Youghal AC Girls Head to Lisbon for ECCC Cross-Country This Weekend

YOUGHAL GIRLS HEAD TO LISBON

by John Walshe, The Echo

youghal ac junior women eccc 2022

The Youghal AC U20 team travelling to Lisbon for the European Champion Clubs Cross-Country, pictured with Kieran Quinn, Marketing & Business Development Officer, and Emer Hannigan, Operations Manager, Youghal Credit Union: Robyn Buckley, Avril Cashman, Emma Landers, Avril Millerick, Alex Cashman.

Photo: John Walshe

In what was a good day for Cork athletes at last November’s Irish Life Health/National Cross-Country Championships at Santry Demesne, a performance that slipped somewhat under the radar was that of the Youghal AC girls who won the U18 team title and, with virtually the same squad, finished second in the Junior (U20) grade

Following that achievement, the five athletes in question – Avril Millerick, Emma Landers, Avril Cashman, Alex Cashman and Robyn Buckley – have qualified for a dream trip to compete in next Sunday’s prestigious European Champion Clubs C-C in Lisbon. Around 400 runners from more than 20 countries, representing 70 clubs, are expected to contest the five races which take place in Oeiras, on the suburbs of Portugal’s capital

For the delighted Youghal girls, it’s something that came completely out of the blue, as 17-year-old Avril Cashman explained: “We didn’t expect this at all; the main thing at the national championships was the team performance. We’ve done well every year with this group which has now been together since we were nine or 10.”

Another Avril – Avril Millerick – led the club home that day and since has been on representative duty at the Celtic International in Belfast, leading the Irish to silver medals: “I came 14th overall; it was tough going over the 4km distance. I’ve ran in Scotland two years ago and I’m definitely looking forward to this trip.” Not yet 17, Avril was just four places from making the Irish U20 team last November and with three more years in that grade she certainly has a lot to look forward to

Emma Landers, 17, has two National under-age titles to her credit while Alex Cashman, 16, sister of Avril, has run for Ireland in the schools’ steeplechase. Robyn Buckley, 17, along with both Cashman girls, is also involved with Youghal GAA in camogie and football. As both Robyn and Avril Cashman are doing the Leaving Cert, training has to be fitted in with studies. “We train around five days a week, it can be difficult at times but you have to prioritise,” says Avril

A remarkable achievement of the team is that more or less the same group have won national titles seven of the last eight years. No doubt a major factor in this success is down to the expertise, dedication and enthusiasm of their coach, Noel Curtin. “This was the first time we had a junior team in the national championships, so this trip was totally unexpected,” explained Noel

“Athletics Ireland have said they will retrospectively compensate us after the event for travel and we are also very grateful to the local Credit Union who have been very good to us for many years. I’ve been involved in coaching the girls for the most of nine years; we train in the club’s facility at Tower Park along with places like Glenbower Wood

“The girls are great role models; they’re dedicated while at the same time having a great sense of fun. They are excellent in welcoming and including new recruits to the club. Also, you can never overstate the importance of support from parents and in this regard all probably have parents who run themselves as well.”

Kieran Quinn, Marketing & Business Development Officer at Youghal Credit Union, stated they were more than happy to get involved: “We delighted to sponsor the girls going to Portugal, we wish them the best of luck and may they represent both Youghal and Ireland well.”

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Strong Irish Club Squads

A total of six Irish teams will be in action in Portugal on Sunday. Along with the Youghal Girls, who run in the Under 20 Women's Championship, Cork will have further representation, in the form of Leevale AC, in the Women's Championship. Leevale will be joined in the Women's event by Letterkenny AC.

On the Men's side, there is more Munster presence, with Ennis Track Club's Under 20 Men, While Clonliffe Harriers AC and Dundrum South Dublin (DSD) AC complete the Irish line up.

Livestream (link below) is via European Athletics on Portugal's RTP channel