November 2020 Cross country – Virtually
Cross country on the track. That’s what the Coronavirus reduced cross country to this year. The first round of the county championships got the go-ahead but then the season was closed down. So Athletics Ireland suggested a virtual event to give the young athletes a challenge. KCH athletes rose to the challenge and took part in runs over the relevant distances during training in Scanlon Park. All athletes in each age cohort were given the opportunity to take part with the combined times of the first four finishers being forwarded to national as our entries for the virtual event.
The under 9s and 10s were combined and completed their virtual run over 500m. The girls’ team turned in a time of 7.10.67 with Emma Kelly clocking 1.43.67. The boys’ time was slightly slower at 7.22.26. It was a similar outcome inthe under 11 events with the girls having a better time than the boys – 15.24.00 and 15.52 respectively. They competed over 1000m.
The under 12s and 13s were combined and competed over 1500m. The time for the boys’ team was 22.22 just marginally faster than the girls who came home in 22.53. The same trend continued with the boys finishing with 21.48 and the girls in 23.33 again running over 1500m. The under 17s and under 19s also got in on the virtual vent while not part of the official competition.
Now we await feedback from Athletics Ireland on how our athletes fared relevant to the national scene.
First team members;- Girls U9/10 – Emma Kelly, Jasmine Timmons McEneaney, Amelia O’Brien, Lucy Maher. Boys U9/10 – Emmet Murphy, Peter Quinn, Kevin Comerford, Jack O’Neill. Girls U11 – Ellen Daly, Sinead Cormack, Kara Canavan, Ellen Cormack. Boys U11 – Robert Cullen, Thomas Hayes, Ryan Farrell, Shay Molloy. Girls U12/13 – Molly Daly, Kate Maher, ClodaghO’Callaghan, Emma Hogan. Boys U12/13 – Oisin Henderson, Robert Lacey, Eoin Moore, Cormac Holden. Girls U15 – Pia Langton, Louisa Gilmore, Ruth Cody, Laura Keogh. Boys U15 – Patrick Lacey, Liam Thompson, Louie Raggett, Eoghan O’Callaghan.
Oct 04 Storm in Ballycurran
Thanks to the hardworking efforts of our county board and officials of local club, St Joseph’s, the first roundof the county cross-country championships went ahead today. Entries, warm-up, toilets, course preparation etc were all in place but the only thing outside human control was the weather and some would say we had “real cross-country” weather – others said it was shocking. In any event the races, without u8s and u10s, went ahead. Great credit to all -athletes, parents, coaches and officials – who braved the storm and got the races over without a hitch. KCH had good numbers out but then again not enough. Another one or two in some of the races would have guaranteed more team medals and of course points towards the cross-country cup – a perennial problem. Our under 12s were star performers with the girls placing first and sixth and the boys second. The girls under 14 collected bronze. The novice men also won gold.
There were individual medals for Sinead Cormack, 2nd u12; Robert Lacey, 3rd u12; Patrick Lacey, 3rd u14; Cathal O’Reilly 1st and Tom Lodge 3rd u18.These will be joined on county teams for Leinster CC by Kate Maher, Martha Bergin and Ellen Cormack u12; Louis Raggett U14; Ruairi McEvoy, Kealan Gray and Matthew McCarthy u16; Isabella Bourke u16 and Eleanor Godden u18.
Where they finished:- girls U12 – 2 Sinead cormack, 5 Kate Maher, 6 Martha Bergin, 8 Ellen Cormack, 13 Ellen Daly, 14 Kara Canavan, 23 Clodagh Maye, 31 Rachel O’Sullivan. Boys U12:- 3 Robert Lacey, 9 Thomas Lacey, Joshua Malone, John Bradley. Girls U14:- 10 Hannah Quinn, 14 Eimear Cormack, 16 Molly Daly, 17 Kate Aylmer,20 Evelyn McEvoy, 21 Ruth Crowley, 22 Aoibhe Quinn. U14 Boys:- 3 Patrick Lacey. 7 Louis Raggett. U16 girls:- 6 Isabella Bourke. U16 boys:- 4 Ruairi McEvoy, 5 Kealan Gray, 6 Matthew McCarthy. U18 Girls:- 4 Elenaon Godden. U18 Boys:- 1 Cathal O’Reilly, 3 Tom Lodge.Novice Ladies:- 4 Grace Richardson, 7 Siobhan McArdle. Novice Men:- 1 Cathal O’Reilly, 2 Kevin Burns, 4 Tom Lodge, 5 John Muldowney, 9 Padraig Ruane, 16 Paddy Walsh, 17 Noel Sugrue, 19 David Lawlor, 21 Oisin MacCinneide.
Sept 20 A Sense of Freedom
Seven months without competition. Seven months without a chance to compete. Not since the Indoors in February have our juvenile athletes had a chance to flex their lungs and muscles. And with training suspended for most of that time it was with a sense of freedom that a group of our younger athletes headed to Kilmacow today for thew Open CC organised by St Senan’s athletic club. And organised it was. Entries, Parking, Warm-up, Competition, Stewarding – all excellently done.
The weather obliged and helped the athletes to better enjoy the event. KCH had athletes in nine out of the ten juvenile races with good numbers at U12. And so our under 12 boys and girls (with a good sprinklingof u11s in their midst) managed to field teams. Their efforts were rewarded with the girls finishing second on 45 points – just one points behind winners, Newbridge. The boys in a very competitive race placed third. In the other races Daire O’Flaherty impressed with an individual silver medal in boys under 10 while Breda Kelly was 5th the girls race. Our top individual of the day was Cathal O’Reilly who took gold in u18 boys.
The Richardson family had three quarters of a team in the Senior ladies and gave a fine account of themselves – Grace 5th, Ella 6th and Niamh 9th.
Runners today in order of finishing were – U10: Daire O’Flaherty, Breda Kelly, Eve Molloy. U12: Thomas Hayes, Shay Molloy, Mikey Phelan, Kyrell Mtinsi, Sinead Cormack, Emma Hogan, Martha Bergin, Kate Maher, Ellen Cormack, Faye Brett. U14: Paddy Beggan, Kate Aylmer, Evelyn McEvoy. U16: Ruairi McEvoy, Alexia Molinera. U18: Cathal O’Reilly.
Sept 06 Gold and Silver at Masters
The National Masters track and field were held today in Morton Stadium. With just two Harriers taking part it was 100% return medalwise. James Ledingham took gold in the 800m over 35 in a fine time of 2.00.47. The silver was won by Karen Nugent in the over 50 javelin. Her throw was 17.03m.
Sept 05 National Juniors
The National junior track and field championships were held today in Morton Stadium. Cathal O’Reilly was the club’s sole participant this year. Running in the 1500m he gave agood account of himself with a time of 4.11.83. well done Cathal.
Aug 29 On the Road in Kilkenny
The Covid 19 put paid to most athletic events for the last six months. However, thanks to Co Kilkenny Athletics Board and host club, St Joseph’s AC, the county 10K road race went ahead at the Pink Rock this evening. KCH were very much to the fore with twelve athletes competing and they weren’t just out for a run. They were there to compete. And they did with the Ladies winning gold and the Men winning silver. In the Men’s race Toss Hayes was the outstanding performer completing the course in 31.42 to take individual gold. Other team members were Ken Maher 35.59, Conor Bolger 38.27, Graham Bourne 38.40, Noel Sugrue 41.50 and Pat Purcell 41.08. Grace Richardson in 41.32, winning individual bronze, led the ladies in. The other team members were Siobhan McArdle 43.22, Donna Dunne 44.05, Kate Millea 47.28, Maria Cormack 48.15 and Joya Dunne 52.55. Congratulations all for an overall great performance. Onwards and upwards.