The BHAA cross country series of races kicked off in the grounds of Castleknock College on Saturday. The series is a great introduction to cross-country running for many, as well as an opportunity for club athletes looking to test their fitness ahead of the Senior season. Donore dominated both men’s and women’s races, with Ide Nic Dhomhnaill winning the women’s 2 mile race by a big margin from DSD’s Niamh Devlin, and another good run by Aisling Swaine in 6th. It was a Donore 1-2 in the men’s with Eric Keogh taking the win ahead of clubmate Lee Van Haeften and last year’s national novice winner Stephen Lawlor of St. Abban’s in third.

Complete results available here (https://bhaa.ie/events/teachers-cross-country-2016/) with club results as follows:

Men’s 4 mile
Eric Keogh 1st
Lee van Haeften 2nd
Rossa Hurley 12th
Ken Norgrove 23rd
Kevin Nolan 25th
Fergal Swaine 32nd
Tom Fagan 53rd (3rd M45)
Peter Nugent 54th
Joe Murphy 58th
Colm Mullen 59th (xc debut)
Colin Moore 76th
Ken McKeown 80th
Terry Mee 99th (1st M70)

Women’s 2 mile
1st Ide Nic Dhomhnaill
6th Aisling Swaine
26th Mary McDermott
28th Marianne Dunlevy

Ian Redican has a photo gallery of the race here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/red-i/albums/72157671466474544

Results Round-up
With only weeks to go until the Dublin marathon, the 3/4 marathon event in Longwood, Meath attracted nearly 1000 runners. A well-received course and good weather meant that participants were happy with their times. First home for the club in 5th place and just dipping under the 2 hour mark was Anthony Flannery in 1.59.50 with Chris Muldoon not far behind in 7th place 2.01.50. Alma Hanevy isn’t doing an Autumn marathon this year but she had a really good showing today after the novice last week and finished 3rd lady in 2.23.28. Stephen Dawson was next in 2.24.12. Michael Barry crossed the line in 2.37.09. Dublin marathon-bound Michelle Dawson finished in 3.05.06 and despite some cramping in the legs, Laura Murray ran 3.10.17.

Meanwhile, in his native Cavan Niall Lynch came 4th in the 10k Run With Catherina in 34.45, celebrating its most famous sportsperson. In Limerick Olympian Sinead Jennings was 2nd in her rowing club’s St Michael’s Urban Run in 40.58.