & so it proved with Ray commenting that he was lapped after the first mile before finding his feet & clawing his way back through the field. No mean feat to put that type of distance into Ray & Lyall who both recently ran marathons in the low 2.50's, but such was the level of runner on display.

Also putting in fine performances for the Galway team were Galway City Harriers members Brian Bruton, Brian O' Connor (both formerly of this parish), Billy King, Gerry Carty, John Cronin & Gary Thornton with Loughrea AC's Vincent McGuinness. Thornton ran a fantastic race, finishing in 13th position with a 32.21, just 1.21 seconds behind the winner.

Last years Dublin City Marathon winner (& also winner of the National Half in Athenry) Paul Pollock took first place with the Mulhaire brothers, Michael & Dan, completing the podium. Joe Sweeney, who recently placed 2nd in his first marathon in Dublin, finished in 5th spot whilst last years winner of the Fields of Athenry 10km, Mick Clohissey, followed home in 6th. In the ladies race Fionualla Britton continued her dominance on the Irish cross country scene, using this race as perfect preparation as she attempts to win her third consecutive European Cross Country title in Belgrade next month.

Cross Country Results