On Saturday February 12th the latest offering of the BHAA Cross Country Series unfolded in Balheary Park, Swords.  Lambing season is upon us and the smells and sounds of Spring were evident in the sun kissed green fields of North County Dublin.  Ideal conditions greeted those who ventured north of the Liffey into Ireland's 33rd county, Fingal, for the annual fun and frolics, down on the farm.  Paul Barnwall and the NCF runners provided us with another race which will live long in the memory.  

 

Indeed, it was a historic day for Garda Athletics with 14 athletes wearing the blue singlets in combat.  In the ladies race Bucks yet again ploughed a lone furrow as she cut through the mud in 17:17 fencing in 7th position on the 2.5 mile course.

 

The Gent's team farmed some fine results over the 5 mile course.  On a day when human error cultivated complete " organic fertilizer" of the results, Shades Miley, Builder Hartnett, Bugsy Malone and The Baron Moran finished in 18th,19th, 20th, and 21st respectively with only 11 seconds separating the four of them.  Hightower McKenna, Ronseal Grogan, Elbows Gannon, Snaps Redican, Strawberry Brunton, Tir na nOg Ferry, The Bullet Power, Duracell Reddy, and The Lynch Pin also harvested bumper results for Garda AC.  Shades, Builder and Bugsy milked first place in Category A, with The Baron, Hightower, and Elbows awarded 5th place in Category A.  Snaps, Ronseal and  Tir na nOg reaped bronze in Category C.  Strawaberry, Duracell and The Lynchpin took 5th in Category D.  The Baron took gold in the V45 and Ronseal matched him in the V55.

 

While the race certainly bore the fruits of much toil and labour by Garda AC, an agricultural mess was made of the final results.  The race has been declared null and void as some of the final placings mid table were misread with Massey Ferguson engines getting the better of the Ferrari's , and the odd angel dust induced Aberdeen Angus bullock annihilating a well bred colt by minutes.  All in all, despite the hick up, the NCF race proved that AGS Athletics is in good stock, and we can look forward to a bright new dawn with some young bulls charging up the field and some of the older more experienced bulls not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.