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National Novice Cross Country - 15th Dec 2019

  • 05-10-2019 9:29pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 243 ✭✭


    Has anyone heard anything about where this might be in this year?


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    Any news on this? Wondering the same.


  • Registered Users Posts: 243 ✭✭Aquals


    junebabies wrote: »
    Any news on this? Wondering the same.

    The latest rumour I heard was that it was Navan, but that’s just based on the fixture list on the Cork Athletics website saying that. It could be written in as Navan because it was there last year. They might have done a copy and paste job.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,366 Mod ✭✭✭✭RacoonQueen


    Looks like location was announced on Nov 9th last year. So perhaps a couple of weeks to go yet.

    https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/novice-juvenile-uneven-age-xc-champs/


  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    Looks like location was announced on Nov 9th last year. So perhaps a couple of weeks to go yet.

    https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/novice-juvenile-uneven-age-xc-champs/

    I knew it was late being announced last year but couldn't rem exactly.
    I don't think there is anything in the Navan rumor tbh, hopefully it's not there again. Abit of a trek from us.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,139 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    Anyone hear a rumour about Dunboyne?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    adrian522 wrote: »
    Anyone hear a rumour about Dunboyne?[/QUOTE]

    Afraid not. But if it's true, I'd be more likely to sign up. At least I'd have a chance of getting home before nightfall :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    Please not Dunboyne, isn't the course there in (the very accurately named) Cow Park? From what I remember, it's just a couple of fields?

    My preferences would be any one of: Abbotstown, DKIT, Santry Demesne - all fairly interesting courses (and near!). WIT is cruel but probably used a bit too often in recent years, last National Novice in Dublin was 2015, I think? There have been a few rotated around in recent years.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    Sacksian wrote: »
    Please not Dunboyne, isn't the course there in (the very accurately named) Cow Park? From what I remember, it's just a couple of fields?

    My preferences would be any one of: Abbotstown, DKIT, Santry Demesne - all fairly interesting courses (and near!). WIT is cruel but probably used a bit too often in recent years, last National Novice in Dublin was 2015, I think? There have been a few rotated around in recent years.

    Heard it was Dunboyne . Fair play to Meath for stepping up.
    However its a low grade course and a long way from the HQ

    There is a massive amount of work involved in organising a National XC and many counties and clubs cannot do it every year, it is a serious effort in peoples free time. Needs to rotate to save voluntary effort

    Athletics Ireland +Sport Ireland need to get a proper regional standard XC facility in each province at a minimum commmisioned as a matter of urgency +ideally each major county

    In Connacht we struggle badly each year to get venues and the OPW have pulled Lough key out of the mix for eg .

    XC running will die a death without proper infrastructure


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    youngrun wrote: »
    Heard it was Dunboyne . Fair play to Meath for stepping up.
    However its a low grade course and a long way from the HQ

    There is a massive amount of work involved in organising a National XC and many counties and clubs cannot do it every year, it is a serious effort in peoples free time. Needs to rotate to save voluntary effort

    Athletics Ireland +Sport Ireland need to get a proper regional standard XC facility in each province at a minimum commmisioned as a matter of urgency +ideally each major county

    In Connacht we struggle badly each year to get venues and the OPW have pulled Lough key out of the mix for eg .

    XC running will die a death without proper infrastructure

    Agreed! And I'm not diminishing the volunteer contribution by saying that. It's just that it's a really dull course, from an athlete point of view.

    In terms of infrastructure, I still don't understand why we have a National XC course that is only used twice a year (and once isn't even a championship race)! It's a good course and there's no point having it, if it's not used for National events beyond Senior.

    Would love to do the Novice on it - 4 laps of the 1500m loop!


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,366 Mod ✭✭✭✭RacoonQueen


    Sacksian wrote: »
    Please not Dunboyne, isn't the course there in (the very accurately named) Cow Park? From what I remember, it's just a couple of fields?

    My preferences would be any one of: Abbotstown, DKIT, Santry Demesne - all fairly interesting courses (and near!). WIT is cruel but probably used a bit too often in recent years, last National Novice in Dublin was 2015, I think? There have been a few rotated around in recent years.


    I always really enjoyed Dunboyne. Mucky, messy course and was always a tough course despite being relatively flat.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    youngrun wrote: »
    Heard it was Dunboyne . Fair play to Meath for stepping up.
    However its a low grade course and a long way from the HQ

    There is a massive amount of work involved in organising a National XC and many counties and clubs cannot do it every year, it is a serious effort in peoples free time. Needs to rotate to save voluntary effort

    Athletics Ireland +Sport Ireland need to get a proper regional standard XC facility in each province at a minimum commmisioned as a matter of urgency +ideally each major county

    In Connacht we struggle badly each year to get venues and the OPW have pulled Lough key out of the mix for eg .

    XC running will die a death without proper infrastructure

    The school Cross-country finals next March are a Connacht venue. Any idea where this would be?


  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    Sacksian wrote: »
    Agreed! And I'm not diminishing the volunteer contribution by saying that. It's just that it's a really dull course, from an athlete point of view.

    In terms of infrastructure, I still don't understand why we have a National XC course that is only used twice a year (and once isn't even a championship race)! It's a good course and there's no point having it, if it's not used for National events beyond Senior.

    Would love to do the Novice on it - 4 laps of the 1500m loop!

    Might be wrong but the Novice is run after the juvenile uneven age nationals. The kids will have already run Abbottstown for the even age nationals. I know my kid for one wouldn't like both national finals in the one venue.
    Possibly why they won't run the novice at Abbottstown??


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    junebabies wrote: »
    Might be wrong but the Novice is run after the juvenile uneven age nationals. The kids will have already run Abbottstown for the even age nationals. I know my kid for one wouldn't like both national finals in the one venue.
    Possibly why they won't run the novice at Abbottstown??

    Yes partly. Also I guess Dublin athletics would have to organise- all these are volunteer led /organised for much of the lead up and set up , so two big events is a very big ask for a county to take on especially given the limited pool who put in the legwork..


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    junebabies wrote: »
    The school Cross-country finals next March are a Connacht venue. Any idea where this would be?

    Who knows .. Loughrea, Sligo racecourse, St Marys in Galway all possibles i guess.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    I always really enjoyed Dunboyne. Mucky, messy course and was always a tough course despite being relatively flat.

    I just found it really dull - they're generally all mucky come December!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    junebabies wrote: »
    Might be wrong but the Novice is run after the juvenile uneven age nationals. The kids will have already run Abbottstown for the even age nationals. I know my kid for one wouldn't like both national finals in the one venue.
    Possibly why they won't run the novice at Abbottstown??
    youngrun wrote: »
    Yes partly. Also I guess Dublin athletics would have to organise- all these are volunteer led /organised for much of the lead up and set up , so two big events is a very big ask for a county to take on especially given the limited pool who put in the legwork..

    I do appreciate that - but what's the point of a national xc course if it's so sparingly used? (I presume Athletics Ireland do the Autumn Open - I don't think MSB are involved in that anymore?) And being on the Sports Campus - you have event management professionals, facilities, etc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    Dunboyne has been announced for the uneven age/ novice nationals.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,139 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522




  • Registered Users Posts: 243 ✭✭Aquals


    Great, thanks! Not a bad venue, all things considered!


  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    What's the cource like?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Not much climbing involved, but there are a lot of twists and turns - from memory, 18 in each of your three laps, basically covering two fields. I've raced there in the Leinster Masters in 2017 and 2018. Ground was heavy in parts, but the clumpy grass can be more of a problem TBH.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭KielyUnusual


    It really is a pain how they limit entries to eight per team for these events. I'm going to have to enter 3 or 4 teams for our club and then decide who's on what team based on recent results. The likelihood of tough,mucky conditions really fecking up the expected order are also very high 😭. They used allow you to put up 11 for some reason, even though they stated 8 but they seem to have fixed that this year.

    I really don't get the logic of it. They hardly want the situation where a really strong club has two teams on the podium. Charge more money for bigger teams if you like Athletics Ireland but stop making my life such a hassle :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,394 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    It really is a pain how they limit entries to eight per team for these events. I'm going to have to enter 3 or 4 teams for our club and then decide who's on what team based on recent results. The likelihood of tough,mucky conditions really fecking up the expected order are also very high 😭. They used allow you to put up 11 for some reason, even though they stated 8 but they seem to have fixed that this year.

    I really don't get the logic of it. They hardly want the situation where a really strong club has two teams on the podium. Charge more money for bigger teams if you like Athletics Ireland but stop making my life such a hassle :mad:

    My heart bleeds for you lol‚ (I'm here trying to scrap 4 lads out to run in it hahah)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    All the entries (including Efrem Gidey) are in for the Novice:

    https://athleticsireland.entry4sports.com/entry/v5/competition/showEntries.php?compid=163

    I am confident enough to say that I think Donore have a very good chance of a first team medal since 2015. Depending on who makes it to the startline, of course, but I'd be surprised if we weren't in the reckoning at least for bronze (and I'll be around 10th scorer for us).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭KielyUnusual


    Sacksian wrote: »
    All the entries (including Efrem Gidey) are in for the Novice:

    https://athleticsireland.entry4sports.com/entry/v5/competition/showEntries.php?compid=163

    I am confident enough to say that I think Donore have a very good chance of a first team medal since 2015. Depending on who makes it to the startline, of course, but I'd be surprised if we weren't in the reckoning at least for bronze (and I'll be around 10th scorer for us).

    Still hoping for that elusive first ever team medal for the Cru. We're missing a couple of our top runners, which is going to make it difficult. Sneaking under the 100 point mark will be a challenge. I'm suspecting DSD, Clonliffe and Leevale will have strong squads too. Our main rivals over the last few years, North Belfast Harriers, have no team named so that's one thing. Then there's the unknown quantity of the teams all around the country.

    Looking forward to it anyway. Dunboyne is a very handy location from Dublin. I was down supporting at the Leinster Novice in Cow Park some years back and from what I remember its fairly flat with maybe a gentle slope across the few fields. Its no WIT anyway :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    Course is here. Three times around the 2,000m Lap B for the men - twice for the women. I ran the Leinster Masters there in 2017 and 2018. There aren't any steep hills to worry about, but it may be heavy underfoot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    I ran it in 2013 for the Leinster Masters and did not enjoy it (although we did win a team medal), so not looking forward to a return.

    It's got ridiculously competitive in recent years but (and it's a big 'but' because there are always drop-outs between the entry list and the start line) I think we have a chance of scoring below 100 this year - mainly down to our top two or three, but also a good few guys around a similar standard who will be gunning for fourth scorer.


  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    Does anyone know how far the train station is from cow park walking?


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    10 minutes max. Bear in mind that there isn't that much parking space at the station - it may be busy from very early with all the juvenile races.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭junebabies


    10 minutes max. Bear in mind that there isn't that much parking space at the station - it may be busy from very early with all the juvenile races.

    Thanks that's perfect, my daughter is running in the juveniles so will be there early. We are actually getting train out too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Wubble Wubble


    I can't link the graphics/text here, but just to summarise:-

    Juveniles and parents/coaches are being directed to park at the M3 Parkway and take shuttle buses from there.

    Adults are advised to park in Dunboyne AC or school car parks.

    Course is also different to the link above.

    Men run 4 x 1500m laps - one U-bend in the top field, and one in the bottom field, have been taken out. Good in that there are less turns than I was anticipating, bad in that it increases the chances of slowies like me getting lapped.

    Women run one 1000m lap (Lap A in my earlier link) and then 2 x 1500m laps as above.

    Good luck to all!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,088 ✭✭✭LaHaine


    Is there free entry to this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭KielyUnusual


    Sacksian wrote: »
    I ran it in 2013 for the Leinster Masters and did not enjoy it (although we did win a team medal), so not looking forward to a return.

    It's got ridiculously competitive in recent years but (and it's a big 'but' because there are always drop-outs between the entry list and the start line) I think we have a chance of scoring below 100 this year - mainly down to our top two or three, but also a good few guys around a similar standard who will be gunning for fourth scorer.

    Twas a hard slog out there yesterday again. Personally, a little disappointed but my expectations were a little lower due to having a virus over the last 2 weeks so probably did about as well as I could have hoped. It was less about racing yesterday and more about blind stubbornness to get around the course.

    Superb team gold from Leevale. They really seemed to attack it as a team and they came flying by me after around half a mile in formation. The way they packed really well proved important in the end as they won it on count back from Ennis who had the individual winner in the team.

    Its the kind of performance I think we could put in as a club if all the stars aligned so it gives me a little hope. We're already planning for next December :D

    Again, such a superb race and its a real pity that its only once a year. Great way to finish off the running year though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Sacksian


    Well done, KU. Yeah, I take back everything I said about Cow Park! The course for the Men's Novice was just a mudbath, but it made for a really good watch. I tweaked my calf during the week so forced to sit it out (apparently 30 x 200 indoors is not a race-week session, who knew?!).

    As for my prediction of team medals, the guy who would have been our first scorer was struck down with a bug on Thursday (and we were missing 2 other potential scorers). We would have been close to a medal with him but, yes, it definitely whetted my appetite to be in shape for it in 2020.


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