What a start to the Cross Country season!

Avondale was a sea of red and white on Sunday last and our athletes were magnificent.

Alice O'Neill had her 1^st race in the U8’s and had a great run. At U10, we had 9 in the girls race and 3 in the boys. They all ran really well and all received certificates on completing the course. Names in alphabetical order, not finish order: Girls: Catherine Casey, Ella Curtis, Frances Dallaghan,  Katie Lawless, Sorcha Long, Aoife McTague, Alison Pluck, Claudia Randles, Niamh Redford. Boys: Luke Horgan, Louis Lalor, Fionn O’Carroll.

The championships start at U12 and we won both events and both team events, so gold medals for all.

Rosa Kirwan won the girls race with Alison Dawson Whelan 3^rd, Sadhbh Redford 7^th, Sinead O’Neill 9^th, Lisa Dallaghan 10^th, Rebecca Murphy 11^th, Laura Fitzgerald 12^th , Susie McParland 15^th, Alannah O’Carroll 18^th,  Emily Lannin 24^th, Daisy O’Caoimh 26^th, Anna Hayes 29^th, Aoife McDonald 30^th, Zoe Kerr 36^th, Sinead Ryan 40^th.

In the boys race we had a 1,2,3,4 finish with Scott Howard taking the gold, followed by Jamie Fallon, Matthew Malone and Cian Baldwin. The rest of the team were close behind with Brian Lawless 8th, Eric Dalby 9^th, Eoghan Hogan 10^th and Alan Keane 14^th.  In the G U14 Aisling Moore finished 10^th with Orlagh Connor 18^th and the boys saw Cillian Browne put in a great finish, just missing out on the medals in 4^th with Lorcan Lalor 9^th.

Claire Fox had a clear victory in the girls U16, with Aisling McCabe putting in a great finish for 4^th and Amy Howard finishing 7th(despite the chest infection). Hayley Fallon completed the team in 16^th to give the girls the team gold.

Ellie Hartnett was a convincing winner in the girls U18 race and Ciara Stuart finished 15^th in the Novice Women.

Niamh Kearney finished a credible 6^th position at the British & Irish Schools international over the same weekend, to help secure the silver medal for the Irish Team.

We had two competitors, AJ Cotter and Enda Costigan, in the Novice Men’s race, who both put in a fine performance in their 1^st XC event.We hope to see them out again next week.

Well done to all the athletes who took part and thanks to the parents and coaches for all the help and support.

Up-coming competitions for all athletes.

The uneven age Cross Country event will take place on next Sun. 11^th Oct. in Roundwood. Going up through Newtown, cross the resevoir and then take the left turn sign-posted Wicklow. The course is about a mile up the road on the right. Once again all athletes are eligible to take part. Athletes will need to be there by 10.15am and most will be finished in under an hour. We would like to see all our athletes out there representing our club.  There are very few competitions for our younger athletes at this time of year, so don’t miss out. Names at training, or text Theresa on 0868635797.

We have a few pairs of Asics spikes still available, at a great price of €30. We have sizes 4,5.6,7 and 8. They are small fitting, so suitable for 2-7 in shoe size.

Very Important Notice

From this Friday 9^th Oct, Group 2 (Aidan’s group) will return to the track, unless the weather is  very wet.  All other groups will continue to have their Friday training sessions in Shoreline Leisure Centre. Please attend at your usual time and please try to be on time.

We are delighted at the increase in numbers attending on Wed. evenings. Keep it up!!!

All athletes in the 7-8.30pm groups are eligible to attend the Wed. sessions.

Warm Weather Training Camp

19 athletes have applied to go on the training trip next Easter, but no parents have come forward to help supervise. For the previous two years we have managed to cover this with the help of parents from Inbhear Dee and Roundwood.

This year there are less travelling from these clubs, so our club will have to provide our own supervisors for our athletes. If we do not get adults willing to help, we will have to seriously limit the numbers travelling. As this is a training camp and not a supervised holiday, we will prioritise those travelling by their attitude to, and attendance at, training and competitions during the past year.

We would remind you once again that regular information will be available on www.greystonesac.com