2024 February Update - March 15th, 2024

Cross Country:
​A little late in reporting but none the less a huge congratulations goes out to National Cross Country winners Tim and Paul in the Masters and the Intermediate races in Dundalk in February. For such a small club to win both these races on the same day is monumental achievement. Tim in fact has now won the masters XC the past 3 years in a row and is showing even as the hair goes greyer he is still as prolific as ever over the mud. Paul added to his National Novice title to bag the intermediate title so we will all be keen to see the Senior title too in the years to come!

Tim took the masters race by storm and in similar fashion to how he disposed of Mick Clohessy in Gowran last year he did the same in Dundalk. He took the lead after about 1k from the Dublin masters winner Colm Rooney and never looked back opening up a sizable gap all the way to the finish line in 24.50.

Paul took control in the intermediate race too from early on but did have a sizable chasing pack hot on his heels the first few laps, Paul made a strong push at the 5k mark to open a solid gap of about 15 seconds that he help all the way to the end cross the tape in 29:03. Paul also led our Intermediate team to a brilliant silver medal in the team results. Paul was ably back up by a great run from Tony Forristal, who came through the field like a train in the final lap to finish 6th, John Spelman who is have a real breakthrough season close behind in 14th and Stephen O'Brien who upset the form book to bag 4th on the team in 25th overall. Donal was next in 30th. Well done all another national team medal to add to the lists! Paul is our 4th ever winner of this race and it is the 4th time we have teams in the podium. Details below in the pictures.

Munster Road Championships:
Well done to all who travelled to the Munster Roads in Dundrum. Eadaoin had the best run of the day overall to finish 21st in 27:00. Stephen forgot he was in a race until the final 100m where he decided to put the after burners on and pip the unfortunate Donal by 1 second for 22nd place in 22.08, Donal was 23rd in 22.09 both won county Gold medal in the Novice and Masters M40 teams. Ciaran McNamee was next home in 28th and 22.32 after a blistering opening mile! Michael Furlong completed the team with 35th in 22.46.

Intervasrsities:
Indoor: Paul, Ciaran and John all competed in the National Intervarsity indoors the day before the Intermediates. Pual was 4th int he 3k in 8.35, John 6th in this 400m heat in 58 seconds and Ciaran was 21st in the 3k in 10.00.

Cross Country: Paul, Ciaran and John also travelled to Queens in Belfast for the Intervarsity XC. Paul was 9th, John had a fine run for 45th and Ciaran was 71st. Well done all.

Other Road Races:
Tim followed up his Master victory with another win the Kinsale 10 milers. In very tough conditions Tim cruised to a 52.05. John Spelman won the 4th Cloyne race in another good time of 12.51 and puts himself in pole position to win the overall series. Tony ran the Stook 10 mile in Killkenny with an infamous hill and reportedly the fastest mile (all severely downhill) in all of Ireland, he was 2nd in the race in 54.39 and had a split for mile 9 of 4.34!

Other Podiums were Donal gaining revenge on Stephen in his local Killeagh 4 mile coming 3rd and newest member of the club bagged 3rd as well in the ladies section. She needs no introduction, welcome Tamzin to East Cork. Hopefully it will be the first of many podiums!

Well done for all the other races done in the past few weeks. All should be captured below