Oughaval Athletic Club pull off a remarkable ‘double double’ in Abbeyleix on Sunday last.
The Oughaval AC men and women who raced in Abbeyleix
A WEEK ago, the Novice Cross Country was held on an overcast morning on the stubble-field course of McDonalds farm in Killeshin.
In both adult races, the Oughaval men’s and women’s teams won team gold. This was two-in-a-row" for the men’s team, having also won it in 2023 also.
This week, the Intermediate Cross Country was held in glorious sunshine on the rolling hills of the Cass family farm in Blackhills, Abbeyleix.
Once again, the Intermediate men’s and women’s teams emerged victorious, winning the two team gold races - a feat they also achieved last year.
The women’s team had it pretty much all to themselves on both days, with Frances Lalor, Laura Kealy, Deirdre Miller and Catherine Stapleton making the team in the Novice and Frances, Deirdre, Catherine and Trish Duncan making the team in the Intermediate race.
The men’s team race was an entirely different story, on both days, and had to be fought right to the finish line.
Dan Mcloughlin emerged the winner in the Novice, with Kristian Redmond winning the individual bronze medal. The team comprised Dan, Kristian Paddy McLoughlin and Joseph Fitzpatrick who were well supported by Cathal Connaughton, John Boland, Cillian Whearty and Dermot Gannon. Only one point separated them at the end from a brave St Abban’s challenge.
The Intermediate Men’s race was a hugely entertaining affair as the team scoring swung over and back as the race progressed, with St Abbans looking to have secured it coming into the last lap. However, a huge effort from the ‘daddy of them all’, Paddy McLoughlin on the last lap, saw him sold off a late challenge, ensuring team victory by the narrowest of margins.
Daniel finished third, Kristin fopurth, Paddy seventh, Niall Dunne 10th and Oisin Jago 11th, with Barra O'Nuallain and John Boland supporting the superb team effort.
In the juvenile races, the Girls’ U/13 team of Laoise Dunne, Aisling O'Hara, Niamh Goulding and Ella Deegan won team bronze. The U/9 Boys’ team of Caleb Houlihane, Donnacha Delaney and Thomas Deegan also won team bronze.
Sean Finnane finished third in the U/15 Boys, Eliza McLoughlin finished second in the U/15 Girls, and Caleb Houlihane finished third in the Boys U/9.
