The 2024 Brother schools cross country race proved to be yet again an outstanding success. The event held in the magnificent Trinity Sports Grounds on Santry Avenue brought some 1700 young athletes to Santry, more than doubling the numbers that took part in the first Brother schools cross country some 15 years ago. It was a beautiful autumnal day held in, for the most part, bright and warm early October sunshine, the underfoot conditions at Trinity were simply superb, it was almost like a bowling green.
Before the commencement of the event Mr Eddie McMahon of Brother made a community award presentation to Noel Guiden, the event organiser, as the representative of Clonliffe Harriers, whom Brother had selected as the 2024 recipients. Clonliffe Harriers are honoured and proud to receive this award.
At high noon the 4th class girls got the day’s action underway with the 1st of the primary school races as over 100 young athletes set off on the 1000m lap. That was the race distance for the entire primary school programme. As always the excitement of these young athletes inevitably produces one huge charge to the 1st corner, all safety negotiated this and it wasn’t long until the field were spread out led home by our 1st winner of the day Ciara Garvan of St Fiachras followed closely by her classmate Aoibheann Nolan and of course with 3 to score Fiachras took the 1st team win of the day.
The 4th class boys needless to say also did an impression of the ‘charge of the light Brigade’ thundering into the 1st bend, once again it was a young athlete from neighbouring Beaumont’s St. Fiachras, Kyle Raethorn, that came into the finishing straight 1st to take a fine win the head of Fionn Kelly (Castleknock ET) and Rory Micks of Willow Park junior school. Once again of the team front it was St Fiachras that topped the charts.
The 5th class girls race was won by Ava Fagan, of Kilcoskan NS taking part in this event for the 1st time as Vincent DePaul girls took the team win ahead of Mary Help of Christians and Castleknock ET. Rory Duggan of St Bridget’s was a class apart in the 5th class boys race finishing well clear of Rhys Jenkins of Holy Child BNS and Matthew Gately (Star of the Sea). Young Rory led the St Bridget’s squad to a comprehensive win.
The primary school programme was rounded off by the 6th class races, once again St Fiachras featured as Anna Garvan led the field home with Mary Help of Christians taking the team win. Senan Kelly of Castleknock ET took the win in the final primary school race ahead of Jake Lennon of St Colman’s College Newry leading St Colman’s to the team win.
The best girls primary school courtesy of 1st place in the 6 class race and 2nd in the 5th class race was Mary Help of Christians with St Fiachras taking the plaudits as the best boys primary school – 1st in the 4th class, 5th in the 3rd class and 2nd in the 6 class.
With the sun still shining the secondary school races got underway at 1 PM precisely. In the younger age groups there was huge numbers taking part, almost 150 lined up for the minor girls 1000m race where Robyn Kennedy led her school, Holy Child Killiney to the team win ahead of Loreto Foxrock and Loreto Stephens Green.
The minor boys race was held over 1500m and attracted the biggest field of the day someone 180 plus lining up – the Charge of the Light Brigade returned! Danny Davis of St Fintans High School led the multitudes home to take a fine win ahead of Jack Brennan of Patrician Newbridge and Braxton O’Shea, of the host club, in 3rd. In the team front it was St Colman’s College Newry that took the win.
Kate Beddy of Loreto Stephen’s Green won the junior girls race, also over 1500 as St Dominic’s won the team event, led home in 3rd place by Pearl O’Brien. St Malachy’s Belfast were dominant in the junior boys race, Cormac Leheny in winning this race laid down the platform for the Belfast outfit to win the team prize.
The race distances started to go up for the intermediate races, the girls running over 2000m where Sutton Park’s Tara Rose Smith prevailed, however on the team front St. Dominics took their 2nd win of the day. ahead of Holy Faith and Sutton Park.
3000m was the race distance for the intermediate boys, Belvedere College were the dominant force here led home in 1st place by Charlie O’Neill, Conrad Latham of St Pauls was 2nd with Jack Mann of Presentation College Carlow in 3rd place. Belvedere College winning the team, St. colman’s 2nd and St Marys DS 3rd.
Goda Buivydyte of St Dominic’s was a classy winner of the senior girls race over 2000m always in control at the front of proceedings winning well clear of Kate O’Sullivan of Loreto Stephen’s Green and Ava Rose Clarke of Muckross Park. St Dominic’s took their 2nd team win of the day.
The senior boys ran 4 x 1000 this was a fine race with 5 athletes together for the 1st 2 laps, this was then whittled down to 3 and with 800 to go Finn Diver of St Malachy’s struck for home and came home a very classy winner ahead of Lorcan Benjacar of Ard Scoil Ris with Jamie Rankin Whelan of Ardgillan community college taking 3rd place. The team front it was St Malachy’s that took the win, Ardgillan were 2nd with Ard Scoil Ris 3rd.
The best girls secondary school were a dominant St Dominic’s, with 3 wins with St Malachy’s taking the best boys secondary school, courtesy of 2 wins.
The best overall secondary school was St Dominic’s Cabra.
Clonliffe Harriers would like to thank all of the schools and young athlete who made today the very special cross country event that it is. We also wish to thank our brilliant sponsor Brother for being at our side these past 15, the gardai, St John’s ambulance, Trinity College and the army of volunteers from our club who once again gave willingly, generously and humorously of their time.
Diary date for 2025 – Wednesday, October 1. Make a note of the date!
Results:
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/146364500@N04/albums/72177720320800516/