Ardrum in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim was the host of the Connaught uneven age cross-country championships last Sunday.  19 Juvenile athletes from Westport AC travelled to compete with some excellent performances.

The U11 girls 1,500m race was first, and Westport was well represented with Saoirse O’Brien leading the team home in second place, Brianna Bruton 11th, Ava Lynne Kane 15th, Kate Moran 35th, Sarah Staunton 36th, Ellen Power 45th and Katie Higgins 63rd, contributing to the county team taking home the gold medal.  The girls team came in fourth position overall ensuring qualification for the All-Irelands.

In the U11 boys 1,500m race, the Westport team also put in a really impressive performance, winning the club team silver and contributing to Mayo county coming second.  Luke Dawson led the team home in third place, followed by Cillian Heaney 18th, Sean Corcoran 21st, Sean Doherty 22nd, Rossa McAllister 26th, David Moran 40th and Steven Keating 47th.

Next up for Westport was Aoife O’Brien who came home in 4th place in the U13 girls 2,500m race, contributing to the Mayo team coming second on the day.  Joe Dawson came in 14th position in the U13 boys 2,500m, followed by Ben Walshe in 30th leading to Mayo coming third.

The final races of the day saw Westport once again well represented in the U17 girls 4,500m with Ellen Moran bringing home a silver medal.  David Harper also took the silver in the boys U17 4,500m in another excellent performance.

Well done to all. The next competition for the qualifying athletes will be the All-Ireland Uneven Cross Country Championships, which will be held at The Curragh, Co.Kildare on Sunday 11th December.

The All-Ireland Even Cross Country Championships, will be held at Sligo Racecourse on Sunday 27th November.


L-R: Ballinamore U11 Boys l-r Sean Doherty, Cillian Heaney,Steven Keating, Luke Dawson, Rossa McAllister, David Moran and Sean Corcoran

Ballinamore U17 silver duo Ellen Moran and David Harper