Update 21 September 2009: View race photographs here. Ballyfin AC would like to take this opportunity to thank all the athletes, coaches, clubs and spectators who supported this event. We would also like to thank our kind sponsors: Physio Plus, Airboran Travel, Rogerson Reddan, Donncha Phelan, The Killeshin, Shaws Department Stores, and all the people who helped out on the day. Finally, we would like to wish all the athletes who took part a successful cross-country season and we hope to see those of you who will still be Junior next year back here in 2010.

Update 19 September 2009: Mulhare and Travers take Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 titles

Mary Mulhare and John Travers emerged victorious at the inaugural Ballyfin Junior-Cross event which was held in Emo Court earlier today. Two high quality fields were assembled for each race with the country’s top juniors eager to get their hands on the lucrative cash prizes on offer.

The junior women were first off with Tekea Gebrezgi (Celtic DCH) racing into an early lead followed closely by Catherina Mullen (Shercock) with Eimear Black (Ballymena and Antrim) and Mary Mulhare (North Laois) content to sit in behind. Coming into the final lap, Gebrezgi was approximately three strides up on Mullen, Mulhare, Black and Joanne Mills (Lagan Valley) who were following in convoy. Mulhare then began to make her move, first overtaking Mullen and then closing on Gebrezgi. Approaching the hill for the second time, Mulhare edged in front and, forcing the pace, succeeded in opening a slight gap over Gebrezgi. By this stage, Mills and Black had moved clear of Mullen to occupy 3rd and 4th spots respectively with Mullen in 5th.

Coming around the trees into the fast downhill section before the finish, Mulhare held her composure and finished strongly with two seconds to spare over Gebrezgi who led Celtic DCH to the team honours. A further two seconds back, came Joanne Mills with Eimear Black taking 4th. Claire Madigan (St John’s) had moved into 5th and she just about held on from the fast finishing Mullen who ended up 6th.

John Travers (Donore Harriers) was a gun-to-tape winner of the junior men’s race. Lee Van Haeften (Donore Harriers), Jake Byrne (Mullingar Harriers), Conor Rochford (St Senan’s) and Patrick Flynn (Ferrybank) led the chase in the early stages while Paul Robinson (St Coca’s) and Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers) bided their time in the middle of the pack.

Starting the second of their four laps, Travers put in an extra burst with only Byrne attempting to follow. A big gap separated Byrne from the rest of the chasers who were now being led by Brady. Robinson was tucked in behind Brady while Rochford was now back in 5th.

With two laps to go, Travers held a six second lead over Byrne who in turn was five seconds ahead of Brady and Robinson. Rochford, Van Haeften, Ryan Creech (Leevale) and Flynn were also in touch at this stage. Midway through the third lap, Byrne began to falter and was overtaken by Brady and Robinson who went into the final lap seventeen seconds down on the dominant Travers. Byrne, Rochford, Van Haeften and Creech were another seven seconds back and not looking likely to contend for the prizes.

Travers increased his lead slightly in the final lap with Robinson producing a big finish to secure second spot ahead of Brady. Rochford was best of the rest, followed by Van Haeften and Creech.

Results (click links for complete ladies results and complete mens results):

Junior Women
1. Mary Mulhare (North Laois) 6:12
2. Tekea Gebrezgi (Celtic DCH) 6:14
3. Joanne Mills (Lagan Valley) 6:16
4. Eimear Black (Ballymena and Antrim) 6:22
5. Claire Madigan (St John’s (Clare)) 6:28
6. Catherina Mullen (Shercock) 6:28

Team:
1. Celtic DCH 21 pts (Tekea Gebrezgi, Sinéad Cronin, Niamh Doyle; 2, 9, 10)

Junior Men
1. John Travers (Donore Harriers) 11:26
2. Paul Robinson (St Coca’s) 11:46
3. Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers) 11:48
4. Conor Rochford (St Senan’s) 12:00
5. Lee Van Haeften (Donore Harriers) 12:02
6. Ryan Creech (Leevale) 12:08

Team:
1. Donore Harriers 18pts (John Travers, Lee Van Haeften, Eric Keogh; 1, 5, 12)
2. St Laurence O’Toole’s 38pts (Shane Lawler, James Griffin, Graham Power; 9, 13, 16)
3. Mullingar Harriers 41pts (Jake Byrne, Vincent Connolly, Thomas Fagan; 7, 15, 19)
4. St Abban’s 48pts (Brian Kelly, Stephen Lawlor, Stephen Attride; 11, 17, 20)

Update 15 September 2009: Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 takes place this Saturday

The best emerging talent in the country will be opening their cross country seasons this weekend as Ballyfin Junior-Cross ‘09 prepares to welcome the crème de la crème of Irish athletics. With the post track season break now forgotten, all eyes will be on Emo Court, Co. Laois where the top juniors will battle for early-season supremacy. With Ireland hosting the European Championships in December, this season could prove to be one of the most exciting in recent years.

The junior women’s 2km race at 1pm promises to be one of the most competitive races in the country this year with Tekea Gebrezgi the latest big name confirmed for the event. Gebrezgi finished a remarkable 15th at the World Mountain Running Championships earlier this month and she will now test herself against top runners such as Eimear Black, Ciara Everard, Mary Mulhare, Mary-Ann O’Sullivan, Joanne Mills, Catherina Mullen and Eva Laverty.

The junior men’s 4km race at 1.20pm looks set to be headed by track specialist Paul Robinson and a member of last year’s European Championship team, Patrick Flynn. Ryan Creech and Liam Brady will also be looking to make an impact.

The lucrative prizes on offer to individuals and teams should ensure top class competition all around. With Irish team manager Anne Keenan-Buckley on hand to present the individual prizes the top juniors will be keen to impress as the build up for the European Championships in Santry gets underway.

Update 14 September 2009: Junior Ladies race gets even stronger as Tekea Gebrezgi throws her name into the hat! In other news, Shaws Department Stores have given an added incentive to local athletes with 2 further prizes added to our Special Prizes list.

Update 12 September 2009: Ballymena and Antrim's Eimear Black and Lagan Valley's Joanne Mills have confirmed their participation at Ballyfin Junior-Cross '09. We are also very pleased to announce sponsorship from chartered physiotherapy clinic Physio Plus, Portlaoise and The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise. The team prizes will be as follows:

Please see our new Race Details page for full details of prizes etc.

Update 11 September 2009: Lagan Valley's Eva Laverty is the latest addition to what is shaping up to be a very competitive Junior Womens race. Also, with just 3 to score, the team event in both races could be an exciting prospect for those involved. Rogerson Reddan have increased their support and will now be sponsoring 2 of the team prizes. Airboran Travel and Donncha Phelan will also be sponsoring team prizes.

Update 09 September 2009: Countdown to Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 continues

Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 has announced its latest batch of elite athletes for the event which will take place in Emo Court, Co. Laois on September 19th.

Ciara Everard, Patrick Flynn and Ryan Creech are the most recent to confirm their participation with the event looking set to be a highly competitive affair.

National junior indoor and outdoor 800m champion, Ciara Everard will hope to make her mark in her first cross country race of the season. She finished 10th in last year’s Inter-Counties and is a potential member of this year’s team for the European championships. She will face tough competition in Emo in the form of Catherina Mullen, Mary Mulhare and Mary-Ann O’Sullivan.

Patrick Flynn was on the team for last year’s European Championships in Brussels and will be hoping to repeat the feat again in Santry. He was 4th in last year’s Inter-Counties and 2nd in the u19 national championships and will be hoping to find this kind of form once again in the coming months.

Ryan Creech is on the long road back from a prolonged injury. His comeback began in earnest with a silver medal in this year’s National 3000m championships and he will hope to bring this form into the cross country season. As a former 7th place finisher at the Schools cross country international he certainly has the potential to make it back to the top.

The main opposition for Creech and Flynn will come in the form of 1500m star Paul Robinson.

Irish team manager Anne Keenan-Buckley will present the individual prizes on the day. With the European Championships in Santry just around the corner she will no doubt be keen to observe the form of the country’s top juniors.

Team prizes will be presented by the event’s sponsors Airboran Travel, Portlaoise, Rogerson Reddan: Project, Construction and Cost Managers, and Donncha Phelan, Osteopath.

Update 06 September 2009: Ballyfin Junior-Cross '09 is pleased to announce the first of its team prize sponsors - Airboran Travel, Portlaoise and Rogerson Reddan.

Update 05 September 2009: European Junior Cross-Country 2008 team member Patrick Flynn is latest addition to Junior Mens race.

Update 01 September 2009: Leevale's Ryan Creech and Kilkenny City Harriers' Ciara Everard added to the line-up for Ballyfin Junior-Cross '09 (see profiles page). Emo Court location map available here.

Update 29 August 2009: Top names confirmed for Ballyfin Junior-Cross ‘09

Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 has announced its first batch of elite entrants for the event which will take place on September 19. Offering prizes of €100 to the winner of each race, €50 for second and €25 for third, organisers are hoping to attract the top juniors on the Irish athletics scene. So far, Paul Robinson, Liam Brady, Mary Mulhare, Catherina Mullen and Mary-Ann O’Sullivan have been confirmed for the event.

Ireland’s top junior 1500m runner Paul Robinson was one of the first to confirm his entry to Ballyfin-Junior-Cross ’09. Robinson was ranked in the top 10 seniors in the country at 800m and 1500m this year as well as competing at the European Junior Championships over 1500m. He will now be looking to take this form onto the country with the Ballyfin Junior-Cross on September 19 his first port of call.

Also confirmed for the junior men’s race is bright young prospect Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers. Brady is national under 18 champion over 3000m and a bronze medallist over 1500m. He is a relative newcomer to the sport and can be expected to make big improvements this cross country season.

For the junior women’s race, Mary Mulhare of North Laois, Catherina Mullen of Shercock and Tinryland’s Mary-Ann O’Sullivan are the first big names to sign up.

Mulhare is current All-Ireland cross country champion at under 16, under 17 and intermediate schools grades as well as Irish Schools and Tailteann Games 1500m champion on the track. She finished her last cross country season, leading the Irish schools team home at the SIAB international. She will make the short trip to Emo Court hoping to open the new season with a strong performance.

Mullen was a bronze medallist in National Junior Championships over 3000m both indoor and outdoor this year. Her cross country form is also good with a 4th place finish in this year’s Irish schools championships and 3rd and 4th place finishes in last year’s under 18 and under 17 All-Ireland championships.

O’Sullivan comes into the race as reigning national track champion over 1500m in the u17 grade. She also medalled in the 800m where she took silver. Her sixth place finish in this year’s Irish Schools cross country championships secured her a place at the SIAB international and the experience should stand her in good stead this autumn.

Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 will take place on September 19 in Emo Court, Co. Laois. Junior women will race over 2km at 1pm with junior men to cover 4km at 1.20pm. The event has an AAI permit and is offering prizes unrivalled by any other junior competition in Ireland. Top spot in each race will receive €100 with €50 for second and €25 for third. There will also be team prizes.

Update 26 August 2009: Entry form now available here. Team competition in each race will be 3 to score per club. Junior Womens race begins at 1:00pm. Junior Mens race begins at 1:20pm.

Ballyfin Junior-Cross ‘09 junior cross country meet will take place in Emo Court, Co. Laois on Saturday 19 September. With prizes unrivalled by any other junior meet in the country this event is sure to attract the top names.

The course takes in the scenic grounds of Emo Court where the men will race over 4km with the women covering 2km. With Ireland hosting the European cross country championships in Santry this December it is more important than ever to be in top cross country shape before Christmas and this event will provide the perfect season opener for junior cross country athletes.

The course, in the idyllic setting of Emo Court, has been used to host numerous county championships in the past and has proven time and time again to be a perfect venue for cross country running.

Prize details are as follows:

Junior Men:
1st 100 EUR
2nd 50 EUR
3rd 25 EUR

Junior Women:
1st 100 EUR
2nd 50 EUR
3rd 25 EUR


Further information can be obtained from race director Cormac Fitzpatrick at 086-8366561 or info@ballyfincrosscountry.com