Autumn Open International Cross-Country

Many of the club’s senior athletes were in action on Sunday at the Autumn Open International Cross-Country held on the National Cross-Country Course in Abbotstown. Conditions on the day were ideal, with firm underfoot conditions and a cool dry day for all to enjoy. 
Cheryl Nolan continued her recent good form with an excellent 5th place finish in the Senior Women's race. A lead group of 3 developed early on, but Cheryl judged the pace to be too fast and sat back off the main pack. She gradually worked her way through managing to get as high as 4th place but was caught on the last lap for 5th place. Never the less it was a very strong run from Cheryl and puts her in good position ahead of this year’s Cross Country Championships. Maisy O’ Sullivan also continued her return to form finishing in 19th place. Maisy also worked her way through the field gathering several spots over the final 2 laps of the 6km race. Siobhan Burke was also competing in the Women’s 6k and battled the whole way home to finish 12th overall in the F45 category. The M75 race was run in conjunction with the Women’s race and it saw Dick Mullins run a strong race for first home. As this race is used as a trial for the British and Irish Masters Cross Country Dick’s run means he will have secured his place on the Irish team for the upcoming Irish & British Masters XC which take place in Belfast on 16th November.
In the final race of the day Cian Kelly and Stephen Hunter competed in a large field of Junior, Senior and Master’s Men over 8km. Cian paced himself well throughout, working through the field with each passing lap. He continued to pick people off, eventually finishing in 15th place. Cian only just returned from a period of training in St Mortiz in Switzerland so will hope to continue to progress throughout the winter. Stephen Hunter also had a strong run finishing 11th in the Master Men’s M40 category as he gears up for a trip around the Dublin Marathon in the coming weeks. 

Many of these athletes will head back to training now with the Leinster Senior Cross Country and Nationals on the horizon. The younger members of the club will head to Dunboyne on Sunday 20th October for the Leinster Even Ages Cross Country