The Striders competed in horrendous conditions at Oranmore, dealing with snow, freezing temperatures and a very sticky surface. In the worst of the conditions, Erinn Shannon put in one of the best Strider performances of the year. finishing in 23rd over 2.5km, in the GU15 event. The snow was coming down quite heavily, causing many to drop out mid-race, but Erinn dealt with the conditions better than most.
The Striders BU14 team (using 2017 age groups) put in an amazing effort to with another national title, by a wide margin. Despite being a year out of age, Myles and Cosmo Hewlett built a commanding lead by the halfway stage. Things got worse for the chasing teams, in leg three, as Leinster champion Aidan Shannon stretched the lead, on the uphill section. Darragh Flannelly took no chances on the final leg, extending the lead and crossing the line quite a distance clear of the Munster champions, Nenagh Olympic AC and Ulster champions, Shercock AC. These national team titles are like buses, we’ve waited over forty years for our first, and then two arrive in the space of three months. A special mention also for Eoin Shannon, our team substitute, who also made the journey to Galway and was ready to step in, if required.
