Donegal Championships in Rosses

Donegal Champions for Cranford’s under 11 boys team at Donegal uneven ages championships.

A typical Donegal autumn day welcomed our athletes to the Rosses AC underage Donegal championships on Saturday. Plenty of wind and threatening black skies set the scene at this stunning venue across the sand dunes at mullaghderg.

First with her toe to the line for Cranford today in the under 9 girls race over 1000m of this undulating track was Allanah Ní Curran (35) who got closed in at the start but held on well to finish well up this field in this challenging course through the sand dunes of mullaghderg.

Bobby roberts, (4) John Patrick Duffy (7) , Darragh Mc Hugh (23) were staying warm on the start line waiting for the whistle and all started strongly on this challenging course. Great running today from this young team, well done everyone.

Under 11 boys again started well up this steep incline at the start of this race, the hill stretched out the runners in this large field of competitors and the Cranford team put in excellent performances throughout, great to see these boys running so strongly. Finishing in silver individual medal position was Matthew Giles, (2) closely followed by Ben Mc Gee (5) ,Roan Ladley, (6) Charlie Rogers (8) ,all held their positions in the lead of this race closely followed by Faolan Caldwell (29) , Rory Boyce (32) Oisin Giles (33) and James cooney, (36) brought this team home. The team performed to gold medal standard earning themselves the title of Donegal Under 11 champions and Gold team medals, excellent running today boys!

Olivia Ní Curran was our only entry in the Under 13 girls, Olivia (25) fought hard in this tough field of athletes, racing over 2k of this heavy course. Great to see Olivia back in action today and picking off runners as she made her way steadily around this course!

Our now very experienced team of Under 13 boys were ready for the whistle on this exposed course, meanwhile the rain continued to hold off. Jerry coyle, (14) brought this team home closely followed by Oisin Mc bride, (16) who unfortunately took a tumble at the start today, followed by Ciaron cooney, (22) Odhran mc Groddy (25) Cian Mc Hugh (32) and Lorcan Boyce (44) all these boys put in gutsy performances in these tough conditions today. These positions earned the team well deserved Bronze Donegal medals today.

Cranfords Miah Fletcher and Clodagh Neely (8) were both ready to race this 3k course as the strengthening winds were picking up this afternoon. Miah ran a strong race and battled to the end just missing out on 2nd place but earned herself a well deserved bronze medal. Clodagh again held a steady pace and finished strongly today, well done to both these young ladies running in the under 17 event.

Caolan Mc Fadden was here today to compete in Under 17 boys race, fresh from his gold medal performance at the recent Ulster championships. Caolan ran a strong race and finished well ahead of the pack to earn himself Under 17 Donegal Champion title.

Thank you to all the coaches, parents and volunteers who make these events so special for our athletes, encouraging and helping in every way.

We continue to put all supports in place for our event in Rosapenna on 20th November and are delighted that so many of our athletes qualified in both county and province teams to represent us at the All Ireland National Championship. It is sure to showcase the fine facilities here in Downings and also an appropriate way to celebrate over 60 years of Cranford AC.