IUAA & Schools Cross Country Championships

ecoli

Next weekend see's these championships take place in Waterford. Any predictions or idea who is running this

Idea came from discussions in training last night.Looking at the mens I think DCU will be hard to beat given there strength with the likes of Coghlan having a very strong indoor season along with Jennings, Robinson(if he is back from Oz) McBrearty.

In terms of the womens on paper it looks like UCD could be the team to beat

What about the schools? anyone info on who is running or any good match ups?

SeanKenny

The schools is being held in St Marys College Galway on the same day. Unfortunately they are not being held in conjunction with the Varsities this year.

The senior boys will be a good race between Inter Club Champion Kevin Dooney and munster champion Sean Tobin.
Expect the Monaghan twins to get involved here too. Paddy was sixth in an excellent domestic field at the national senior indoor 1500M behind some very good runners. Andrew ran 8.40 in the 3000m although they may be more focussed on track. Hugh Armstrong will also run well for the Connacht men.

The inter boys could be a duel between the Clonliffe recruited Dunleer man Aaron Hanlon and Kyle Larkin.

The inter girls should see Siofra Clerigh Buttner return to winning ways. Aisling Quinn ran very well in the Munsters and should make the podium.

The senior girls should also see Leinster feature stongly with Claire McCarthy and Mary Mulhare to the fore.

RayCun

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ecoli

SeanKenny wrote: »

The schools is being held in St Marys College Galway on the same day. Unfortunately they are not being held in conjunction with the Varsities this year.

Didnt realise this and just assumed it was the same as previous years. Seems a bit strange as I thought it used to be a good idea to hold them together in aim to try get better spectator numbers

Getonwithit

Ridiculous scenario with schools and universities being split. Not only split but on the same day. Too many Chiefs....

Brianderunner

Getonwithit wrote: »

Ridiculous scenario with schools and universities being split. Not only split but on the same day. Too many Chiefs....

A few years ago they had the IUAA's XC on in Trinity's Santry pitches and the schools on in DCU's St. Clairs XC course. One mile apart from each other and at the same time. I remember leaving DCU straight after the senior boys and just about making the end of the colleges one. Lunacy imo. A golden opportunity to combine the two in a "festival of XC running" was missed.

Getonwithit

Brianderunner wrote: »

Getonwithit wrote: »

Ridiculous scenario with schools and universities being split. Not only split but on the same day. Too many Chiefs....

A few years ago they had the IUAA's XC on in Trinity's Santry pitches and the schools on in DCU's St. Clairs XC course. One mile apart from each other and at the same time. I remember leaving DCU straight after the senior boys and just about making the end of the colleges one. Lunacy imo. A golden opportunity to combine the two in a "festival of XC running" was missed.

It's all education?? Club athletes in the main, what happens if you train 15-23 age group in your club... Surely the Aai should knock these two groups together and for the better of the sport force or encourage them to go in together again?? Anyone know why they split??

ocnoc

They were together last year out by the National Aquatic Centre.

Brianderunner

Getonwithit wrote: »

It's all education?? Club athletes in the main, what happens if you train 15-23 age group in your club... Surely the Aai should knock these two groups together and for the better of the sport force or encourage them to go in together again?? Anyone know why they split??

We (Trinity) were hosting the colleges that year. It's their turn every 5 or 6 years and they wanted it to be "their event". I remember asking the coach to combine it with the schools (for my own convenience tbh) but no joy.

I'm nearly sure the same applied for DCU's hosting of the schools XC that day.

Getonwithit

Dna Leri
Few things I disagree with there.
Yes its all education, we have our junior/juvenile club races on the same day as adult races so theres a comparable precedent.
I would imagine theres a lot more than myself affected? Perhaps you're not familiar with the normal coaching structures in Irish athletics? It would be extremly common for a coach to be coaching athletes from 15 to 50. A majority of athletes on show will be club athletes first and foremost who happen to compete for their school/college. it makes no sense to split the day and then to further complicate it by putting them against each other.
I do not have a history of having a go at the AAI, and in fact my problem here is primarily with the two seperate associations and secondly with the AAI for not preventing this. Its not negative to critise when they are wrong.
Finally, this is a forum where people are entitled and encouraged to express opinions. If you dont like an opinion fine, but your final comment is more than a tad confrontational. Rest assured although I am not writing letters I have expressed my opinion to members of both associations informally. Not that thats anyone elses business anyway..

ecoli

Looks like another thread descending into the usual political bashing or petty BS :rolleyes:

Getonwithit

dna_leri wrote: »

Getonwithit wrote: »

Dna Leri
Few things I disagree with there.
Yes its all education, we have our junior/juvenile club races on the same day as adult races so theres a comparable precedent.
I would imagine theres a lot more than myself affected? Perhaps you're not familiar with the normal coaching structures in Irish athletics? It would be extremly common for a coach to be coaching athletes from 15 to 50. A majority of athletes on show will be club athletes first and foremost who happen to compete for their school/college. it makes no sense to split the day and then to further complicate it by putting them against each other.
I do not have a history of having a go at the AAI, and in fact my problem here is primarily with the two seperate associations and secondly with the AAI for not preventing this. Its not negative to critise when they are wrong.
Finally, this is a forum where people are entitled and encouraged to express opinions. If you dont like an opinion fine, but your final comment is more than a tad confrontational. Rest assured although I am not writing letters I have expressed my opinion to members of both associations informally. Not that thats anyone elses business anyway..

National juniors and national juveniles are not on the same day.
National schools T&F is not co-located with 3-level T&F.
Maybe you are not familiar with the coaching structure at schools level - usually teacher/parent led not AAI club coached.

You are entitled to to express your opinion as am I.
My opinion is that there are too many people moaning on this forum.
My final comment was get on with it, it still stands.

Take schools senior boys cross country. I'm very familiar with the coaching set up of the following schools for example.
Douglas CS outside club coach
Clonmel Outside club coach
Mullingar Outside club coach
Knockbeg Teacher led but strong club link
Portlaoise outside coach
Colmans newry outside Coach
St malachys teacher coach but school and club are one

The team medals for the senior boys will come from that group. The athletes competing are coached in the main in clubs. I'm not a moaner and I object to being labelled one. I also object to the idea that criticising things is negative and petty. If something is wrong it's ok to say so?

dna_leri

ecoli wrote: »

Next weekend see's these championships take place in Waterford. Any predictions or idea who is running this

Idea came from discussions in training last night.Looking at the mens I think DCU will be hard to beat given there strength with the likes of Coghlan having a very strong indoor season along with Jennings, Robinson(if he is back from Oz) McBrearty.

In terms of the womens on paper it looks like UCD could be the team to beat

What about the schools? anyone info on who is running or any good match ups?

Apparently Ciara Mageehan is running for ucd.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/17285640

runjb

It'll be great to see Ciara back performing.

Should make the team battle interesting between UCD and DCU. Anyone know much of the strength of the two teams? Many of their athletes in form?

Getonwithit

DCU missing Paul Robinson, Brian Kelly, Feidhlim Kelly. Is Joe Sweeney running for UCD? UL missing few too I think as well in mens race. In schools I think the Senior boys has a big individual and team battle WIT had a strong show last year if I remember right, maybe on home turf they might take medals? tle on, I fancy the team to go to Cork and the individual to go to Dublin. Senior Girls winner will almost certainly be Dublin. Inter Boys is a hard one to predict team and individual. Inter girls not so!

Getonwithit

Was in Galway yesterday. Some great runs. Very good course and a lovely home town feel with the Junior Boys winner winning in his own school. Super Individual finsih to Senior Boys. Senior boys was also a super team race, 3 Clonmel 122 Knockbeg 123 Douglas 124.. Few years ago in Cork IT 3rd 4th and 5th placed teams had same points, Douglas and Knockbeg involved that time too. Anyone in Waterford? Heard course had good running.

brutes1

Was at schools also, only down road, very impressed, hadnt watched since i ran it many moons ago! . Great course by the looks of it, wonder could it host a senior champs ?
Some super runs including a great local win. The senior boys race was one of the best races and finishes I have seen, fair play to the Dublin /raheny lad for hanging on, great atmosphere .