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Rás na hÉireann 2011
Dunleer AC and the Rás na hÉireann Committee were delighted to welcome athletes from 6 countries to the 2011 Rás. The International Cross Country event took place on Sunday February 13th at Oldbridge Drogheda, with the Armagh Road Race the previous Thursday evening. Thanks to all of our stewards who helped out on the day and to the OPW, Coca Cola Drogheda, the Irish Sports Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and all of our local sponsors
Results Men
Results Ladies
U9 Boys U9 Girls U11 Girls U11 Boys
U13 Girls U13 Boys U15 Girls U15 Boys U17 Girls U17 Boys
Armagh Road Race Video on YouTube
Powerpoint Presentation 2011
Teams declared so far:
Irish teams
Senior Women
Deirdre Byrne Senior Men
Ciara Durkan Michael Mulhare
Becky Woods Brendan O Neill
Orla O Mahony Gary Thornton
Aoife Talty Seamus Power
Laura Behan Mark Kirwan
FSGT France
Senior Women Senior Men
Berenice Cadéron Nicolas Cadéron
Cristina Chatelaint Michel Chatelaint
Khamlifa Birante Hervé Cadéron
Finland England
Senior Men Sarah Tunstall
Miika Takala
Joonas Lehtinen
Joonas Harjamaka
USA
Senior Men Senior Women
Christian Hesch Katie DiCamillio
Orey Smith
James Strang
Kevin Ondrasek
Timothy Richie
Tristen Mannix
The Rás na hÉireann Sport & Culture Week
This year, Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer has teamed up with St. Patrick's High School in Armagh to promote athletics and culture both sides of the border with a meeting of minds as students from both schools meet to train, compete and enjoy some music and culture in both Louth and Armagh.
The Scoil Uí Mhuirí students hosted the Armagh students in October 2010 for a Catherina Mc Kiernan Chi Running Workshop and will meet again next Thursday night in Armagh for the road race. The Dunleer students attended a Piping Workshop in Armagh two weeks ago thanks to the Armagh Pipers' Club and will enjoy visiting the Battle of the Boyne Centre and Newgrange next Saturday in the warm up to Ras na hÉireann, together with Armagh athletes and exchange students from Germany.
Rás na hÉireann 2010
International Athletes Announced
Results Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann 2010
To order photographs from official Rás photographer Derek Tuite please email
derek@derektuitephotography.ie or visit his website www.derektuitephotography.ie
Set on the lawn of the Oldbridge estate, the 41st Rás na hÉireann International Cross Country will take place on February 28th 2010. This venue proved an ideal place last year to host a true cross country race, when the Rás celebrated its 40th birthday. In 2010, it is hoped that the Rás na hÉireann cross country event, which is part of a cross border Sport and Culture Week thanks to strong links with Armagh Athletic Club, will emulate that of 2009. There will be cross country races for boys and girls, men and women from age 8 - 88! All are welcome to come and compete.
The course was highly praised last year by all who attended the event for its genuine cross country appeal. The International athletes were impressed with the facility rating it a top European cross country course.The ground is undulating and firm underfoot, and well marked out by course stewards including Club stalwart Tommy Neary and his team in the days before the event. Oldbridge House is a perfect backdrop for the event. The OPW have created a superb recreation space at Oldbridge, steeped in history, and Rás na hÉireann and Dunleer Athletic Club are honoured to host their event once again in this marvelous location.
Rás na hÉireann 2009
The Rás celebrated its 40th birthday on Sunday 22nd February 2009. The event was kindly sponsored by Drogheda Beverage Solutions and supported by the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the OPW, with local sponsors assisting financially once again, helping to ease the burden of hosting such a high class event.
Founded in 1970 in Dunleer, this race has elevated to become one of the top International cross country events on the calendar. To date 43 countries have competed, the only International cross country event held annually in Ireland. For the 40th celebration the Rás had a surprise for the people of Louth, with the participation of Keith Kelly, announced at the press conference in early February.
Some people might remember that first day in January 1970 when over 50 senior competitors marched from the Parochial Hall to the famous Athclare castle course owned by the Sloan family. The race was won by local man Micky Johnston from 3 time winner Willie Keane from Clare. A few names still associated with the Rás are élite athlete co-ordinator Charlie Breagy and the winner of the boys under 10 winner in 1970, and Colm Rennicks from Bohermeen who won the boys under 16 race that day and still competes in the Rás. 1975 saw the first International athletes from France take part. From there that Rás took off and we have had World and Olympic Champions testing the green pastures of the wee County since in Charles Kamathi and Million Wolde. Since 1970 the Ras has been held at 6 venues within the County. Our thoughts at this time of year are on those who worked so hard to build up the Rás and are no longer with us.
Our thanks must go to all the sponsors who have supported the event over the years which is now part sponsored by the Irish Sports Council and supported by former world cross country champion John Treacy.
The programme on February 22nd catered for juveniles under 9 to 19 years, junior, senior and masters. The first race was at 12 noon with a presentation before the International ladies' race. The starter was Tom Neary, who we welcomed back after his illness last year.
The people of Dunleer had plenty to cheer about with some of the Club's top names in Ireland competing, including the boys who won the silver medals in the All Ireland under 16 and 17 cross country with names like Dunne, Goring and Farrell all in action and Tomás Cotter who warmed up the crowd in Termonfeckin last year. County Novice, Intermediate and Senior Champion Martin Quinn and team mate Darragh Greene faced the 6,000 metres as well as David Vaughey, Tomás Cotter, David Lambe. Sarah Haak, Catherine Byrne, Maeve Larney, Maria Mc Loughlin and Louise Hynes were in the junior ladies'. In the masters' men Micheál Mulligan was to the fore as ever and in the ladies' masters event world masters pentathlon Champion Geraldine Finegan was joined by Sandra Doheny and Belinda Breagy. The post Rás reception later in the evening featured Irish catering. The Rás committee wishes to thank all of the stewards who helped out on the day, numbering 50 in all: John Roche, the Mc Geough brothers, Mc Donnells, Howards, the Young and Kenwright families, Graham Townsend, the Butterlys, Sam Ojo, Paul Adeniyi, Rory Kirwan, Cillian Dyas, Mary and Colm O Brien, the Reid family, the Halpenny family, the Cheshire and Breagy families, the Haak family, Declan Mc Kenna, Gerry Reynolds, Joyce Kelly, Aileen Carrie, the Jein family, the Sewell family, Margaret and Derek Stewart and others who helpedout along the way.