The National Senior Indoor Championships take place on Saturday 29th Feb & Sunday March 1st in Abbottstown, Dublin. The CLOSING DATE for Club entries is Wednesday evening next 19th February. NO club entries accepted after this date. Contact secretary.
Link to timetable below.
Due to Storm Dennis & the Orange Weather warning the coaches have decided there is no option but to cancel training tomorrow.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
GCH were well represented at the National Master & Intermediate Cross Country Championships at the delightful Avondale Forest Park grounds in Rathdrum, County Wicklow on Saturday last. A cool dry day with reasonable underfoot conditions greeted the athletes. While the long steep uphill section of the course forced a number of athletes to walk, the downhill section on the opposite side was not for the faint hearted! For some it was their first time competing over cross country terrain, others a first at National Championship Level and for the remainder it is their annual must do race with the added bonus of it being a terrific team competition, where hard fought place finishes deliver a high degree of satisfaction, achievement and enjoyment all at the same time, whether fit or unfit! The Master races have become extremely competitive in recent years and this year was no exception, with some terrific high-class races and performances all round.
The first of the adult races was the Master Women and over 65 Men’s combined race over 4k. Two full laps of the course (sounded easier than other xc courses where it was one small lap plus two big laps of a course!). In the 4k race GCH fielded a Master over 35 Women’s team, Master over 50 Women’s team and a Master men’s over 65 team! Kathryn Casserly was first GCH finisher in a magnificent 12th position overall, followed by Jane Ann Meehan in an impressive 16th, and with Deirdre Gibbons and Olive Gleeson finishing in terrific 35th and 43rd places overall respectively, the GCH Women’s over 35 Team claimed National Gold. Superb performance by the team who were brilliantly backed up by their equally impressive team mates – Sinead Foran, Niamh Hennelly, Jean O’Connor, Deirdre McCrae, Deirdre Moran Smyth. Kathryn Casserly was an impressive 4th in the Individual o40 category. The GCH Women’s over 50 team ran credibly and strongly to finish 4th over 50 Team with Carmel Brannigan leading the way followed by Barbara Bergin, Mary Kealy, Mags Sheridan and Majella Ni Chriocháin – all of whom will no doubt return for next season’s battle!
In the over 65 Men’s Team competition over the 4k, terrific running from the GCH Men’s Team of Martin Kearney, Martin McEvilly and Tony Fahy (recently returned to xc) ensured National bronze. Great to see Martin McEvilly back racing and claiming gold in the over 70 category! Martin Kearney finished 4th in the o65 category and has vowed to return in the future to claim a National xc medal!
The second adult race was the Master Men’s race (over 35 to 64) which was run over 7k. Again, an extremely competitive race over three and a half laps. GCH fielded an over 50 Men’s Team who raced credibly to finish 4th led in by Gerry Carty, Larry Kelly, Niall Murphy, Eamon Hornibrook, Sean Folan and Kieran Whyte – an enthuastic team already looking forward to next seasons cross country events! Unfortunately, GCH did not field an over 35 Men’s Team but we did have two individuals over 35 running as individuals in the 7k – Brian O’Connor and Brain Bruton who gave their all for the County!
The final race of the day was the Intermediate Men’s race over 8k (a tough 4 laps of the course). GCH fielded a Men’s Intermediate Team. This is a relatively ‘new’ club cross country Intermediate team who performed extremely well and strongly in this competitive race. The GCH team finished 7th overall, led in by David Bohan (21st), David Carter (25th) Conor Deane and Conor Byrne. Definitely a team to watch out for in the future!
Many athletes from various Galway clubs were represented in all the Master & Intermediate races. Apart from GCH, it was terrific to see representation from Castlegar AC, Craughwell AC, Tuam AC, Athenry AC, East Galway AC, Corrib AC and Clare River Harriers AC. Thanks to everyone involved in any way. Terrific competition, highly recommended. No experience or specific times required!!
Congratulations to our GCH teams on their terrific performances at the recent National Indoor Track and Field League final.
The GCH Ladies team made club history by being the first GCH Ladies team to medal at an Indoor League Final, taking National bronze in an extremely competitive competition with twelve women’s teams, behind Dublin City Harriers and Raheny Shamrocks.
In an equally competitive men’s competition with nine teams competing, the GCH Men’s team took National silver behind Clonliffe Harriers with an impressive team performance.
A fantastic spectator event with some very exciting track races and field events. (thank you to Cliff for some information below).
In the men’s competition, Conor Deane made his debut as a last-minute replacement and ran well to get a second second pb in the 1500m. It was great to have Jack Dempsey back for the relay, where a storming last leg from Robert McDonnell brought the GCH relay team through from 5th to 2nd place and all this after a pb and win in the 400m!
In the women’s competition, the GCH relay team comprising Seren, Laura, Rita and Nicole proved unbeatable, with all four ladies racing strongly and with great determination to seal the bronze.
Well done to all the athletes, Team managers Cliff Jennings and Majella Loftus and to all the GCH coaches.
200m: 5th Jonah Erugo 22.67 secs
400m: 1st Robert McDonnell 48.74 secs
1500m: 5th Conor Deane 4:17.17 secs
4 X 200m relay 3rd : Jack Dempsey, Owen Scully, Darren Costello, Robert McDonnell. 1:32.40 s.
H/jump: 7th Daragh Jennings 1.55m
T/jump: 6th Eoghan Jennings 11.51m
Completing the men’s team with valuable points in Round 1 was Keith Fallon (3rd 800m in round 1) and Brendan Staunton (1st in shot putt).
200m: 3rd Nicole Walsh 25.33 secs
400m: 3rd Laura Nally 59.44 secs
1500m: 5th Kathryn Casserly 4:52.10
4 X 200m relay 1st: Seren O’Toole/ Laura Nally/ Rita Lahue/ Nicole Walsh 1:43.35 secs
H/jump: 9th Aoife Sheehy 1 35m
T/jump: 4th Aoife Waldron 10.10m
Completing the women’s team and scoring valuable points in Round 1 was Sarah Lanigan (3rd 800m) and Rebecca Lynch.
Open guest races. There was also plenty of GCH action in the open guest races with pbs galore.
200m: Owen Scully 23.47 secs, Karel Mampouma 26.64 secs
400m: Diego Brule 53.03 secs, Jim Phelan 54.48 secs, Marcus Quinn 54.51 secs
Eoghan Jennings 54.64 secs, Joseph Doherty 56.69 secs
800m: Luca Donatella 2:04.41 secs
200m: Seren O’Toole 26.23 secs, 800m: Sarah Lanigan 2:15.11 secs, Triple jump: Rebecca Lynch 8.49m
There were terrific performances from our GCH athletes who competed at the recent National Junior & U23 Indoor Championships in Athlone.
Robert McDonnell recorded a 200m pb of 21.85s when taking National silver in the Junior men’s 200m. Richard Kamsen took silver in the Junior Men’s Triple Jump with a pb of 13.30m. Seren O’Toole finished a strong fourth in the Junior Women’s 400m final in 58.55s. In the competitive 1500m Junior Men’s final, Aaron Brennan took a superb silver in a time of 4:06.46 with Barry Murphy fifth in 4:14.39.
In the U23 competition, Nicole Walsh had a terrific run to claim National 400m gold in a time of 56.25s, while Emily Russell took bronze in the women’s 60m hurdles in a time of 8.74s. Rita Lahue finished fifth in her 60m heat, and raced strongly in her 200m heat. In a very competitive and tactical U23 1500m men’s final, Thomas McStay ran a great race to take National silver in a time of 4:10.45, with his clubmates James Frizzell, Jack Maher, David Carter and Matteo Selleri all running credibly in behind. A good day for Thomas who claimed bronze in the 800m final in a time of 1:54.90. GCH were well represented in the U23 200m sprints with Joseph Doherty and Darren Costello, while Darren also raced in the 60m event.
Well done to all our athletes!
REMINDER: The National Intermediate & Masters Cross Country Championships takes place on SATURDAY 8th February in Avondale, Rathdrum, Wicklow.
CLOSING date for Club entries is this Sunday 26th January by 1pm . GCH is hoping to field strong men’s and women’s teams for both events. We have a number of athletes who are always prepared to run in this fantastic event and have already come forward (thank you !), but additional names would be most welcome so the club can field full teams. A bus will be organised once we have numbers travelling. Master Team categories for men and women are: Master o35 , Master o50, Master o65. ( all team athletes will also be individually categorised: o35, o40, 045, o50, o55 etc)
Distances: All Master Women and o65 men run 4K. Master Men 35yrs -64yrs run 7k. Intermediate Women run 5k. Intermediate Men 8k.
Ages: Master is anyone aged 35 yrs and over (no age limit !).
Intermediate: Athletes eligible to run Intermediate must be at at least 20 yrs (in year of competition) and older (no upper age limit !)
NB: Athletes who wish to be considered for the GALWAY COUNTY Teams must submit their names no later than Saturday evening 25th January.
Entries/names to club secretary asap. secretary@galwaycityharriers.com or Mags @ 087 9234224
Link to timetable: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/events-timetable/Intermediate_Juv_B_Relay_master_XC_Timetable_2020_revised.pdf
A busy weekend in store for many GCH athletes, young and old !
Celtic Cross Country Championships. Best of luck to Thomas McStay and the Ireland u23 mens team who compete in the cross country international in Stirling, Scotland tomorrow.
The Galway County Indoor Championships takes place Saturday and Sunday (11th & 12th Jan) in the AIT, Athlone. Day 1 will see events for the u8 to u12 age group while on Sunday will see events for u13 to u19 plus Senior and Masters. Events start at 10am sharp on both days. Athletes are advised to arrive well in advance of teir events. Links to Timetables for both days can view on the links below. Please be advised these timetables are provisional and events could run well ahead of schedule. Good luck to everyone.
National Indoor League. Best of luck to the GCH mens and womens teams who compete in Round 1 of the National Indoor League tomorrow, Saturday at the National Indoor Arena in Abbottstown.
A busy weekend in store for many GCH athletes, young and old !
Celtic Cross Country Championships. Best of luck to Thomas McStay and the Ireland u23 mens team who compete in the cross country international in Stirling, Scotland tomorrow.
The Galway County Indoor Championships takes place Saturday and Sunday (11th & 12th Jan) in the AIT, Athlone. Day 1 will see events for the u8 to u12 age group while on Sunday will see events for u13 to u19 plus Senior and Masters. Events start at 10am sharp on both days. Athletes are advised to arrive well in advance of teir events. Links to Timetables for both days can view on the links below. Please be advised these timetables are provisional and events could run well ahead of schedule. Good luck to everyone.
National Indoor League. Best of luck to the GCH mens and womens teams who compete in Round 1 of the National Indoor League tomorrow, Saturday at the National Indoor Arena in Abbottstown.
Following are some dates to note Jan-March 2020. Please note that many AAI National events have a standard closing date eleven days prior to the event. Senior/Master/Junior &u23 – Contact the club secretary for County, Connaught and National T&F Championships. Please keep an eye on our facebook page for any upcoming local & club road races that are AAI permitted as not all details yet available.
Saturday 11th January: National Indoor League Round 1. Venue: Abbottstown. GCH will field a Womens’ Team and a Mens Team. Athletes please note you must have renewed club membership in order to compete.
Sunday 12th January: Galway County Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 2. Venue: AIT Athlone. (Senior & master events along with u13-u19). Senior & Master entry to Mags no later than Sunday 5th January. Please note you must be registered for 2020 before entry can be submitted. Timetable will be made available a few days prior to the event.
Saturday 18th January: National Indoor Combined Events. Venue: AIT, Athlone. Closing date for entry is Tues. 7th January.
Saturday 25th January: National Indoor Junior & U23 Track & Field Championships. Venue: AIT, Athlone. Closing date for entry Tues 14th January.
Sunday 26th January: National League Round 2. Venue: AIT, Athlone.
Saturday 8th February: National Masters & Intermediate Cross Country Championships (& Juvenile B & Relays). Venue: Avondale, Rathdrum, County Wicklow. Closing date for entry is Tuesday 28th January. The club are aiming to field master teams (v35, v50, v65) and will have specificic cross country training sessions on Saturday mornings. Contact us for more details.
Sunday 9th February: AAi National Indoor Games. Venue: Abbottstown. Closing date: Tuesday 28th January.
Saturday 22nd February: Connaught Senior/Master Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1.Venue: AIT, Athlone. NB. Senior & Master compete on the evening of day 1 on the 22nd . (AFTER the u12/13 programme). Further information will be available late January/early in February.
Connaught Day 2 Sunday 23rd February. Older juveniles compete on day 2. Venue: AIT, Athlone
Saturday 29th February & Sunday 1st March. National Senior Indoor Track & Field Championships. Venue: Abbottstown. Closing date: Tuesday 18th February.
Sunday 8th March. National Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships. Venue: AIT, Athlone. Closing date: Tuesday 25th March.
Sunday 22nd March. Craughwell AC 10 mile and 10K. For further information contact : secretary@galwaycityharriers.com or Mags @0879234224
The 2020 Resolution Run takes place New Year’s Day 1/1/2020 in Galway City at 11am from the Claddagh area over 5km.
This race acts as a fundraiser for athletics in the county and your support is most welcome. Anyone not running who would like to help please let yourselves be known in advance as the organisers can always do with marshals or helpers.
Those wishing to enter the race can use the link below.
