Glavey’s golden day as Mayo athletes race for Ireland
The seven Mayo AC athletes at the post race banquet in Leeds following their participation in Saturday's British and Irish Masters Cross Country International. From left to right: Paraic Sweeney, Colette Tuohy, Norah Newcombe, Pieterse, Mags Glavey, Pauline Moran, Mary Browne and John Jennings.
Roundhay Park, three miles north of Leeds city centre, served as the picturesque venue for Saturday’s 36th Annual British and Irish Masters Cross Country International. It is the most prestigious annual masters cross-country event – and no fewer than seven members of Mayo Athletic Club were selected to represent the Irish team over the challenging 6k course.
Mags Glavey from Swinford truly shone, securing a remarkable individual gold in the W75 category with a fantastic time of 34:03. Not only that, Mags led the Irish W75s to team gold, with her teammates Eileen O’Brien, Phyllis Browne and June Comiskey finishing in fifth, sixth and eighth positions respectively The competition featured four exhilarating races with teams representing England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. With a huge population advantage and a greater number of active runners, England won the event overall for 32 years in a row from 1988 to 2019 but, after a two-year break due to Covid, Ireland took victory in 2022. Though England wrestled the title back in 2023, Ireland came out on top again last year.
Recent heavy rain in Yorkshire meant the hilly course was mucky in places and was described as very tough. Indeed with many runners falling on the day, particularly on a long steep downhill where at the bottom muck and leaves made conditions very slippery, some of the course had to be altered on the day.
Also representing Mayo AC was Pauric Sweeney from Achill who made his mark by clinching a bronze individual medal in his first race in the M75 category, finishing in 31:54.
“Cross-country is not my forte but I gave it my best shot,” admitted Pauric whose ‘best shot’ also helped the Irish M75s team to win silver.
Newport-based Pauline Moran led the Irish team in the W65 category, achieving a commendable fourth place with a time of 30:50. Her determination and resilience were evident, especially considering her return to competition in late September after a year of being out of action.
Pauline's team in this category included fellow Mayo AC runner Mary Browne who was ninth in 33:09, which was a great run also, especially in the wake of her recent bronze in the National Marathon. Ireland won W65 team bronze.
Castlebar’s John Jennings made his Irish debut in the M70 category, finishing a creditable 16th individual while his Irish team finished fourth.
Ballina athlete Norah Newcombe Pieterse ran a great race to finish ninth in 26:20 in a very competitive W45 category. She was happy to achieve her aim as third Irish finisher. Ireland’s o45s women won team silver.
Colette Tuohy from Castlebar was the fourth Irish W55 finisher and tenth individual in 29:12. It was a typical determined effort considering her recent bronze medal performance in the National Marathon Championships. Ireland's W55 team won silver.
Medal presentations were made at the post-race banquet in the Queen’s Hotel.
England were the overall Championship winners.
