Entry to next Wednesday’s Brother at your side Clonliffe Schools Cross Country closed last night with a record entry.
Since the Clonliffe Schools Cross Country was revived in 2010, thanks in particular to the generous sponsorship and involvement of Brother Ireland, this event has grown from strength to strength and with this years record entry the scene is set for a fabulous festival of cross country schools races in Santry Demesne next Wednesday.
Clonliffe Harriers are particularly pleased to see the return to the Clonliffe Schools Cross Country of St. Malachy’s College Belfast. Malachy’s were the dominant Schools Cross Country team when the Clonliffe Schools was originally founded by Laro Byrne, indeed Malachy’s won the overall title in the first year of the event, 1978 and then retained the title in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Next Wednesday will be the first time that Malachy’s will have attended the revived race and they will bring with them a contingent of 32 athletes with teams in all five races. In the Boy’s Section St. Aidan’s have dominated recent years and again a full contingent will take part from the Whitehall outfit, however, there will also be strong teams from Presentation College Carlow, St. Patrick’s Classical Navan, St. Benildus, Belvedere College and St. David’s CBS Artane.
The Girls team from Colaiste Iosagain have dominated the Girls section every year since 2010 and 2013 will be no exception. They will be challenged no doubt this year by Our Lady`s College Greenhills, Rathdown School and Sancta Maria College Ballyrowen.
Once again there is a huge entry in the primary schools races. Once again a strong challenge will be mounted by Scoil San Carlo, who always support this event with great numbers in both the boys and girls races, Holy Child Larkhill, both boys and girls, St. Gerard’s Junior School Bray, St. Vincent de Paul Girls Primary School and St. John Bosco to name but a few.
The programme for next Wednesday is as follows:
12.30 p.m. – Primary Schools Girls – 1000 metres
Followed by Primary School Boys – 1000 metres
1 p.m. – Minor Girls – 1000 metres
Followed by Minor Boys – 1500 metres
Followed by Junior Girls – 2000 metres
Followed by Junior Boys – 2500 metres
Followed by Inter Girls – 2500 metres
Followed by Inter Boys – 3000 metres
Followed by Senior Girls – 2500 metres
Followed by Senior Boys – 5000 metres
Final instructions sheet will issue to all participating schools on Friday.
Any member of Clonliffe Harriers or indeed parent of any juvenile athlete in Clonliffe Harriers who is available next Wednesday for officiating duties are asked to email noel.guiden@behans.ie as soon as possible. With the numbers involved there will be jobs available for all!