The Brother schools cross country in Trinity Sports Grounds this afternoon delivered a brilliant athletics event full of all that is good: enthusiasm, endeavour, excitement and sportsmanship. The favourable weather played its part with perfect underfoot conditions for the young athletes running for their schools. The grounds staff at Trinity had provided a beautiful running surface, and for the first schools cross country event of the season the flat course was enjoyed by the 1500 or so athletes.
The primary schools events got proceedings underway starting at 12 noon on the dot with 100 plus 4th class girls running 1000m sent on their way by starter Peter McDermott. By halfway the field was spread out but all battling away and at the turn into the finish the decibel levels rose to the roof as the supporters screamed with excitement and encouragement. That proved to be the order of the day throughout the primary school races, if only such enthusiasm could be bottled! There were races for boys and girls in 4th, 5th and 6th classes all racing over the same 1000m loop. The first winner of the day was Stephanie Clarke of Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne with teammate Isla Naughton in 3rd place taking their school team to victory. The final winner in the primary school programme, the 6th class boys after an exciting race was Joshua Holme of St Bridgets as St. Fachras took the team plaudits.
Primary Schools Results:
4th class girls: 1st Stephanie Clarke (Cholmcille), 2nd Ria Hobbs (St Vincent DePaul), 3rd Isla Naughton (Cholmcille)
Teams: 1st Scoil Cholmcille 14 points, 2nd St Vincent DePaul 18 points, 3rd Castleknock Educate Together 37 points.
5th class girls: 1st Anna May Keogh (St Andrews), 2nd Evie Barrett (Mary Help of Christians), 3rd Aoife Bergin (Mary Help of Christians).
Teams: 1st Mary Help of Christians 9 points, 2nd St Vincent DePaul 31 points, 3rd San Carlo 34 points.
6th class girls: 1st Nessa Kenny (St Gerard’s), 2nd Holly Cooke (St Vincent DePaul), 3rd Ailbhe Clerkin (St Vincent DePaul).
Teams: 1st St Vincent DePaul 10 points, 2nd St Gerard’s A 14 points, 3rd Mary Help of Christians 34 points.
Best girls primary school – St Vincent DePaul
4th class boys: 1st Rory Duggan (St Bridget’s), 2nd Ollie McHugh (Castle Park), 3rd Rory O’Flaherty (Willow Park junior).
Teams: 1st Castle Park school 24 points, 2nd Scoil Cholmcille 29 points, 3rd St Bridget’s 29 points (count back).
5th class boys: 1st Senan Kelly (Castleknock Ed Together), 2nd Mark O’Leary (St Bridget’s), 3rd Sam Kennedy (St Bridget).
Teams; 1st St Bridget’s 9 points, 2nd St Patrick’s Drumcondra 45 points, 3rd San Carlo 60 points.
6th class boys: 1st Joshua Holme (St Bridget’s), 2nd Eoghan Thompson (St Fiachras), 3rd Dylan McCambridge-Crossan (Lios na Nog).
Teams: 1st St Fiachras 15 points, 2nd St Bridget’s 16 points, 3rd St Colman’s 36 points.
Best boys primary school – St Bridget’s, Foxrock.
The action kept rolling as the secondary school programme started at 1 PM with the biggest race of the day the minor girls which attracted a bumper entry of almost 200. It was a brilliant sight to see so many young girls taking part in their first ever secondary school cross country race. Into the firsst bend and then down by the hedge dividing Trinity from Santry Park the field was spread out in a long line, Cate Beddy (Loreto Stephen’s Green) was the strongest on the day leading the huge field across the line to take 1st. First place in the minor boys went to Col Eoin’s Euan Attebery. There were big fields in the junior and intermediate races for both boys and girls. Unfortunately however there was a big drop off in numbers for the senior girls and to a lesser extent in the senior boys. The senior girls race over 2000m was won by Cliodhna Ryan (St. Dominics College) leading her school to victory from Hazel Kenny (Dominican College) and Sorcha O’Connor, running as an individual.
The final race of the day was the senior boys running over 4000m, was a fine race with 5 athletes in contention at halfway however Finn Diver (St. Malachy’s) broke away around halfway to come home a clear winner ahead of Lorcan Benjacar (Ard Scoil Ris) and Jamie Whelan ( Ardgillan Community Collge) with the team title taken by St Aidan’s CBS.
Secondary Schools Results:
Minor girls: 1st Cate Beddy (Loreto Stephen’s Green), 2nd Aoife Murphy (Loreto Foxrock), 3rd Sadhbh McGee (Col Iosagain).
Teams: 1st St Dominics College, Cabra 24 points, 2nd Loreto Foxrock 36 points, 3rd Holy Child Killiney 44 points.
Junior girls: 1st Rachel Murdock ( Holy Child Killiney), 2nd Tara Rose Smith, 3rd Sophie Kernan.
Teams: 1st Holy Child Killiney 24 points, 2nd Loreto Foxrock 31 points, 3rd Loreto Stephen’s Green 43 points
Inter girls: 1st Goda Buiuydyte (St. Dominics), 2nd Megan Brunt (Loreto Abbey Dalkey), 3rd Laura de Burca (Loreto Stephen’s Green)
Teams: 1st St. Dominics College, Cabra 16 points, 2nd Loreto Abbey Dalkey 20 points, 3rd Loreto Stephen’s Green 29 points.
Senior girls: 1st Cliodhna Ryan (St. Dominics), 2nd Hazel Kenny (Dominican College), 3rd Sorcha O’Connor.
Teams: 1st St. Dominics College, Cabra 10 points.
Minor boys: 1st Euan Attebery (Col Eoin), 2nd Louis Hanbury (Belvedere), 3rd Tim Daly (Willow Park)
Teams: 1st Willow Park 29 points, 2nd Col Eoin 30 points, 3rd St Colman’s 31 points.
Junior boys: 1st Charlie O’Neill (Belvedere), 2nd Joshua Chalmers (Malahide CC), 3rd Aaron Adnew (St Colman’s).
Teams: 1st Oatlands College 25 points, 2nd St Colman’s 26 points, 3rd St Malachy’s 31 points.
Inter boys: 1st Reece Johnston (Pipers Hill College), 2nd James Foot (BlackRock College), 3rd Jude McGann (St Malachy’s)
Teams: 1st St Malachy’s 15 points, 2nd St Colman’s 42 points, 3rd St Pauls 43 points
Senior boys: 1st Finn Diver (St Malachy’s), 2nd Lorcan Benjacar (Ard Scoil Ris), 3rd Jamie Whelan (Ardgillan CC).
Teams: 1st St Aidan’s 15 points, 2nd Ard Scoil Ris 28 points, 3rd Belvedere College 31 points.
Best boys secondary school: St Colman’s College Newry
Best overall Secondary School: St. Dominics College, Cabra
Clonliffe Harriers would like to thank all the schools who took part in the event for their support, our wonderful sponsor Brother, Trinity Sports, the Gardai, St John’s ambulance and all our club members who as always gave so willingly of their time.
To see photos from today’s event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAXn4F