When Rosapenna's Sandy Hills hosted Ireland's cross country stars

Lynn Jennings knew all about the testing nature of cross country running.

A three-time gold medallist at the World Cross Country Championships (1990-92), the American long-distance legend was once asked about the appeals of cross country and its peculiar allure of the mud in winter's depths.

Jennings' answer told a lot of the mindset of those who toe the line in such events: “The freedom of Cross Country is so primitive. It’s woman v nature.”

Jennings told how she 'loved' the cross country stage as 'you're at one with the mud'.

Gallery: Finn Valley AC celebrates 50 golden years

Finn Valley Athletics Club toasted its Golden Jubilee with a gala dinner on Saturday night in Ballybofey

On Sunday, the great and the good of Irish cross country running gathered at Rosapenna for the National Senior and Even Ages Cross Country Championships. It was only the second time the seniors came to Donegal, the previous being at Finn Valley AC in 1999.

Eamon Giles thought he had seen it all.

He helped to form the Cranford Athletics Club 61 years ago. At around 1.15pm on Sunday, his golden moment arrived.

Caolan McFadden, Cranford AC's rising star, stormed to gold in the under-16 race and Giles – whose club were the hosts for Sunday's event – had the proud honour of hanging the golden nugget around the athlete he helps to coach.

“It was a very emotional moment,” Giles says. “To see Caolan come over the line . . . aww, my God.”

McFadden won national 1500m and 800m golds, both indoor and outdoor, this year. Sunday, though, was his greatest hour yet.

“When we applied for these championships, we applied for the even ages because we knew Caolan would have a chance of winning the race on home soil,” Giles says.

“There are some great runners, but we knew that Caolan was ready. He had won Ulster under-16 and under-17 this year already and, with the talent that's in Ulster, that was an indication of what Caolan was capable of. It's some record that he has.

“Presenting his medal was a golden moment for me, most definitely.”

The significance of a win for McFadden was not just down to the Cranford AC vest he bore.

McFadden hails from Creeslough, the village on the opposite side of Sheephaven Bay, behind the historic stone guard of Doe Castle.

Muckish stood as something of a vision of strength for its community just six weeks earlier when a horrific explosion at the filling station claimed the lives of ten people.

With the iconic tabletop of Muckish peeking down in the distance beyond Rosapenna's fabled Sandy Hills, McFadden found a gear from within or from above to surge away from Francis Donohue of South Sligo AC.

There were no ifs, buts or maybes.

“I had to win this,” McFadden told Donegal Live as he took the plaudits from what seemed like an entire club and community.

“I did this today for my community. This was for Creeslough. That means a lot to me and I know it will mean a lot to Creeslough.”

John Cronin's mind wandered back as the Athletics Ireland President gazed in the distance towards the Atlantic Drive.

Cronin grew up in nearby Dooey.

“I don't get back as often as I should, but my heart is very much here,” he said

“After 40 years, it's amazing to come back and see this huge event. Cranford AC was my gateway into the sport. I am very proud of my roots here.

“This isn't just about Cranford AC, it is a huge community effort. It has brought in so much business to the area. Everywhere has been sold out since August and it's a great boost.”

Cronin mused that the track, which had everything from hills to valleys to straights' would be capable of being anywhere in the world.

Tir Chonaill AC's Eamon Harvey was attending the National Cross Country Championships for the 26^th time and has been to 11 World Championships.

“The course and the structure and the organisation here is actually incredible,” Harvey remarked. “The way the area itself and the people behind the scenes have worked is a testament to everyone involved. This is as good as anything I've ever seen, anywhere in the world.”

Late in the week, a group of students from Loreto Community School in Milford aided in carrying barriers, dotted around a parcel of land ordinarily used as a driving range, owned by the Casey family.

“It is the biggest community effort that I have ever seen,” said Paddy Marley, also a founding member of Cranford AC but who has been aligned with the famed Clonliffe Harriers for decades now.

“This is just a magnificent day and a magnificent venue. It has everything from flat running to some mud and a few hills. This is just ideal.

“It's a proud day, of course. This is where we all started. I am very proud to be here. I never thought that we'd see the National Championships here.”

The night previous, local TD Joe McHugh, the former Minister for Education, ran 6k on the course. He was back out on Sunday to support his two sons, who compete for Cranford AC, in underage races.

“This is a huge event for the area,” he said. “It's a great day for all of the people in Cranford, who have given so much to the club over the years.

“The cooperation between clubs in Donegal has been brilliant for this event. Different leaders in different clubs have worked together and we're delighted with how this has turned out.

“There must be so much going through the mind of Eamon Giles this week. He has had a good team behind him, but it's great for the likes of Eamon, who has put his life and soul into this.”

Darragh McElhinney and and Sarah Healy, both of UCD AC, won the senior races, pushed all the way by Hiko Haso Tonosa and Ciara Mageean – who ran the last lap with only one shoe – in races that befitted the backdrop.

Letterkenny AC's Ann-Marie McGlynn ran the race of her life to finish fourth in the senior race, helping LAC to team silver. There were team silvers, too, for Finn Valley AC in the junior women and under-14 girls races.

Gutsy runs by Oisin Toye, to finish 10^th in the men's junior race and Oisin Browne, also of Finn Valley, who just recovered from chicken pox, or Nakita Burke, who dug deep to finish 13^th in the senior women's event.

As the sun dipped behind Muckish, the stunning background seemed to go up a notch again.

Over 100 volunteers helped to set up and clear the decks again.

“It was unbelievable.” Giles said. “We are so pleased with all of the people who helped us for the day and for the week, the likes of Brendan McDaid and Paddy Marley from Athletics Ireland were especially helpful.

“This is right up there, without a doubt, with all my experience in Cranford AC.”