Update 28 August 2010: AB Travel sponsor Ballyfin Junior-Cross 2010

We are delighted to announce AB Travel as event sponsor to Ballyfin Junior-Cross 2010. To coincide with this announcement, we can also tell you that we have reduced our race entry fee for 2010. This year, entry for the Under-20 race will be 8 EUR. Entry for the Under-11/13/15 races will be 3 EUR. (See race details here.)

A number of Ireland’s best juniors have recently confirmed their participation in this year’s event. Mary Mulhare, Joanne Mills and Mary-Ann O’Sullivan will be among those to battle for honours in the 2600m ladies’ event (see ladies profiles here). In the men’s race, Liam Tremble, Jake Byrne and Carl Dunne are the latest additions (see mens profiles here).

Update 17 August 2010:

We are delighted to announce that 3 of the country's top junior men: John Travers, Ryan Creech, and Liam Brady have confirmed that they will return to Emo Court next month to contest the top places at Ballyfin Junior-Cross 2010. Check out our profiles page for more details. With interest increasing in both the ladies and mens races, we look forward to bringing you details of more top names over the coming weeks.

The team competition in the Under-20 races will be 3 to score per club with cash prizes up for grabs (1st 90 EUR, 2nd 60 EUR, 3rd 60 EUR). The Under-20 Ladies race begins at 1:00pm. The Under-20 Mens race begins at 1:20pm. Details here.

Ballyfin Junior-Cross 2010

Ballyfin Junior-Cross 2010 will take place in Emo Court, Co. Laois on Saturday 18 September. With generous cash prizes offered, this event is sure to attract the top names in junior cross country running in Ireland.

Last year, in its first year running, the event attracted many of the biggest names in the cross country scene. Four men and five women went on to top twelve finishes at the All-Ireland Inter-County Championships last November, having opened their seasons at Ballyfin Junior-Cross. Of these, Ryan Creech, Mary Mulhare and Eimear Black were selected on the Irish team for the European Cross Country Championships.

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. The junior men will race over 4000m with the women covering 2600m. This year’s event also includes juvenile races catering for under 11, 13 and 15 boys and under 11 and 13 girls.

Prize details for the U-20 races are as follows:
1st - Eur 105
2nd - Eur 55
3rd - Eur 30
4th - Eur 25
5th - Eur 20

Race distances:
U-20 Ladies         2600m         (Born 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991)
U-20 Men         4000m         (Born 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991)

U-11 Girls         600m         (Born 2001, 2000)
U-11 Boys         600m         (Born 2001, 2000)
U-13 Girls         1000m         (Born 1999, 1998)
U-13 Boys         1000m         (Born 1999, 1998)
U-15 Boys         1600m         (Born 1997, 1996)

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