On Wednesday afternoon February 2nd, 76 intrepid souls toed the start line for the 2011 National Garda Cross Country Championships.  The annual pilgrimage to the Phoenix Park venue involved the 2011 event setting a record, registering the highest ever number of participants.  The race is run on a traditional 2 mile loop which incorporates the trails parallel to Chesterfield Ave, Acres Rd, and Kyber Rd, before encountering a couple of rolling dips adjacent to Wellington Rd which pickpocket the energy reserves.  It then swings towards the Cricket Grounds and returns to the Chesterfield Ave trail.  Indeed this traditional loop has earned a fierce reputation as a tough two miler, but the advent of modern technology has dispelled the ancient myth and proved the actual length is 2.2 miles.  Conditions on the day were not conducive to brisk running due to the blustery conditions, and a couple of timely Spring showers in the hour preceding the start, resulted in slippery conditions underfoot.  The concluding insult for those brave enough to challenge this time-honoured circuit, being a home straight that is comparable with the famous final stretch at Cheltenham where the gentle, but extracted incline approaching the finishing post has been many a challengers grave.  The topical cutting edge of the 2011 event was the revival of the Garda v PSNI team event.  There had been a tradition of appearing at each others championships but 2011 saw a new initative with the inaugural Challenge Cup, sponsored by The Garda Athletic Club.  The Challenge Cup added a dynamic, competitive edge to the action with 4 men and 3 women to score on each team.  Extra spice was manifested in the guise of Paul Moran.  A Garda Superintendent and bulwark of Garda Athletics, Moran was our first athlete to break the ticker tape at the 2010 Dublin Marathon in 2:43.  He is seconded to the PSNI and therefore ran in their colours, much to the amusement of the large cheering party present on the sidelines.   Despite his tormented loyalties Moran ran a very determined race and Fernando Torres will surely score a hat-trick this weekend if he applies the same tenacity.  Difference is The Baron will return and no one burned his singlet.

 

In the Ladies contest, universal pre race favourite Lorraine Manning lived up to her billing with a barnstorming performance in the tempestuous conditions.  Having won numerous national medals in 2010 including placing 3rd in the Dublin Marathon she set her stall out early setting off at a blistering pace.  The result was never really in any doubt as she cruised to victory in 11:54, retaining her title.  Leona O'Reilly and Bridget Buckley realised early on that they were immersed in a dogfight for the silver berth and what a titanic battle ensued.  O'Reilly just about held sway at the half way point. She then put the foot on the gas through the dreaded undulating part of the course.  Her strength in this section paid dividends and as both Amazon's came around the final bend onto the long straight for home O'Reilly stamped her authority on proceedings with a devastating turn of speed and came home in 12:48 with Buckley taking bronze in 13:13.  Further down the field the battles for the distinguished team event played out with puppet like effect.  Marilyn Brosnan came home in 7th position to put Block 2 in pole position. But, with the numbers adding up the battle came down to Martina McGoldrick whose final placing was of paramount importance.  GBFI being the other heavyweight in the mix, and so the final placing on each team proved pivotal.  McGoldrick mustered a final push down the home straight to haul in 2 places finishing 10th and ultimately landed the team event with Brosnan and O'Reilly, having 2 points to spare over the GBFI team of Buckley (3rd), Jayne Kelly (8th) and Aileen Keely (11th). 

 

The Gents race incorporated 3 loops of the track and was an enthralling affair from gun to tape.  From the outset Maxwell of the PSNI nailed his intentions to the mast taking the field through a gruellingly paced first loop.  He led from Paul"The Baron of Northstead" Moran, Ronan Hartnett, Paul Tierney, Jason Miley and Sean Mac Seoin.  At the conclusion of the first loop it seemed that defending champion Tierney may have had lost his grip on the coveted title.  While Maxwell and "The Baron" Moran kept the PSNI in the hunt for the Challenge Cup, Ronan Hartnett, intent on regaining his title from Tierney appeared indestructible. His strong running on the second lap saw him over take The Baron whose challenge began to dwindle.  Tierney also breached the difference and as they voyaged off on the final leg the National Championship bubbled in a nicely fermenting melting pot.  Up front Maxwell suffered, feeling the pain of his early exertions.  With Hartnett and The Baron also wilting, Tierney cut through the filed with the confidence and guile of a true champion.  Turning into the final straight he had successfully hunted down his prey and now only had Maxwell in his crosshairs.  Complacency had no place in his arsenal as Hartnett mounted one final charge.  As the decisive 150 metres approached Tierney smelt blood and broke Maxwells will, with Hartnett closing. However, he confidently strode away from the field to retain his title in 36:25.  Maxwell scored for the PSNI, with Hartnett rallying to take the silver in 37:04, and The Baron splitting himself and Miley, who took third in 37:10, just 6 seconds adrift.  In the O Vets category, Corkonian Kieran O'Sullivan acquitted himself in style taking gold in 38:26 from Brendan Dolan and Michael Tynan.  The O( category incorporated 2 laps and was won by mountain running supremo Adrian Tucker in 25:04 from George Maybury and John Convey.  In the Gent's team event DMR West took gold with Miley, Karl McKenna and Mick Tynan pipping the Block 2 team of Hartnett, Paul Carrol and Declan Conlon by 2 points.  Dublin South took the final podium position comprising Aidan Lanigan, Paul Keville, and Hugh Reddy.  

Deputy Commissioner Rice presented the prizes with the biggest cheer being held for the presentation of the Challenge Cup to victorious Garda Team.