The Curtain fell on the 2002/2003 Club Cross Country Season on Saturday February 1st with the Club Cross Country Championships.

The Club season this year has seen the revival of the O’Connor Cup, the Horan Cup and the Irwin Cup and the season came to a fitting climax with the Club Championships for men, junior women, masters men and senior men. The senior men competing for the Cooney Cup which was presented to the Club last year by the family of the late great Clonliffe Harrier Harry Cooney.

  Saturday the 1st was a bitterly cold morning however, by race time conditions had improved considerably with the afternoon spring sunshine brightening up the 1200m course marked out over the Trinity Grounds on Santry Avenue – pity about the wind though! There was a combined start for all championships and some thirty four athletes lined up for the start for what was the best turnout for the Cross Country Championships in several years.

  Club Captain Joe Cooper set the athletes on their way and on their way they certainly went at considerable speed before settling down to a more reasonable pace at the end of the first lap.

  Up front in the men’s senior race an intriguing battle was developing between Colm Coyne, Robert Malseed and William Stafford. Martin Treacy was having a superb run in the Masters Championship with Eugene Coppinger in hot pursuit.

  Once again Mags Greenan led out the ladies and indeed for the three laps of the ladies race Mags certainly mixed it with her male club mates. Mags was first home and was crowned Ladies Cross Country Champion for 2003 in a time of 13:35. In second place was Nicola Fallon in 13:41 with Christine Kennelly third in 14:32.

  The junior men’s race which was run over four laps was led from start to finish by Kip Daniels running a very strong race to finish in 16:11 with Lotfi Dridi second and Tom Kilbride third.

  In the Master’s section, also run over four laps, Martin Treacy in his usual “keep it country” mode was first home in 16:28 with Eugene Coppinger second, Mick Fennell, a guest, was next home with Gerry McCabe being third in the Clonliffe Championship.

  Colm Coyne running a typically strong race was the winner of the senior race over five laps and therefore the Clonliffe Club Cross Country Champion for 2003 and winner of the Harry Cooney Cup in 20:14, with Robert Malseed second and William Stafford, continuing his excellent form, third in 20:37.

  The presentation was held afterwards in the Club bar, there was a huge spread of sandwiches, tea, coffee and even the odd pint of Guinness consumed. Presentation of prizes to the top three in each category was made by Club President Maurice Ahern, Maurice incidentally was also presented with the Irwin Cup following on his surprise (?) victory in that particular race run January 18th 2003. All in all a good day was had by all.

Reported by Noel Guiden.