In Dundalk on Sunday, the Even Age Championships were followed by the GloHealth Irish Inter Counties Championships with a 10K race for Senior Men and 8K for Senior Women. These races were trials and selection races for the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Bulgaria on 13th December. It was a change of vest for North Down athletes, competing in a County Down team. The mens team finished 10th in the Senior 10K and collected silver medals in the “C” Division Championship. The womens team were 4th overall and collected silver in the “B” Division Championship.
Recently the County Down team has been a North Down and East Down joint affair in the mens event but East Down had an injury crisis though they gave some travelling support. We were able to call on Andrew Annett (North Belfast) and Chris Moran (Willowfield) in the 6 man scoring team. In a first time entry for County Down women, we were boosted by Commonwealth Games athlete Kerry Harty (Newcastle)and Catherine O’Connor (East Down). With 4 to score, we were able to leave out Jessica Criaig who had a niggly foot.
Mens scores were Stephen Wylie, in his first race since his backpacking tour, who was 62nd in 34:44. Then Dennis Scott 72nd 35:15 Andrew Annett 73rd 35:16, Francis Marsh 77th 35:37, James Budde 85th 36:12, Chris Moran 37:07, Nick Irvine 116th 41:34. Kerry Harty led the girls with 7th in 28:51, followed by Rachel Gibson 32nd 31:45, Kerry Speers 39th and Catherine O’Connor 42nd 32:51.
AAI teams are graded A, B or C with medals in each category. In truth there is no real difference at B and C level and both Tipperary and North Down beat all B teams. Anyway it was silver medals all round.
Results