 The County Juvenile Cross Country Championships were held at Carraig na bhFear today in conjunction with the Novice Championships. One had to feel sorry for the younger ages as they battled their way in the rain, but then again, they probably enjoyed the weather a lot more than the adults. There was a three man break away in the under 18 boys race, with Fergal Meade of Glenbower, Thomas Maunsell of Leevale and Mark Lehane of Bandon away on their own from an early stage. By halfway Meade was away on his own and strolling to victory. The other pair stayed together and actually closed on the leader towards the finish. However, Meade held on, with Lehane taking second from Maunsell. Sean Casey of Leevale was fourth. The under 16 boys race was run in similar fashion, with Keith Linehan of Leevale, Kieran Ryan of Bandon and Jamie McCarthy of Riverstick Kinsale breaking clear shortly after the start. Linehan was first to fade, leaving the other pair to battle it out. McCarthy always looked the stronger and he was soon away on his own and won impressively. Richard O’Connor of Leevale was sixth, with the club winning the team contest. Thomas O’Sullivan (Leevale t-shirt in photo) ran a great race to finish third in the under 12 race, overtaken only in the last half mile or so. Aoife McCarthy of North Cork was quickly into her stride in the under 16 race and soon had a distance between herself and the others as she raced to an impressive victory. Sarah O’Shea of Youghal was second with Kerry Crowley third. In the under 14 race Joyce Curtin of Glenbower was another to record an impressive win, leading from start to finish, while Ciaran O’Lionard of West Muskerry came from well behind in the second half of his under 14 race to also win impressively. (Results). |
