Well done to all the D.S.D., girls who were in action in Belgrade yesterday.  Results as follows:

Senior Women:

Sarah Mulligan 44th; Maria McCambridge 55th, Team 6th

Junior Women:

Siofra Cleirigh Buttner 37th; Meghan Ryan 67th; Isabelle Odlum 78th; Clare McCarthy 98th; Sarah Fitzpatrick 100th

Team 16th

There was a great day’s running in Tymon Park yesterday where, once again, the weather held up for us.  Best performance of the day was the first championship gold for Rick Nally in the U.19 boys, where he led from start to finish, accompanied by Liam Fitzpatrick, as they broke away from the rest of the strong field of runners.  Also winning her first championship was Niamh Carey, who just pipped  Jodie McCann in the U.15 event.  Jodie set a scorching pace, but was soon joined by Niamh and Aisling King.  In the run to the line Niamh edged ahead for a brilliant win.  James Maguire moved up an age group to U.15 and showed great promise for the future as he ran away with this older age group.  Conor Halpin also had a great race just losing second place near the finish line.  The U.17 and 19 girls was a combined race with Emer Fitzpatrick having her best result so far this year, with a comprehensive 2^nd place, moving up from U.16.  In the U.19 category Nicole Kenny raised her competitive level once again, as she battled for the lead throughout the race.  Soracha Humphries, returning from an injury, paced her race intelligently and caught Nicole close to home.  We had a very close competition in the U.17 Boys, as all four D.S.D. athletes were led home by Christian McKenna, who got the better of Mark Gordon, Mark Molloy and Luke McCann.   In the U.11 boys race Ciaran Adair had a 2nd place, and Jack Kelly ran his usual good race to finish a close up second in the U.13 boys.  Well done to all the team members who supported the above to ensure D.S.D. had great victories in the U.15 Boys and Girls; U.17 Girls and U.19 Boys and Girls.

 (A comprehensive list of results to follow shortly).

• - Estate management ( eg Landscaping, ground maintenance, wildlife issues)
• - House / Property maintenance
• - Enterprise (How do we make St Thomas continually serve the needs of the club) This poses many exciting possibilities and we want to hear from you!

Congratulations to the following D.S.D. athletes, who have been selected to represent Ireland at the European Cross Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on the 8th December:

Senior Women:

Maria McCambridge

Junior Women:

Siofra Cleirigh Buttner; Meghan Ryan; Sarah Fitzpatrick; Clare McCarthy; Isabelle Odlum 

Good luck to all!

In the U.14 Boys race James Maguire racing a very well judged race took the lead with 300m to go, only to be directed the wrong way by a steward, who thought he had to do another lap. The gold medal was snatched from his grasp as he turned back to finish a gallant 2^nd. He was supported in a great team with for D.S.D., by Tim Leary 22^nd, Jack Kelly 25^th, Donncha Carey 29^th, Rory Smith and Colm Fitzpatrick. Jodie McCann was in top form in the U.14 Girls and was in the leading group from the start. Sarah Healy (Blackrock) who finished in front of Jodie in the Dublin Championships, did the same again in a great duel all the way to the line. We only had four runners in the race but they still managed to win gold in the team race with great performances from Abi Taylor, Sadbh Byrne and Juno Barlow. In the U.16 girls race Eimear Fitzpatrick led the team to another gold medal performance in 7^th place. She was supported by Niamh Carey, Sophie Murphy, Aisling King, Ruby Barlow and Eva Melly. The U.16 Boys just missed out on a medal in 4^th place, with gallant performances from Christian McKenna, Luke McCann, James Browne, Conor Halpin, Luke MacGabhann and Nathan Doyle. The U.12 Boys and Girl had their first experience of National Cross-Country, which will stand to them for next year, finishing well.

Congratulations to all who made Irish teams for the European Cross Country, and well done to all our other participants in Santry on their fine performances.

In Antwerp, Belgium, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner impressed with a top class performance in the Lotto Cup, where she finished 12th overall in the combined Senior/Junior race.  Siofra was first Junior home and was well supported by Sarah Fitzpatrick 2nd Junior (25th) and Meghan Ryan 3rd Junior (27th).

Congratulations girls!

A sensational run from Sarah Mulligan saw her secure her first senior title at the Dublin Senior Women’s Cross Country Championships in Raheny yesterday.  Sarah was on many winning teams for D.S.D at Junior level but left the sport for a number of years only to return three years ago.  This win follows on a third placing in an international race in Italy last week.  Fiona Clinton, who is returning from injury, also had a great run finishing 5^th, with Sonya O’Connell in 9^th place.   Unfortunately we did not have a 4^th runner, due to illness and marathon recovery, otherwise we would have won the team race comfortably.   In the Senior Men’s race John Eves had a great run in 7^th place with Emmet Jennings 11^th (also returning from a six month lay-off), followed home by Robert Corbally, Johnny Hartnett and Colm Healy.

The U.18/U.20 races were both won by D.S.D.  In the U.18 girls Isabel Odlum had a great victory with Ella Fennelly close behind in 2^nd place.     Jack Mac Gabhann was 3^rd U.18 with Liam Fitzpatrick 4^th, and also supporting well were James Grogan, Adam Dunne, Aengus Meldon and Harry Morris.  In the U.20 men’s race Killian Mooney was 2^nd, Rick Nally 3^rd, Andrew Cullen 5^th and  James Grogan 6^th.  In the U.20 women’s race Nicole Kenny finished in 3^rd place.

Well done to all!