Weekend Report
Date: 16/11/08
It was another successful weekend for Togher athletes as Craig Murphy had a fantastic 4th place finish in the Gateshead International Cross-Country event in England and Robert Heffernan was named Race Walker of the year at the Athletics Ireland National Awards night in Dublin.
At the Gateshead International Cross-Country on Saturday Craig Murphy lined up in the Junior mens race over 7.5km looking for a tough outing before the National championships. Held on an undulating course with firm ground conducive to fast running Craig settled nicely in the lead group from the off. As the raced progressed two athletes broke away after two of the 5 laps, David Forrester (England) who was 24th in the World Cross-Country championships in Edinburgh and Tesgai Tewelde (Eritrea) who was 19th in the World Cross-Country championships and boasts a very impressive 1500m PB of 3.36 from the summer. Craig battled well with a Scottish athlete and an English athlete for much of the race and tried to break away on numerous occasions. David Forrester won the race in 24.29 with Tesgai Tewelde 2nd in 24.46. Philip Berntsen (England) was 3rd in 24.50 with Craig 4th in 24.53. With only 7 seconds separating Craig and the African athlete this was a fine performance. Forrester will be fancied to take the European title on December 14th so the race will certainly stand to Craig in his preparations for the European championships. Craig continues to improve with every week and he now looks forward to the National championships next Sunday in Tramore Racecourse.
The Athletics Ireland annual awards night was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Dublin on Saturday night. Robert Heffernan was nominated for the Race Walker of the year award and was also in the running for the overall athlete of the year award. Robert was delighted to be named the Race Walker of the year but just narrowly missed out on the overall athlete of the year award, with the honour going to Paul Hession. Rob has had a superb year culminating in an 8th place finish at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Also competing at the weekend were Donal Coakley and Kieran Cunningham at the Cork Intermediate Cross-Country championships in Clonakilty. Donal came a fantastic 2nd, his best ever Cross-Country result and Kieran came 18th.
Photos from Gateshead
It was another successful weekend for Togher athletes as Craig Murphy had a fantastic 4th place finish in the Gateshead International Cross-Country event in England and Robert Heffernan was named Race Walker of the year at the Athletics Ireland National Awards night in Dublin.
At the Gateshead International Cross-Country on Saturday Craig Murphy lined up in the Junior mens race over 7.5km looking for a tough outing before the National championships. Held on an undulating course with firm ground conducive to fast running Craig settled nicely in the lead group from the off. As the raced progressed two athletes broke away after two of the 5 laps, David Forrester (England) who was 24th in the World Cross-Country championships in Edinburgh and Tesgai Tewelde (Eritrea) who was 19th in the World Cross-Country championships and boasts a very impressive 1500m PB of 3.36 from the summer. Craig battled well with a Scottish athlete and an English athlete for much of the race and tried to break away on numerous occasions. David Forrester won the race in 24.29 with Tesgai Tewelde 2nd in 24.46. Philip Berntsen (England) was 3rd in 24.50 with Craig 4th in 24.53. With only 7 seconds separating Craig and the African athlete this was a fine performance. Forrester will be fancied to take the European title on December 14th so the race will certainly stand to Craig in his preparations for the European championships. Craig continues to improve with every week and he now looks forward to the National championships next Sunday in Tramore Racecourse.
The Athletics Ireland annual awards night was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Dublin on Saturday night. Robert Heffernan was nominated for the Race Walker of the year award and was also in the running for the overall athlete of the year award. Robert was delighted to be named the Race Walker of the year but just narrowly missed out on the overall athlete of the year award, with the honour going to Paul Hession. Rob has had a superb year culminating in an 8th place finish at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Also competing at the weekend were Donal Coakley and Kieran Cunningham at the Cork Intermediate Cross-Country championships in Clonakilty. Donal came a fantastic 2nd, his best ever Cross-Country result and Kieran came 18th.
Photos from Gateshead
