Intercounty Cross country Champs DkIT 23/11/2014

pconn062

So this is only two weeks now so time for a thread. It will be held in DkIT this year so personally I'm delighted to have it in my own County. Good course as well, ground is quite boggy though with all the rain recently.

On the women's side we have Fionnuala Britton who is targeting this ahead of the European Champs in Bulgaria in December. I also heard a rumour about Mary Cullen but I don't even know is she is training at the moment? Any other names?

On the mens side, Brendan O'Niell is showing more form that anyone else at the moment. Other names are Paul Pollock (is he back yet?), Clohissey, Mulahre brothers maybe. Any know if McCarthy is targeting this again? Fagan maybe?

I'm really looking forward to this, link from AI below.

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/fionnuala-britton-launches-glohealth-cross-country-championships

nobody told me

I wonder will Ciara mageean be running?

Some Kind of Wizard

Unless there is a change in form O'Neill certainly has the edge on Clohissey at the moment, given he has beaten him over 8 and 10k XC in recent weeks.
Mark Christie could give him a run as he was with him till the final lap at the Gerry Farnan and it's 4k longer at Intercounties which would probably suit Christie more?? Think O'Neill said he is targeting a fast 5,000m in the Spring.

Raven Runner

Has there ever being a Rocky like moment at these championships Where a rank outsider finished in the top 6 or whatever it is and made the Irish team for the Euros?

youngrun

Any more details on the course etc, will it be the same as Interclubs this year? Could be muddy after all the kids races I am sure.
O Neill is in flying form, probably favourite although there are always plenty going well and peaking for this, the likes of Christie, Travers , Thornton , Clohissey, Rooney cant be discounted. I wonder would Fagan or Batt run it. Would be great to see Mageean run.
Re surprise packets well Kevin Maunsell was one in the GF/Open XC he might be one to watch also.

BeepBeep!

I'll go with a surprise package in the mens, think Conor Bradley will be that surprise. Not sure if he has enough to win but could be in the mix. On his way back from injury and the timing could be just right for him. Won the Donegal Senior XC last week so seems to be hitting a bit of form.

pconn062

youngrun wrote: »

Any more details on the course etc, will it be the same as Interclubs this year? Could be muddy after all the kids races I am sure.
O Neill is in flying form, probably favourite although there are always plenty going well and peaking for this, the likes of Christie, Travers , Thornton , Clohissey, Rooney cant be discounted. I wonder would Fagan or Batt run it. Would be great to see Mageean run.
Re surprise packets well Kevin Maunsell was one in the GF/Open XC he might be one to watch also.

The course will be similar to the interclubs, probably a 2k lap but with a different start position. It is quite boggy ground so if the rain doesn't ease off and with the kids races I imagine it will be quite mucky!

downthemiddle

pconn062 wrote: »

The course will be similar to the interclubs, probably a 2k lap but with a different start position. It is quite boggy ground so if the rain doesn't ease off and with the kids races I imagine it will be quite mucky!

Nationals are always run over a 1500m loop, with a smaller lap of 1000m available where necessary.

pconn062

downthemiddle wrote: »

Nationals are always run over a 1500m loop, with a smaller lap of 1000m available where necessary.

My apologies, didn't know that. I have run several x-country races at that venue and it is mostly a 2k lap (the National inter-clubs this year was run there on a 2k laps), but I know a 1500m lap is also available.

pconn062

Interesting comments from Fionnuala Britton here on the selection process for the Europeans:

The top three in each race at 'nationals' will automatically be selected for Europeans and Britton feels strongly that, after that, home-based athletes in the junior and U-23 grades should be given priority ahead of US college athletes "unless they're clearly a massive step ahead of those at home".

"I don't think that coming in the top 100 in NCAAs is enough to justify being brought home. Year after year they've shown that they're tired after a tough NCAA season or tired after the travel.

From the Indo

youngrun

downthemiddle wrote: »

Nationals are always run over a 1500m loop, with a smaller lap of 1000m available where necessary.

Surely a 2km lap would make more sense, less or no lapping and 5 laps beats 6.67 any day for those running ??

YFlyer

Is the AAI strict with the 8 athletes per club in the Nationals?

In the Munster Intermediates Men yesterday, our club had entered over the quota. Likewise in all County meets.

pconn062

Good review of the last four years here:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/re-live-the-best-moments-inter-county-review

ECOLII

youngrun wrote: »

Any more details on the course etc, will it be the same as Interclubs this year? Could be muddy after all the kids races I am sure.
O Neill is in flying form, probably favourite although there are always plenty going well and peaking for this, the likes of Christie, Travers , Thornton , Clohissey, Rooney cant be discounted. I wonder would Fagan or Batt run it. Would be great to see Mageean run.
Re surprise packets well Kevin Maunsell was one in the GF/Open XC he might be one to watch also.

Batt won't be back due to US commitments but has shown decent form on the cross so could very well be in the shout for a spot

Maunsell seems to be maintaining form with a good win in the BHAA's at the weekend of Hayes and Maher.

Is Rooney back in Ireland? noticed he is no longer on the NAZ Elite roster.

Clohissey is said to be targetting this and should be in good form as well as Travers but I think both will be fighting for that last podium spot

Other than that I think possibles that could be in the hunt if running (though not 100%), Mick Mulhare (is he training at the moment) Mark Hanrahan (I seem to remember him doing a bit of early season XC racing, Dave McCarthy (think he suffered injury since Rathfarnham so not sure what his current fitness is like)

portwest

Whats the terrain of the course like? Are there hills involved?

RayCun

flat, with a couple of dips I think, but not hills as such

eldiva

ECOLII wrote: »

Batt won't be back due to US commitments but has shown decent form on the cross so could very well be in the shout for a spot

Maunsell seems to be maintaining form with a good win in the BHAA's at the weekend of Hayes and Maher.

Is Rooney back in Ireland? noticed he is no longer on the NAZ Elite roster.

Clohissey is said to be targetting this and should be in good form as well as Travers but I think both will be fighting for that last podium spot

Other than that I think possibles that could be in the hunt if running (though not 100%), Mick Mulhare (is he training at the moment) Mark Hanrahan (I seem to remember him doing a bit of early season XC racing, Dave McCarthy (think he suffered injury since Rathfarnham so not sure what his current fitness is like)

First I have heard about Rooney being back in Ireland. Think the Rooney reference is about Colm Rooney but surely won't be in contention

Some Kind of Wizard

eldiva wrote: »

First I have heard about Rooney being back in Ireland. Think the Rooney reference is about Colm Rooney but surely won't be in contention

David Rooney

youngrun

Dublin team is here
http://www.dublinathletics.com/attachments/article/353/Dublin%20Teams%20Inter%20Co%20CC%202014.pdf

Can anyone stop them

thirstywork2

Ciara will run the U23 race but would have been interested to see her against the top Seniors.

Stupid_Private

thirstywork2 wrote: »

Ciara will run the U23 race but would have been interested to see her against the top Seniors.

Is the U23 not run as part of the Senior Race?

youngrun

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Is the U23 not run as part of the Senior Race?

it is

nobody told me

What's happened to joe Sweeney? He hasn't really come back since the marathon.

eldiva

Some Kind of Wizard wrote: »

David Rooney

Is Dave Rooney back though?

Letyourselfgo

portwest wrote: »

Whats the terrain of the course like? Are there hills involved?

I ran this this morning. Very water logged. 2k lap has 3x12m steep hills. Lots of opportunities to slip, should be fun and then one more short hill about 200m out from the finish.

youngrun

Letyourselfgo wrote: »

I ran this this morning. Very water logged. 2k lap has 3x12m steep hills. Lots of opportunities to slip, should be fun and then one more short hill about 200m out from the finish.

It can presumably only get wetter and muckier? And with ten or so races before the mens it could be like ALSAA a couple of years back

pconn062

youngrun wrote: »

It can presumably only get wetter and muckier? And with ten or so races before the mens it could be like ALSAA a couple of years back

Yup it can be a real bog when it gets wet. A big group of kids were down training on it this morning and there will be a few clubs in using it during the weeks as well, could be a real mudbath! I ran on it before when it was a mudbath and it's a challenging course no doubt.

pconn062

Letyourselfgo wrote: »

I ran this this morning. Very water logged. 2k lap has 3x12m steep hills. Lots of opportunities to slip, should be fun and then one more short hill about 200m out from the finish.

Interested in your opinion on what you think of it as a venue for a big event like this? Course, facilities etc? Personally I think it's a good venue, lots of parking, just off the M1, tough course but I could be described as biased! (I work in the college!).

youngrun

I was there for the Interclubs earlier this year, and the low numbers meant it was a bit bleak atmosphere wise!. Plenty of parking, good venue inside the gym etc. Could do with some tea and buns!. And maybe a marquee or some shelter out on the course. The course was a fair one , got fairly heavy end of mens race, but I think if its a flat mudbath its better than a muddy and hilly course which could just end up being a farce. The best guys will win out , it will be a test of endurance and speed.

Letyourselfgo

Really liked it, I think it'll be very spectator friendly (I'm bringing a ladder to get on the roof of the green cabin
Lots of parking, my issue today was I had nowhere to have a wee but I assume portaloos are on the way.

The course itself doesn't appear to be that tough but those little steep hills are evenly spread out and I can see the accumulation of them wearing you down, the surface water means you're going to have to be very careful not to fall and with a few twists and turns that'll be hard and a nice long finish down the middle.

And most importantly, a McDonalds only 5 mins down the road

portwest

RayCun wrote: »

flat, with a couple of dips I think, but not hills as such

thanks RayCun

RayCun

Letyourselfgo wrote: »

I ran this this morning. Very water logged. 2k lap has 3x12m steep hills. Lots of opportunities to slip, should be fun and then one more short hill about 200m out from the finish.

are there ditches in the course (as in the photos from previous years)?

pconn062

RayCun wrote: »

are there ditches in the course (as in the photos from previous years)?

No, this is a different course from previous years.

pconn062

Info released here including course map, timetable, directions etc.

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/competition/glohealth-cross-country-championships-dundalk/

Seems it is a 2k lap, the worst part in my experience is always along the straight on the right hand side of the map, seems to be the boggiest ground.

portwest

In the u-14 race will it be a small lap followed by a big lap, or a big lap followed by a small lap does anybody know?

pistol_75

I see from his blog that Paul Pollock is back to defend his title. Says he's not in the shape he was a few months ago but is getting fitter all the time.

youngrun

pistol_75 wrote: »

I see from his blog that Paul Pollock is back to defend his title. Says he's not in the shape he was a few months ago but is getting fitter all the time.

Might be hard to beat

pconn062

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/fionnuala-britton-headlines-senior-womens-race

Mary Cullen on the entry list, that certainly makes the women's race much more interesting! Wonder can she push Fionnuala the whole way?

conavitzky

pconn062 wrote: »

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/fionnuala-britton-headlines-senior-womens-race

Mary Cullen on the entry list, that certainly makes the women's race much more interesting! Wonder can she push Fionnuala the whole way?

Wonder when she switched to sligo ac?

dna_leri

conavitzky wrote: »

Wonder when she switched to sligo ac?

Would not be the first time someone got this wrong:
http://www.northsligoac.com/gallery/cullen%E2%80%99s-comeback-trail-include-irish-indoors

conavitzky

dna_leri wrote: »

Would not be the first time someone got this wrong:
http://www.northsligoac.com/gallery/cullen%E2%80%99s-comeback-trail-include-irish-indoors

Ah here ya must have been searching for hours to find that! Fight, fight, fight! Seriously though, has she turned to the dark side! I have seen her out on the main road a few times lately but dont know whos she is registered with?

youngrun

Great to see her back.

Only 13 counties in senior mens and less in the womens, where are the rest?, Likes of Limerick, Waterford , Sligo, Laois have plenty of top runners and no teams ..

dna_leri

conavitzky wrote: »

Ah here ya must have been searching for hours to find that! Fight, fight, fight! Seriously though, has she turned to the dark side! I have seen her out on the main road a few times lately but dont know whos she is registered with?

I had not heard she changed, I doubt it, no reason to.
Sure aren't we all the one anyway
Seriously though I hope she does well, she has had more setbacks than anyone and a weaker person would have given up by now.

conavitzky

youngrun wrote: »

Great to see her back.

Only 13 counties in senior mens and less in the womens, where are the rest?, Likes of Limerick, Waterford , Sligo, Laois have plenty of top runners and no teams ..

Ya, she has been plagued with injury by all accounts. It has been alluded to on ultrapercys thread already the fact that people dont buy into the club scene in athletics as much as in football soccer or rugby? Maybe something that needs to be looked at?

youngrun

Preview here
http://www.herald.ie/sport/muddy-treat-in-store-for-stars-30754329.html

pistol_75

youngrun wrote: »

Preview here
http://www.herald.ie/sport/muddy-treat-in-store-for-stars-30754329.html

Poor journalism if you ask me. No mention of Paul Pollock or Mary Cullen who are both serious contenders.

thirstywork2

pistol_75 wrote: »

Poor journalism if you ask me. No mention of Paul Pollock or Mary Cullen who are both serious contenders.

Not really as Mary not running.

pistol_75

thirstywork2 wrote: »

Not really as Mary not running.

I took it she was going by the preview on the Athletics Ireland website.

KielyUnusual

Sounded like a quality race with Pollock defending his crown in the end but being pushed all the way by Hanrahan and Clohisey. Any feedback from the live spectators?

pconn062

KielyUnusual wrote: »

Sounded like a quality race with Pollock defending his crown in the end but being pushed all the way by Hanrahan and Clohisey. Any feedback from the live spectators?

Great race, very strange start with john travers racing nearly a 100m ahead of the field before blowing up after 2k! Then dan mulhare had a big lead but dropped off too. Great finish in the men's race, came down to a sprint with pollock winning from hanrahan and clohissey. Fionnuala was amazing in the women's race, destroyed the field and hammered round the course, Michelle Finn 2nd, Laura Crowe 3rd. Boys under 18 was also a cracker with mulcare from Ennis winning.

Condo131

KielyUnusual wrote: »

Any feedback from the live spectators?

Walking Dead?? Monday @ 9 Fox TV....:D:D:D Sorry Kiely!....Couldn't resist!!:D:D:D