A: Grange, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | E: info@mullingarharriers.com

Week ending Saturday 3rd October

 

Six month race famine to end on Sunday

If it wasn’t for cancellations due to Covid-19, we would have enjoyed a fine day last Wednesday for the Westmeath Schools Cross Country in Belvedere – nicely slotted in between two wet days, and we would have been nearly sunburned last Sunday in Greenanstown, Co. Meath at the Star of the Sea AC Open Cross Country, so we can only hope the weather is as kind this time next year for these two extremely popular events. The last race for many of our underage members was over six months ago, at the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country in early March or the Leinster Juvenile Indoors in February, so they should be very eager to end their race famine this Sunday and get back to competition again at day one of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships in Belvedere, with races for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years of age.

However, In line with Covid-19 requirements, there is a limit of 200 people allowed at outdoor events, so things will have to be done differently this year. One of the most important changes is that there will be no spectators. Every underage entrant may be accompanied by only one parent or guardian to make sure we keep under the 200 person limit at any time. If more than one parent arrives with an underage athlete, only one parent will be admitted and non-competing siblings or friends will not be permitted either. We wish it was a family outing like in previous years, but it won’t be, and every extra person on the course reduces our capacity to hold the event. Anyone not allowed entry must return and wait in their car.

Also, this year entries will be taken online only and there will be no entries allowed on the day. The link for online entries will be posted this Wednesday on the Club’s website and on social media and entries will close on Thursday night. Everyone that has entered will receive an e-mail before Sunday with a timetable showing admission times and start times for each race. Athletes must not arrive before the designated admission time and anyone arriving too early will be directed back to wait in their car. The e-mail will also advise everyone of the arrangements for cashless payment on-the-day, a reminder to all entrants and parents with them to bring hand sanitiser and practice social distancing, and once their race is over they must promptly leave the course so the next race can take place. When finished, the athletes can cool down away from the course.

It might all seem very strange and with less of a crowd, quieter and more subdued than previous years, but we’re appealing to everyone to please abide by the rules so we can hold the event safely for competitors, officials and parents. Everyone must take personal responsibility for their own behaviour and that of those they are responsible for, and do everything that they can to make the event safe for everyone present. The grounds in Belvedere are in excellent shape and we just hope for a fine day so everyone can enjoy it as much as possible. Day two will take place the following Sunday with races for juvenile uneven ages and for junior, novice, senior and masters.

Important amendments to Cross Country dates

Take out your diaries and pencil in the following dates. It is very possible that both Leinster cross country events will take place over two days this year, the Leinster junior, novice and juvenile even ages on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October and the Leinster senior and juvenile uneven ages on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. This is subject to securing venues for the events and at this stage, it has not been decided what races will take place on each day of each week-end. Further ahead, the All-Ireland finals will also very likely take place over two days, the senior, junior and juvenile even ages on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November at a venue to be confirmed, and the novice & juvenile uneven ages in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December. Of course, everything depends on staying at level 2 of the Government’s recently published plan for living with Covid-19. Every County in Ireland will be holding their County’s Cross Country Championships and the lessons learned will feed into how the Regional and National Finals will be held.

For the latest news, results and details of fixtures check the Club’s Facebook page or the website at www.mullingarharriers.com.

PRO