Nov 19 Veterans Cross Country International, Navan

One of the most prestigious events on the athletics calendar was held on Saturday 18th at Dalgean Park in Navan when the Veterans Cross Country International took place. This annual event sees the women from Ireland, Wales England, Scotland and Northern Ireland compete at O/35,O/40,O/45,O/50,O/55 in the women’s 5k. While the men compete at O/40,O/45,O/50,O/55,O/60,O/65 over the 10k distance. The men’s race was over a tough 2.5k lap with a demanding hill at the end of each of the four laps. The Irish O/50 team was our only men’s team to strike gold in a competition that had to be decided on count back. Ireland, England and Scotland tied on 28 points and the result was decided by the relative position of the 4th place finishers on each of the teams. The 4th man home for Ireland was John Todd who finished in 11th place in 37:00 with the Scottish and the English runners 12th and 13th respectively. Pat O’Shea, Caherciveen, led the team home and also captured the individual bronze medal in 35:41. J.J.Murphy, Tinryland finished 6th in 36:21 with Denis Noonan 8th in 36:40. Individual honours also went to Gerry Brady who finished 2nd O/45 and Frank Reilly who took the O/55 silver medal. Mick Neville ran well to finish 9th O/60 in 42:21. The O/35 women also captured team gold with a tremendous individual performance, for the second year in a row, by Ann Keenan Buckley who covered the 5k in 16:58.The individual silver went to Ireland’s Mary Donoghue in a time of 18:17 while Noeleen Porter completed the team in 6th place. Carmel Parnell also took individual honours when taking the silver medal O/45.

Team Results Men

O/40 1. England (23 pts.) 2.Ireland (17) 3.Scotland (45)

O/45 1.England 2.Ireland 3.Wales

O/50 1.Ireland (28) 2.Scotland (28) 3.England (28)

O/55 1.Scotland (15) 2.Ireland (18) 3.England (20)

O/60 1.England (6) 2.Wales (28) 3.Ireland (30)

O/65 1.England (6) 2.Scotland (21) 3.Ireland (28)

Team Results Women

O/35 1.Ireland (9) 2.England (21) 3.Scotland (24)

O/40 1.England (8) 2.Wales (18) 3.Ireland (21)

O/45 1.England (12) 2.Ireland (18) 3.Wales (27)

O/50 1.England (11) 2.Scotland (16) 3.Ireland (20)

O/55 1.England (8) 2.Ireland (21) 3.Wales (26)


2001 WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS