Leinster Novice & Masters Road Championships 2023 (29th Apr)
Individual and team success at Leinster Road Championships
The Athletics Leinster Novice and Masters Road Championships took place in a warm and sunny Gowran, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon 29th April where Mullingar Harriers enjoyed considerable success by winning three sets of Club team medals, two sets of County team medals and three individual medals. Entries were well up on previous years and the numbers that competed on the day were also well up, so the event is growing and establishing itself as a popular one on the road race calendar. The fine sunny day allowed those who were finished to stay on and cheer subsequent races as they enjoyed refreshments and snacks outside in the lovely sunshine, which greatly added to the atmosphere in Gowran.
The first race of the day was the Master Women 3,000m where Mary Stuart finished well up, winning her master category and an individual gold medal, and with great support from Caroline Mullen and Joanna Tyrrell racing hard to the end, the Mullingar team was delighted to finish 2nd Club and 2nd County. Alan Crowley had the signal honour of leading the Mullingar team home in the Master Men 6,000m with a very strong performance. With Eoin Clarke and Evan McCormack on his hells, and Eddie Newman only a few places behind, winning his master category, the Mullingar team finished 2nd Club. Completing the team was Enda O’Carolan, Patrick Muldoon and Nicky McCabe all enjoying great performances to see the team finish 4th County in a close contest.
Susan Glennon was Mullingar’s sole representative in the Novice Women 3,000m. At the halfway point, Susan was in a tight battle for third place and though she fought hard all the way through the second half of the race she just couldn’t find the little bit extra needed to move into the bronze medal position and came home strongly in a close fourth place, but top marks for determined effort and Susan is surely one to watch next year. Mullingar had no shortage of men in the Novice Men 6,000m race. Despite not having Vinny Connolly on the team, as he finished second last year, so as an individual medal winner he is no longer eligible to compete as a novice, the Mullingar team was still very strong and they were full of determination and bent on team success. Vinny was in Gowran to spectate and cheer the Mullingar men on and share his insights on what was needed for success over the 6k distance. Andrew Nevin ran a very shrewd tactical race and was rewarded with a fine third place and individual bronze medal, and with the next three Mullingar men in the top-12 thanks to James Keegan (5th), Ian McCormack (9th) and Tony Doran (12th), it was no surprise the team finished 1st Club, retaining the title they won last year. Attention then turned to the rest of the team and with great team packing and support from Kris Foster, Stephen Campbell, Andy Boyhan, Brian Martin and Padraig Beglin, the team bettered last year’s results by finishing 1st County too.
Well done to Gowran AC for once again being excellent hosts for the event and to all the Mullingar athletes on their excellent performances.
