Top class running by Pauline, Mags and Patrick in Abbotstown Masters Trial – updated

Pauline Moran W65 and Mags Glavey W70 have been regular and successful competitors at this event for many years, while newcomer Patrick Sweeney M70 was competing for the first time at this event.

The Open Autumn races serve as a trial for Irish team selection ahead of next month’s annual British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships to be hosted by Ireland at Santry Demesne next month.

Racing conditions at Abbotstown were good – a dull overcast day with a light breeze and 11°C.

All women – senior, junior, and masters – plus over 65 men ran in the first adult race at 2.15pm with a total of 151 finishers. They completed either three (junior and master women over 65) or four laps.

Pauline (W65) and Mags (W70) ran 3 laps approximately 4.5k in a field of 12: W65+W70.

In another great performance Pauline was the winner by a over a minute in 19:38 – quite a distance ahead of second placed Majella Diskin An Riocht 20:44. Pauline will lead the Irish women’s W65 team at Santry where she will be joined by Majella.

Mags also had a great race and another close battle with Athlone based adversary Eileen Kenny W70  who finished just two seconds ahead of her in 21:19. Like Pauline, Mags is in brilliant form and completed the 4.5k today eight seconds faster than in the 2019 trials!

According to Mags “conditions were perfect, and despite recent rain the Abbotstown track was good. Pauline and myself are both happy with our races – I tried my best but Eileen beat me by 2 seconds!”.

That’s great running by our two formidable master athletes.

Pauline and Mags have worn the Irish vest with distinction and great success at the British and Irish Masters International event in recent years, and they will be in the Irish team once again for the British & Irish International masters cross-country in Santry next month – congratulations!

Patrick Sweeney ran 6k in his first major Cross-Country race, finishing a very creditable 15th place of the 23 finishers (a combination of M65 and M70 categories). He came home an excellent 4th M70, so he’ll have to wait and see if a wild card was played for the final place on the M70 team for Santry.

Well done also to Mayo native Mary Browne W60 Lucan Harriers AC who finished 54th in the masters women 35-64 race.

Photos forwarded by Mary Browne (thanks Mary) who is seen above with Pauline, Mags and Patrick.

Results of W65/70 and M65/70 :