Laois Novice Road Championships

The Grand Canal was the setting for the opening race of the Laois Road Championships with Oughaval AC hosting the Novice Championships. A blustery wind welcomed athletes to Vicarstown, but the set-up of the course meant that athletes benefitted from this wind on their back when they turned for home. The Women’s event took place over 3k which took the ladies out 1.5km and back to the finish line. The podium positions were dominated by St Abban’s athletes with Aoife McEvoy taking victory. She was followed home by Aileen Lynch in 2nd and Sharon O Hara completed the podium in 3rd. Margo Dowling completed the St Abbans team who took team honours. Sarah Fleming, Mairead O Doherty, Cathy Lawlor and Aoife Gallagher combined to also take silver medals in the team competition for St Abbans. In the Men’s event, athletes faced into the wind for 3km until they turned for home. By the time they had reached the 3km point Derek Bracken from St Michael’s had made a gap from the rest of the field. The chasing pack of Oisin Jago and Tom Kenny battled the whole way home with Oisin taking silver and Tom settling for bronze. In the team race Oughaval took top honours, with the St Abban’s team of Tom Kenny, PJ Leonard, Tom Kelly and Billy Ramsbottom just 3 points behind in 2nd. A huge thank you to all in Oughaval AC for their organisation of the event. Next up on the road calendar is the Senior Road Championships which will take place on 25th February, hosted by Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District. Before that, the club and county indoors will bring athletes to Nenagh for the Indoor county championships.