Posted Date: 04-Nov-2009 Wednes

Inishowen Athletics Club got the cross-country season off to a flying start, with three individual gold and one bronze medal at the Donegal masters and even ages championships in Stranorlar on Sunday afternoon last. The medal haul was added to with both the masters men and women’s teams finishing second in their respective races.

Helena Crossan got the day off to a great start by winning the masters’ women’s race convincingly ahead of Kay Byrne from Finn Valley. This paved the way for a solid team performance with Elizabeth Mc Daid finishing fifth and Breege Collins completing the scoring team in 11th, in what was her first cross-country race. Inishowen clinched the silver medals on 17 points, behind winners Finn Valley on 11. Tir-chonaill lifted the bronze medals with 20 points. In the masters men’s 6km event, Joe Mc Kinney showed that he is back to his best with a fine third place finish behind Dominic Bonnar from Finn Valley. Paddy Doherty and Finbarr Gallagher ran good tactical races to finish 15th and 16th respectively, with the fast improving Mickey Donaghy completing the scoring team in 24th. Owenie Mc Kinney, 25th and Michael Collins, 29th completed the Inishowen representation and helped to secure silver medals behind Finn Valley A.C.

Photo: Inishowen AC juvenile athletes pictured at the Donegal Even-Ages Cross-Country Championships in Stranorlar on Sunday, 4th October.

Photo: Inishowen AC masters men team that finished second at the Donegal Cross-Country Championships in Stranorlar on Sunday, 4th October.
L-R: Paddy Doherty, Joe McKinney (third overall) & Finbarr Gallagher
L-R: Mickey Collins, Mickey Donaghy & Owenie McKinney

In a busy and well supported juvenile programme, Una Cox and Aideen O’ Raw finished 21st and 25th respectively in the under 10 girls 600m. Darren Donaghy proved too quick for his rivals over the last 60m of the under 10 boys 600m and raced to a fine victory. Lee Mc Laughlin finished 7th. In her first ever cross-country race, Buncrana runner Mary Theresa Doherty raced to a great bronze medal performance in the under 12 girls 1000m event. Ethan O’ Kane, Fergus Cox, Matthew Mc Kinney, and Oisin Hession all battled well in the under 12 boys race. Tanya Collins, Connie-Ann Hession and Grainne Hession put in promising performances for their first cross-country race of the season in the under 14 girls 1200m. Declan Donaghy made it a double gold for his family by racing clear in the closing stages of the under 14 boys 1500m, following Darren’s victory just a few minutes earlier. Ronan Hegarty and Derek-Lee Doherty both raced well over the 1500m distance also. Debbie Collins ran strongly in the under 16 girls 2k, while Patrick Mathews and Conor Hession both finished 5th in the under 16 and under 18 boys races respectively.

This Sunday11th October the action moves to Killybegs, for the County uneven ages and novice cross-country championships in Fintra. Once again the novice women are first in action at 12.00 noon with the men racing at 12.20. The underage races for 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 categories follow directly afterwards.