Ann Lennon is winner at Connacht Cross Country

Ann Lennon on way to win women’s race overall

Sligo racecourse at Cleveragh has hosted a number of cross country events over recent years. The racecourse itself is one lap of almost eight furlongs – a mile circuit and there is a wonderful vista across the town to blue ridge hills and beyond to Ben Bulben.  As well as an interior grass track alongside the tarmac strip for ambulances during race meetings, there are a number of grassy tracks up and down the slopes. Today’s Connacht Senior, Masters and Novice championships took place there – it was the first of three legs.

Congratulations to Ann Lennon (Mayo AC) who was the overall winner in the women’s race over 4,000 metres in a combined field of forty. She entered in the competition in masters category. Competitors have to stay in the category entered for all three legs of the championships. Ann (now W50) has been in great form this season winning over a range of distances on the road from 5k to half marathon. This was her first cross country event since the National Masters in 2014 at Dunboyne – another successful day for Mayo AC women when Ann was fifth overall and won silver W45 behind Colette Tuohy second overall and gold W45 with our M35 team in bronze.

Noreen McManamon (extreme left)  finished 14th, with Ann Murray in foreground 13th

Ann Murray was our other finisher in 13th place, with Noreen McManamon 14th. Great to see Newport based Noreen in action again – she’s always been brilliant at cross country and a winner with Mayo AC over many years. The next Connacht Cross Country leg is at a Galway venue (to be confirmed) on October 30 – look out for update on our events calendar. As stated, entry is via Trisha Carty. Sligo results : connacht-senior-cross-country-championships-2016

Ann Lennon on way to victory at Sligo ahead of Mari Johnston (Sligo AC) 2nd

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