Minister O’Donovan Officially Opens Sport Ireland National Cross Country Track
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today officially opened the National Cross Country Track at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus.
The new facility was developed in consultation with Athletics Ireland to provide the first permanent national cross country track for both training and competition. The track will see its first action this Sunday, October 16th, with Athletics Ireland’s Autumn Open Cross Country Festival taking place at the Blanchardstown venue.
Speaking at the opening, Minister O’Donovan welcomed the development of facility: “I am delighted to officially open the National Cross Country Track. This marks another milestone in the development of the National Sports Campus and I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the development of this facility. This new Track will benefit our elite athletes and will also have a positive impact in attracting major athletics events to Ireland. I hope that this new facility will encourage more people to get involved in cross country and I would invite anyone interested in running to visit the National Sports Campus and try out the Track for themselves.”
Sport Ireland Chairman, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “The addition of the National Cross Country Track means the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus is fast becoming a hive of activity with both high-performance and recreational athletes utilising the excellent facilities here. This will only increase in the months and years ahead as we look forward to the completion of more projects, the next major one being the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena early next year.”
The main loop of the National Cross Country Track measures 1,500 metres, with separate start and finish straights and incorporates two additional loops of 500 metres and 700 metres to enable different course routes and distances through both grassland and wooded areas.
One attendee at today’s launch is no stranger to international cross country competition - speaking at today’s launch, Sport Ireland Chief Executive, John Treacy, said: “Cross Country is very close to my heart and I am thrilled to see a world-class facility such as this developed in Ireland. This state of the art course will afford Ireland’s athletes the opportunity to train and compete on home soil on a range of terrain. We have experienced international success in cross country in the past, and this development will no doubt help ensure continued success long into the future.”
Sport Ireland National Sports Campus Director, David Conway, said: “The lands to the front of Abbotstown House at the National Sports Campus lent themselves perfectly for the provision of a competitive national Cross Country track, the variety of landscape, topography and heritage features are beautifully harnessed to create a challenging and exciting course for both competitive and participation runners. ”
Athletics Ireland Chief Executive, John Foley, added: “It promises to be an exciting weekend with the unveiling of the purpose built cross country course at the National Sports Campus. I look forward to athletes of all ages and abilities taking part at the Autumn Open International on Sunday.”
Sport Ireland National Cross Country Track
· The Sport Ireland National Cross Country Track has been developed in consultation with Athletics Ireland.
· It is the first permanent national cross country track for both training and competition purposes.
· Athletics Irelands National Cross Country Championship will take place on 27th November 2016.
· The main loop of the track measures 1,500 metres.
· The track contains separate start and finish straights – each 200 metres long.
· There are two additional loops of 500m and 700m to enable different course routes and distances through grassland and wooded areas.
· Technical advisor for the project were Tobin Consulting Engineers and the construction was by Peter O'Brien & Sons Landscaping.