Cross Country Championships: Bandon’s Fiona Everard claims first senior title

Fiona Everard of Bandon AC, Cork, on her way to winning the Women's Senior 9000m during the 123.ie National Senior & Even Age Cross Country Championships at Gowran Demesne in Kilkenny. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

On a course described as “absolutely brutal”, where strength proved the key component, Mullingar’s Cormac Dalton and Bandon’s Fiona Everard proved toughest of all, claiming their first senior titles at the National Cross Country Championships in Gowran, Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon.

Dalton utilised his track pedigree to full effect to outkick chief rival Kevin Mulcaire of Ennis Track and claim gold by two seconds, the 25-year-old Mullingar Harrier clocking 31:08 for the 9,000m course – the pedestrian time a sign of just how dour the underfoot conditions had been.

“I wanted it to be a big one, I’ve been dreaming of it for a while – to knock it out of the park on a day that really matters,” said Dalton, whose last national cross country title was 12 years ago. 

“The guys who were there were so strong, and I just tried to hang on as long as I could. I thought I’d either go on the last lap or the last straight and I waited as long as I could. It means everything for me, it’s for everyone who’s helped me through the years with injuries. I couldn’t be happier. It was the stuff of dreams.” 

Last year’s champion Darragh McElhinney finished ninth, while Oisin Spillane of Ennis won the U-23 title, finishing 12th overall. Kilkenny City Harriers edged team gold on countback, netting the same points (72) as North Belfast Harriers.

Everard was stunned to claim gold in the senior women’s race, though the 25-year-old was a worthy champion after coming home a whopping 37 seconds ahead of Mary Mulhare, clocking 36:32. 

“Going in, the really ambitious goal was to get on the plane and make Euro Cross so top three was the best-case scenario,” she said. “I couldn’t believe I was leading it.” 

Everard had little trouble with the conditions which claimed many casualties. 

“I’ll thank running around Bandon for that, I’m used to the mud and hills. I was telling myself I should like the mud, but there were parts of that were a big struggle to get through.” 

She built a substantial lead and heard several members of the crowd telling her to enjoy the moment on the last lap. “But I couldn’t, I was willing myself to just get to the line,” she said. “I was just hoping I’d hang on.” 

Danielle Donegan took gold in the U-23 women’s race with her third-place finish overall, with Dublin City Harriers winning the team event.

There was a huge shock in the U-20 men’s race where last year’s European silver medallist Nick Griggs collapsed close to the finish, having been on his way to gold with a substantial lead. That left the path clear for Niall Murphy of Ennis Track to outkick Jonas Stafford and win by one second.

“I’m absolutely buzzing, it was some race and some course, it has to be one of the toughest courses around,” said Murphy.

Griggs didn’t finish but will undoubtedly be selected for the Europeans next month, given his performance and his pedigree. “It’s a lot different from the track, you can’t really prepare for conditions and a course like that,” he said. “But fair play to Niall.” 

The women’s U-20 title went to Anna Gardiner of East Down, whose time of 20:30 brought her home seven seconds clear of Amy Greene. 

“It was absolutely brutal,” she said of the conditions. “It was one of the toughest courses and such a slow race, but it was worth it in the end. I’m absolutely over the moon.” 

The team for the European Cross Country, which takes place in Brussels on 10 December, will be announced in the coming days.