Crusaders in action on the roads

Aoife Quigley,Catherine Thornton,Michael McGovern and Aoife Joyce

For the second year in a row Crusaders had both a women’s and men’s teams in the National road relays championships. The women where first in action finishing in the top 10, moving 4 places up from their maiden appearance in these championships last year. Catherine Thornton in her first National championships placed the team in 7th position after the first leg over one lap of just over a mile before passing over the long time club stalwart Aoife Joyce for two lap leg before Aoife Quigley on the last leg over one lap maintained the team’s position in the top ten.

The men’s team was led off by Rob Cross over the opening very competitive two lap leg, in his best season to date; he brought the team home in close contention with a number of traditional strong road running clubs. Next up was Stephen Moore in his first race a Crusaders team, after being called up as a late replacement, after racing a 10k the day before, kept the team in close order after a one lap leg. Ray Hynes running the longest leg of the day setting out over three laps, of approaching 3.5 miles, moved the team up one place and reduced the gap to Sportsworld one place ahead before passing over to Kieran O’Loughlin in his first season racing for Crusaders. Running with composure he overtook Sportsworld ahead and moved the team into 15th place out of 23, a place he maintained to the finish line.

The road relays may have been Stephen Moore’s first race for Crusaders but it was not his first race of the weekend. The day before he set a 10k PB of 35:50 in the BHAA race in the K-Club, a race won by another Crusaders athlete, Ronan Kearns. This was Ronan’s second win of the season in BHAA races, this time on the road, crossing the line in 32:48. Declan Horgan put in another fine performance coming home in 37:34, 6th in the M40 category. More Crusaders followed with Cormac O’Ceallaigh in 38:51 and Dee NiChearbhaill in 42:43.