All posts in Schools athletics

Clonliffe Harriers today hosted for the first time in our history the all Ireland schools cross country at Santry demesne. Congratulations to the army of volunteers from the club who were out from 8 AM right through until the cleanup was completed at 5 PM. An outstanding job by each and every one in putting on what was in our completely unbiased view the best All Ireland Schools cross country to date!

It proved to be an historic day in the senior boys race as Belvedere College finally took the senior title. Throughout the course of the day there was brilliant close racing and all of the athletes competing should be proud of the contribution to a wonderful day’s sport. From a Clonliffe perspective the highlight came in the second race, the minor boys all Ireland where Sean Cronin put on yet another exciting display and unbelievably lost out on gold in a photo finish with both athletes being credited with the same time. Silver in an all Ireland cross country championship is an outstanding performance. Congratulations Sean. Fine runs also in the minor race by Eddie Joyce 16th, Devan Morrisey 37th, Rory Quill 44th, Mark Goss Keogh 62nd and Noah Rossi 88th.

Niall Carbery gave it is all in the inter-boys race finishing in a highly credible 36th place. An excellent run in the senior girls race by Aoife Hession saw her finish in a fine 32nd. Likewise Callum Simpson ran very well indeed in the senior boys race to finish in 27th.

And so the 2019/2020 cross country season has now come to an end and it was indeed a fitting end. Once again a huge thank you to all in Clonliffe who contributed throughout the course of this season and a particular thank you to our junior women and men’s squads who today gave back to the club by giving up their

Clonliffe Harriers are proud to host Saturday’s, March 7th, All Ireland Schools XC in Santry Demesne on behalf of the Irish Schools Athletics Association. Below you will find final instructions.

Course builders to meet at Clonliffe at 8.00am, parking at the clubhouse.

Officials/Stewards please park at Morton Stadium side (please note that Clonliffe car park is needed for bus and coach parking). Clonliffe volunteers then to report to Noel Guiden in the clubhouse at 10.30am.

Thank you the Clonliffe volunteers as without you this event would not take place. Please dress warmly for the day, boots, rain jackets etc. Nil desperandum.

Clonliffe Harriers are honoured, for the first time in our history, to host the All Ireland schools cross country in Santry Demesne on Saturday, March 7. Traditionally the All Ireland schools is hosted by a school or college, with a difficulty being encountered for a host for the 2020 event Clonliffe were only too happy to step into the breach.The event features the cream of schools athletics with the athletes having negotiated firstly their regional qualifiers and then the provincial finals, Clonliffe of course recently hosted the Leinster schools in Santry.

Clonliffe athletes have enjoyed considerable success at these prestigious championships, indeed Efrem Gidey is the reigning senior champion.The hosting of this event is a considerable undertaking for the club and will require the assistance on the day of as many club members and parents as possible. As usual the team of course builders will be required from 8 AM on the morning. After that we are looking for the guts of 50 people to do on course stewarding, assist with officiating and carry out general duties, you will be required from 10.30 to 3.30.

In order to finalise our plan could anyone available on the day please contact Noel Guiden by text to 0879599888. As the event takes place on a Saturday we really are hoping that club members make themselves available, it would be great if we had new faces to help out rather than having to rely upon the ‘usual suspects’.Please make contact over the course of this weekend so that we can allocate duties and ensure that we have all angles covered.

On behalf of Leinster Schools a very sincere thanks to you and your Clonliffe team for your input into ensuring a great cross country event at Santry Demesne yesterday. Quite a number  of people spoke most glowingly about the well designed and taped course. So well done Clonliffe.Can I ask you, pencil in 11th February 2021.

Kind Regards, Michael Hunt.

Clonliffe Harriers hosted the Leinster schools cross country in Santry Demesne today. Despite recent weather conditions the ground was surprisingly good, there was obviously a fair bit of mud in places but the standing water was avoided by the course builders who were out from sunrise. By 10 AM the course was built and all was ready for the first of eight races on the card at 12 noon. From a Clonliffe perspective it was great to see such a positive start to the days proceedings with young Sean Cronin again putting in a starring performance in the minor boys race over the 1500 loop. Sean’s strength paying off in spades as he powered away to take a fine win adding the Leinster schools title to his national U/14 title won in Abbottstown last November.

Also through is Niall Carberry 15th in the inter boys race with the club’s other qualifiers came in the senior races at the end of the programme first off Aoife Hession putting in a never say die final 200 to go from 18th to 14th and grab a starting place on the line for the All Ireland schools for the first time. Then in the senior boys race Callum Simpson ran a superb race to finish in 12th position and likewise will line up in Santry on March 7th.

Of the other Clonliffe athletes there were a number of heartbreaks on the day with Orla O’Sullivan finishing 16th, one place and only three seconds off a place in the All Ireland’s in the inter girls race. Likewise 16th place for Aaron Cullen, as he recovers from recent illness in the senior boys race and in the junior girls race Sorcha O’Connor finishing in 18th you just out of the qualifiers. Full results are available on popupraces.ie .

A huge thank you to all of our dedicated club members who once again gave up their time to course mark and officiate. Leinster schools are fulsome in their praise for your professionalism and good humour throughout the course of a long day. Congratulations to all and as you all did such a great job the good news is that you have been booked for the All Ireland Schools XC on March 7th!

Clonliffe will once again host the Leinster Schools XC this Wednesday February 12th. A big thank you to the club members who have once again answered the call, as without those dedicated few this event simply could not take place.

Course builders please report to the club at 8.00am. Others please report at 10.30am. First race is at 12.00. Again if you can help out please let Noel Guiden know asap (0879599888), jobs for all! It’ll be cold so you might need a hat, gloves etc.

The Leinster Schools Cross Country is hosted in Santry by Clonliffe on Wednesday next, the 12th. Thanks indeed to those who have stepped up to help out. We are currently looking for 6 more people for on course stewarding, needed from 10.30 to 3.00pm. You will be on course with a prime unobstructed view of the day’s action. Full training given, and the opportunity to wear a high vis vest….surely impossible to resist! First six people to text 0879599888 with you name are hired.

With early morning fog lifting it was a beautiful spring day in the Phoenix Park for the West & North Leinster double header today. Clonliffe athletes were concentrated in the North region where the girls got the session underway with Sorcha O’Connor safely through with a 10th place showing in the junior girls race with Clodagh Nic Dhomhnaill also through in 15th. There was great representation in the inter race with fine runs from Naoise Cullen 7th and Orla O’Sullivan 9th to go through, good runs also in this by Lara Gallagher 25th and Ella Cooley 28th. The senior girls race saw Katie Halpin 9th Aoife Hession 10th and Alana Fitzsimons 14th, all safely through,  with Vicki McDonald circa 28th (possibly through with the team however).

The boys races saw Sean Cronin dominate the minor race, well clear of the field, with a very comfortable win. Also through are St. Aidans/Clonliffe minors who won the team: Devan Morrossey 11th, Rory Quill 15th, Noah Rossi 39th and Cathal O’Neill 67th. The juniors race saw Jonathan Fitzsimons well through with 9th and both Sam Murray 13th and Cian O’Hare 30th take bronze on the St. Aidans team with both therefore through to Leinsters. In the inter boys Sean Boyne was 5th leading St. Aidans to the team win, including Cillian Keegan, 26th. Finally the seniors where Aaron Cullen was 2nd, and then the St. Aidans division, taking team gold: Callum Simpson 4th, Alex Murray 11th, Alex Neuroth 22nd and Dermot Buckley 27th. Great also to see Daragh Carter back racing with a 21st place finish in his first race for maybe six months.

Showing little ill effects from Sunday’s brilliant performance in Seville Niall Carbery secured qualification for the Leinster schools Cross Country in the East Leinsters held in Avondale Park, Rathdrum on Tuesday the 21st with a 6th place finish in the inter boys race. Safe passage also for another couple of the Seville crew as Ian McAlweeney was 7th in the senior race with Thomas Baltazar 8th.

Also through is Mark Goss Keogh with Blackrock minor boys  likewise Isaac Moss and in the juniors both Lorcan Benjacar (18th) and Christain Finn (25th) with Ard Scoil Ris. The leinsters will be hosted once again by Clonliffe in Santry on Wednesday Feb 12th (help needed, so please text 0879599888 if asvailable)

The West and North Leinsters are a double header in the Phoenix Park tomorrow the 23rd.

The schools cross country season is underway. Sean Cronin, the national U/14 champion today won the Drogheda and District schools cross country 1st year race. Next week sees the regional Leinster qualifiers with the North and West Leinster double header in the Phoenix Park on Thursday.

Also today at the secondary school indoor races at Abbotstown Christain Finn in the 1st year sprints placed 2nd in both the 60m and 200m.