Sunday, November 19, 2017

Munster Master's Cross Country Championships

Another successful outing by our club athletes who were competing in the Munster Master's Cross Country Championships on Sunday 19th November. Held in Riverstick Co. Cork on what was a dry and mild day. Thanks to Cork Athletics for providing a great cross country course with a mixture of long rolling hills, steep down hills and meandering heavy and muddy obstacles. Our athletes picked up two individual medals and three team positions.
Results on Munster Athletics website
Video's and pictures on Cork Athletics: HERE
Facebook Album: HERE
First up was the Master Women's 4000m race. There was a great turn out with just under seventy competitors. Maria McCarthy ran very well running against some top irish athletes to finish in third place overall, 2nd in her age category and first home for Kerry. Mary Daly had a great race, working very hard for the team in gaining two valuable positions in a sprint finish to come in ninth place overall and fourth in her category. Caitriona Barry ran her hearth out to come seventeenth place and 5th in her category. Marie McKenna was 33rd and 11th in her age category. Grainne Tierney continues to improve with every race and was a valuable member of the clubs team. Our womens O35 team came in second place and they also made up the county team who also came second.

In The Master Mens 7000m race we had three athletes competing with over 100 other athletes from all over munster.. George McCarthy got off to a great start mixing with the lead group for alot of the race. George finished very well to come in 14th overall and third in his age category. George was third home for Kerry and part of the county team to win silver. Dermot Dineen ran very well through this testing course to finish in 26th place overall and 12th in his age category. Brendan Lynch who is relatively new to competing at this level ran extremely well and continues to improve as he finished in the top twenty of his age category. It was great to see a large turnout from Kerry clubs in the mens race with thirteen competing. 

On Sunday 26th November is the first National Cross Country Championships for this season. We have Cian Spillane & Shauna McCarthy competing for Munster in the U14 Juvenile races. We also have some of our adults competing in the senior races, who will be part of the County teams. Best of luck to all competing.

BAG Packing Fundraiser:
We are having a bag packing weekend in Dunnes Stores Killarney on Friday 8th December from 6pm-8pm and Saturday 9th December from 10am-6pm. We will need plenty of volunteers for 2 hour shifts if possible. Please let us know asap what time and date you can be available to volunteer. No children allowed.
This is an important fundraiser for the club and your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mary Kennedy, Secretary Farranfore Maine Valley Athletic Club.

Club Training:.
Maria's Strength, Endurance & Flexibility Exercise Classes every Tuesday starting @ 7pm at the Sports Hall in Farranfore. €5 per class

Juvenile Training is on every Thursday @ 6:30pm in Farranfore GAA grounds. Open to all registered juveniles aged 8yrs (Born 2007) and upwards. This will be in preparation for the Munster Juvenile "B" Cross Country Championships to be held in Beaufort on Sunday 3rd December. €2 per session

Secondary School/Junior / Senior training on every Thursday at 6:30pm in GAA grounds Farranfore. This is endurance training for cross country preparation. €2 club member, €4 non club member.

Athletic's Fixtures
Sunday 26th Nov.: AAI Senior, Junior & Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships, Abbottstown
Sunday 3rd December: Munster Juvenile "B", Junior & Intermediate Cross Country Championships, Beaufort, Kerry
Sunday 10th December: An Riocht AC, Run Rudolf Run 5K in Castleisland
Sunday 17th December: National Uneven ages, Novice WIT, Waterford
Tuesday 26th December: Our Club St. Stephen's Day 5K Road Race / Fun Run @ 12noon in Farranfore

Please contact club secretary, Mary, 085-1909509 to register for competitions in advance
See Kerry & Munster Athletics website for full fixture lists & timetable for events.