Rás international countdown starts
Mayor Michael O'Dowd, Anna Keller (Beverage Businesss Solutions), Rás director Jacqueline Matthews and Mark Stephenson (Rás Coordinator) in Oldbridge for the 2010 Rás launch.
Wednesday February 17 2010
OLDBRIDGE played host to the launch of the 41st Rás na hÉireann International Cross-Country on Monday night, ahead of race day on Sunday February 28th. Coca Cola and Beverage Business Solutions will once again be title sponsors of the Rás, the only international cross-country event held in the Republic annually, which draws athletes from all over Ireland as well as much further afield.
Set on the lawn of the Oldbridge estate, which proved an ideal venue in 2009, it is hoped that this year's event will emulate the 40th-anniversary races. There will be cross-country races for boys and girls, men and women, from the ages of eight to 88, together with a race for children from special schools and a Fit4Life jog. All are welcome to come and compete.
Élite athlete co-ordinator Charlie Breagy, originally from Ardee and based in Rhode Island, USA, has confirmed that teams from the USA, Finland, Scotland, Poland, Wales and Ireland will compete in the Rás 2010 at the Battle of the Boyne site in Drogheda.
Thomas Chamney, Irish Olympian (Beijing 2008) with a personal best of 1:45.41 for 800m and 3:37.67 for 1500m has declared that he will compete along with Alan O'Brien and club runner Martin Quinn from the host club Dunleer.
Lucas Meyer, New England, USA, will also travel to Ireland to compete. Meyer was a cross country All-American at Yale and the 11th place finisher at the 2009 USATF Cross Country Nationals. Also confirmed on the US team are Ruben Sanca, Ben Bruce and Nicholas Polk.
The Scottish manager is sending a highly talented team, to include Derek Hawkins, Alastair Hay, Callum Hawkins and John Newsom. Elisabeth Curran, Rosie Smith and Jennifer McLean should prove tough opposition for the Irish ladies' team, which currently comprises Fiona Reid and Katie O'Brien.
Meanwhile Poland's manager and veteran of several Rás na hÉireann events Michal Bartoszak will be accompanying Artur Kozlowski (Rás na hÉireann winner in 2009), Mariuscz Gizynski(2009 Polish Cross Country Champion) and Tomasz Szymkowiak (Polish 3000m Steeple Chase Champion 2009).
The Rás na hÉireann event will be part of the Sport and Culture Week once again as Dunleer Athletic Club and Armagh Athletic Club team up to provide a road race on February 25th in Armagh city, and the aforementioned cross-country race on the Sunday. The athletic events will run in tandem with music and cultural events for participants from both sides of the border, with tours and entertainment provided both in Armagh and at Oldbridge.
Sunday week's race action at Oldbridge begins at noon.
