Offaly County Senior Cross Country Championships 
Buckley and Curley take Senior Titles  

A beautiful day greeted the athletes at last Sunday’s County Senior Cross Country Championships in Charleville Castle Estate, Tullamore.  The highlights of the day were impressive front running displays by Ferbane’s Paul Buckley and Tullamore Harriers Pauline Curley, which saw them retain their Offaly Senior Cross Country titles on Sunday last. Paul Buckley was in determined mood as he set off and he only had Catch Grennan (Tullamore Hariers) for company after the first mile.  This pair were chased by Tullamore Harriers John Donegan, Johnny Feery, Ronan Duffy and Jody O’ Reilly ahead of the rest of the field.  Paul Buckley poured on the pressure as the race went on and he pulled well away from Catch Grennan to win by over 150 meters.  Grennan ran a fine race and John Donegan also ran well to take third, with Johnny Feery showing good form in fourth as he prepares for the Masters International in ten days time. Jody O’ Reilly, in fifth place, completed the scoring four for Tullamore Harriers as they retained the team title.
 
Pauline Curley showed no ill effects from the Dublin City Marathon as she easily won the senior women’s 5,000m race.  Pauline Lambe ran a fine race to take second place ahead of Ann Carroll who returned to competition after a long absence.  Deirdre Lambe competed the scoring four on the winning Tullamore Harriers team.

Anne Carroll (3rd) Pauline Curley (1st) Pauline Lambe (2nd) - Catch Grennan (2nd) Paul Buckley (1st) John Donegan (3rd)

Senior Men (8,750m): 1 Paul Buckley (Ferbane) 30:48; 2 Catch Grennan (Tullamore Hrs) 31:15; 3 John Donegan (Tullamore Hrs) 32:21
 
Team: 1 Tullamore Hrs 14 points (2, 3, 4 Johnny Feery, 5 Jody O’ Reilly)
 
Senior Women (5,000m): 1 Pauline Curley (Tullamore Hrs) 18:01; 2 Pauline Lambe (do.) 20:46; 3 Ann Carroll (do.) 20.57
 
Team: 1 Tullamore Hrs 10 points (1, 2, 3, 4 Deirdre Lambe)

 
Masters International

Congratulations to Pauline Curley (Over 35), Johnny Feery (Over 50), John Todd (Over 55) and Jim Langan (Over 65) who have been selected to represent Ireland at the British & Irish Master’s Cross Country International in Stormont, Belfast on Saturday 17th November.  Curley will make her debut in this event, while Todd, Feery and Langan have all competed in it previously.

Johnny Feery - Catch Grennan - Pauline Curley and John Donegan

 
Hannon Nominated for Award
 
Eoin Hannon is one of four nominees for the Junior Athlete of the Year Award at the revived National Athletics Awards programme.  This year’s event will take place on November 17th in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry and the format will be a black tie gala dinner with musical entertainment to round the evening off after the presentation of awards. It will be hosted with the generous support of sponsorship from Waterford Crystal. Best of luck to Eoin who faces strong opposition for the award from Kelly Proper, Jesse Barr and John Coghlan.

Fixtures

Sun 11th Nov (12 noon) - Leinster Intermediate & Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country, Haywood Community School, Ballinakill, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.
 
Sat 17th Nov – British & Irish Master’s Cross Country International, Stormont, Belfast  

Sun 25th Nov - AAI/Woodie’s DIY/Woodie’s DIY Inter County & Even ages Cross Country, The Curragh, Co Kildare.
 
Sun  9th December - European Cross Country Championships, Toro, Spain   

Sun  16th Dec -  AAI/Woodie’s DIY Novice & Uneven ages Cross Country, St Augustine's College, Dungarvan.