Stuart Moloney and Madeline Loughnane among Tipperary Masters cross country winners

Thurles Crokes promoted a very successful County Masters Cross Country Championships last Sunday. Conditions were very good and the host club had everything in place.

In the women’s 4k race Madeline Loughnane of Thurles Crokes took up the pace right from the start and made every stride a winning one as she came home a very worthy and convincing champion. Then we had Caroline Hassett of Templemore, also running a great race when finishing second, with Carmel Fitzgibbon of Thurles Crokes third.

Suzanne Shine of Clonmel was fourth, with Mary Louise Ryan of Mooreabbey Milers fifth and Sarah Whelan of Clonmel sixth.

The masters category winners were as follows:

Over 35 – 1st Carmel Fitzgibbon, Thurles Crokes, 2nd Deirdre Ryan, Thurles Crokes and 3rd Margaret Meehan Templemore.

Over 40 – 1st Madeline Loughnane Thurles Crokes, 2nd Caroline Hassett Templemore and 3rd Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 45 – 1st Suzanne Shine Clonmel AC, 2nd Sareen Walsh Clonmel AC and 3rd Marie O’Shea Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 50- 1st Martina Ryan Thurles Crokes, 2nd Mary O’Connell Mooreabbey Milers and 3rd Mandy Parslow Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 55 - 1st Carmel Delaney Clonmel, 1st over 60 Esme Alexander Coolquill and 1st over 70 Hilary Collins Coolquill.

In the team event the Thurles Crokes trio of Madeline Loughnane, Carmel Fitzgibbon and Deirdre Ryan won the over 35 gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers trio of Mary Louise Ryan, Noelle O’Brien and Patricia Ryan.

In the over 45 team event, the gold medals were won by the Clonmel team of Suzanne Shine, Sareen Walsh and Carmel Delaney. The silver medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers team of Marie O’Shea, Mary O’Connell and Mandy Parslow.

Tributes paid to long-serving Tipperary Community Games PRO as Peggy Colville steps down

MEN’S RACE

In the Men’s over 65 event Liam Butler of Dundrum won the gold medal, with his clubmate PJ Holmes winning the silver and Matt Alexander of Coolquill winning the bronze. Eddie Cahalan of Coolquill won the over 70 gold medal.

In the team event the Coolquill team of Matt Alexander, Leslie Smyth and Eddie Cahalan won the gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Clonmel team of Ned O’Brien, John Corry and Maurice Boland.

In the Men’s 700m race Stuart Moloney was the favourite and right from the start the Mooreabbey Milers athlete made his intentions known, as he set a very strong pace that soon saw him go clear of the chasing pack to come home a very worthy and convincing champion.

Then we had Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir coming through the field to finish second with Paddy Cummins of Moycarkey Coolcroo finishing third, Barry Hartnett of Mooreabbey Milers fourth, Paul Minogue of Clonmel fifth and Joey Feery of Clonmel sixth.

The various categories winners were as follows:

Over 35 1st – Paddy Cummins Moycarkey Coolcroo, 2nd Paul Minogue Clonmel and 3rd Joey Feery Clonmel.

Over 40 1st Stuart Moloney Mooreabbey Milers, 2nd Dermot Gorman Carrick-on-Suir and 3rd Barry Hartnett Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 45 – 1st John Fogarty Moycarkey Coolcroo, 2nd Padraig Meehan Templemore and 3rd Liam Lewis Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 50 – 1st Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick-on-Suir, 2nd Peter Madden Templemore and 3rd Pat Ryan Dundrum.

Over 55 1st Tom Blackburn Mooreabbey Milers, 2nd Conor Fleming Clonmel and 3rd Damien Holian Mooreabbey Milers.

Over 60 – 1st Willie O’Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers, 2nd Bernard Feery Clonmel and 3rd Tommy Barrett Thurles Crokes.

The over 35 team gold medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers team of Stuart Moloney, Barry Hartnett, Kevin Lenihan and Michael Bailey. The silver medals were won by the Carrick-on-Suir team of Dermot Gorman, Eugene O’Keeffe, Barry Drohan and Keith Fraher. The bronze medals were won by the Moycarkey Coolcroo team of Paddy Cummins, Shane Mullaney, John Fogarty and Kevin Shortall.

The over 50 team gold medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers team of Tom Blackburn, Ger Hanley and Willie O’Donoghue. The silver medals were won by the Templemore team of Peter Madden, Seanie Percy and Paddy Clarke. The Clonmel team of Conor Fleming, Sean O’Dea and Corneilius McFadden won the bronze medals.

County Chairman Owen Fanning thanked Thurles Crokes for promoting two very good races. He also thanked the clubs for their great support, especially Thurles Crokes and Templemore for getting their members out in very good numbers.