PHOTOS: National Cross Country Championships at Templemore Sports Complex

It was a day when the elements threw everything at the venue but failed to detract from an excellent day’s sport with the added interest of European Cross selections to be decided

Efrem Gidey went into an early lead in the 7.5km Senior Men’s race but the Clonliffe Harrier was soon caught by a group containing Fay, 2023 champion Cormac Dalton and northern hope Nick Griggs. It was these three who fought out the title as Gidey slipped back to sixth at the finish line. And any one of the trio could have prevailed but, in the end, it was the Raheny Shamrocks club man who got home by just two seconds from Griggs with Dalton another second back in the bronze medal spot.

“I could have won that,” said Griggs who appeared disappointed with his placing, “I should have dug deeper into the hurt locker and made my move earlier.”

Griggs did have the consolation, not that it was probably needed, of leading his Candour Track Club to a successful defence of the team title they had claimed for the first time 12 months earlier in Irvinestown. Callum Morgan (13th), Tony McCambridge (16th) and Conall McClean (18th) completed the Candour scoring quartet that always had the upper hand over their nearest rivals, Mullingar Harriers, who had three in the first 11 but had to wait until 50th place for their fourth scorer.

Meanwhile Griggs, Morgan, and Belfast athlete Lughaidh Mallon (17th) all look to have done enough for the U23 selection to the European Cross Country in Portugal on December 14th.

In contrast to Fay who was picking up his first title in the event, it was second time around for Fiona Everard after winning in Kilkenny two years earlier. The Bandon AC athlete allowed Niamh Allen to make an early break in the 7.5km test before hauling in the Cork woman and going on for an emphatic victory. Tullamore Harrier Danielle Donegan claimed the individual bronze medal ahead of North Belfast Harrier Emily Haggard Kearney who may have had the run of her life for fifth.

Finn Valley flew home their foreign legion from the USA but were well beaten by defending champions, Leevale AC led by Allen who came up from Cork in a car. The Valley scorers were home-based Amy Greene (7th), Eilish Flanagan (8th), Roisin Flanagan (23rd) and recent recruit from Letterkenny Noeleen Scanlan (38th). Candour’s Roise Roberts (6th), Greene and Willowfield Harrier Kirsti Foster (20th) should have sealed their places on Ireland’s U23 in the Algarve.

Foster’s younger sister Lucy should also be on the plane to Faro after finishing runner-up in the U20 race where she was defending her title from 12 months earlier. Similarly, Shercock’s Abby Smith in fourth should also receive call-up papers for the U20 team. The big surprise in this race was that Dublin Marathon winner 19-year-old Ava Crean could do no better than 11th. Willowfield were convincing winners of the team competition with Foster ably assisted by Emily Morris (8th), Kari Foster (27th) and Cara McDermott (33rd).

Dubliner Noah Harris was the runaway winner of the men’s U20 race but after enjoying a healthy lead at one point the Parnell AC runner was closed to just four seconds at the line by Cranford AC’s Caolan McFadden. Beechmount Harrier Finn Diver (4th) and Candour’s Tom Fleming (5th) should be joining McFadden in the sunny climes of Portugal’s Algarve.