Ras na hEireann
louth |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Sunday February 04, 2007 19:34
by Sean Crudden - Cooley Environmental and Health Group
sean.crudden at iol dot ie
Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth.
087 9739945
Cross-Country Running in Termonfeckin
Athletes, trainers, mammies and daddies and fans from many parts of the world - notably Africa, Poland, England, Scotland, France and the USA - gathered for a cross-country running meet in St Fechins' GAA grounds in Termonfeckin today. The meeting kicked off at 12.00 noon with underage races. The men's and the women's race took place on either side of 3.00 p.m.
The track was fast and flat and it did not churn up despite the many races which took place on the day.
From left: Noria Sbanda, Cynthia Dlamini, Precious Mnisi - all from South Africa at the Ras this afternoon.
Very impressive performances were put up by the winners of the Boys u-19 event, the Girls u-19 event both of them run-away winners. The men's race was tightly contested up to the end but Rosemary Ryan had a relatively easy victory in the women's race. This was her first win (after a few previous attempts) in the Ras. Seamus Power the men's winner won the race previously in 2005.
Possibly the most exciting moment in the meeting was when Cindy Kruger came from behind with a driving finish to clinch the silver medal in the u-19 girls' event.
A group of South African athletes sitting on the wall at St Fechins' sports field in Termonfeckin.
Daire McConnon, Ardee, winner of the u-11 race. Daire is only 9 his mother told me so obviously his training will lesd him to greater things.
U-11 winners on the podium at Ras na hEireann.
Geraldine Keenan and son Patrick - a medal winner. And Seamus Rice, Jenkinstown, with son Daniel.
Comments (5 of 5)
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Damien and Frances Kenwright, Knockbridge.
David Rogers winner x 3 of the Ben Nevis over from Scotlwnd to compete in the Ras.
Larry McGuill, Director, Ras na hEireann.
Derek O'Reilly, Blackrock AC.
From the left: Nora McLoughlin, Mary Finnegan and Norah Byrne
Winners alright!
Pat Mtsweni SA. A class athlete, he won the u-19 race for boys by a distance.
Emma Reed. A British athlete, she easily won the girls' u-19 race.
Dorota Gruca, Poland, runner-up in the ladies' Ras.
Rosemary Ryan, Limerick, winner of the ladies' Ras.
Seamus Power winner of the Ras. Runner up (on the left) Mariuse Gieynski lead the Polish team to victory over the Irish in the men's event.
Just a few pictures I don't want to leave out. Incidentally if anyone wants a finer copy of any one of the pictures featured in this essay contact me and I might be able to send on a disc.
Norbert Feeney, Kenya.
Rosemary Ryan and Seamus Power each a winner of Ras na hEireann pose obligingly for the camera.
Bob Burt, Glasgow, examines a map of the Ras track.
French visitors. Are they discussing the runners or is it something else?
Annika Claasens and Cindy Kruger pictured before their race started. Cindy put in a storming finish to clinch second place in the girls' u-19 race.
Second in the men's Ras was Mariusz Gizynski. Sorry I spelt his name wrongly in a caption above. The web-site given with this comment shows the official results of the Ras.
Sean
Just a message to say thanks for your great display of photos and commentary on the website. i just spoke to Larry about it and he is very impressed and delighted. He said that one wouldn't expect less of you - well done and a great job! Thanks a million for your support.
Jackie
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