Oct 7, 2010 [Noel Guiden] The second annual Brother at your side Clonliffe Schools Cross Country was an outstanding success at Santry Demesne Park yesterday. In only its second year this event is proving to be one of the most popular schools cross country races on the calendar. The numbers participating in the 2010 event were up by about 30% with a cast of some 1000 boys and girls taking part in the event and with Santry Demesne Parkland basking in glorious autumnal sunshine the 2010 event proved to be an outstanding success.
The two primary school races were extremely well supported with packed fields in both races. The girls primary school race had nearly 150 starters, it was a sight to behold as the field thundered down from the start of the 1000m, the race was led home by Rachel Ní Dhuinn (Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna) with second Hannah Winnie (St. Fiachra’s and third Zara Nixon (St. Vincent de Paul). The field for the boys primary school race was even bigger, in fact this was the biggest race of the day with no less than 175 athletes in action, taking the biggest race of his career to date was Joseph Hession with a fantastic run at the head of the field. The best school in the primary school boys race was St. Patrick’s BNS of Drumcondra making their debut in this event.
At 1 p.m. sharp the secondary school programme got underway with the minor girls 1000m race, again a huge field of athletes. The race was won in fine style by Vanessa O’Connor of Mount Sackville from Sarah Reihill (a guest in the race) and Ellen Byrne (St. Dominics).
The junior girls race was over 2000m, once again a very big field in this race and at the finish the winner was Mount Anville’s Emma Fennelly. The team winner was Skerries College, again debutantes in this event on 26 points from Colaiste Iosagain on 31 points.
The intermediate girls race over 3000m featured Colaiste Iosagain’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner and as always when Siofra runs she took things by the scruff of the neck straight from the start building up an insurmountable lead to win this race by the proverbial country mile from Mount Sackville’s Sarah Hawkshaw. Siofra led home the victorious Colaiste Iosagain school on 17 points, a tight winning margin over Mount Sackville on 21 points.
The final girls race of the programme was the senior girls race over 3000m, the field in this race was not as big as fields in earlier races, again a stylish front running performance from Colaiste Iosagain saw Clar Ni Chartaigh lead home her two schoolmates Megan Ni Riaian and Clar’s sister Maire. Needless to say Colaiste Iosagain were clear winners of the senior race.
In the secondary schools boys races there was very keen competition. The field in the minor boys races was huge and this featured a particularly fine win by Cathal Doyle of Colaiste Cholin. The minor boys champions were St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton on 39 points from St. Aidan’s on 50 and Willow Park on 55.
The junior boys race was one of the races of the day and certainly provided the finish of the day. This was a long enough race for these young athletes over 3000m, the lead pack broke away until there was two and there was a tremendous sprint finish down the home straight with St. Fintan’s Eoghan Strutt winning the dash for the line from Patrick Elliot of Lucan. Eoghan led St. Fintan’s High School to a fine team victory.
Another fine race was had in the intermediate boys race over 4000m. Templeogue College’s Mitchell Byrne was the winner from Darren Farrell (guest) and Eoghan Taggart, also a guest. St. Aidan’s won the intermediate race after some fine packing down the field with a comfortable win on 47 points over Templeogue College on 68 and St. Fintan’s High School on 69.
The final race of the day was the senior boys 5000m race, the lead trio of Kevin Dooney (CBC Monkstown), Ian Guiden (St. Aidan’s) and Fintan Doherty (Castleknock College) broke away from the pack, however, after the second lap Kevin Dooney hit the front and although chased by Ian Guiden was never overhauled to win by maybe 40 metres with Fintan Doherty holding on for third place. The senior boys winners were Belvedere on 53 points from CBC Monkstown on 57 and St. Fintan’s High School on 59.
In a very tight finish to decide the best overall school Colaiste Iosagain were declared winners courtesy of winning the senior girls, intermediate girls and second place in the junior girls making a total of 13 points taking the victory by a slim 1 point margin from St. Fintan’s High School with 12 points (first minor boys, first junior boys, third intermediate boys and third senior boys).
It was an excellent days competition which was thoroughly enjoyed by all of the boys and girls participating in the event. Courtesy of the generosity of our sponsor Brother every boy and girl who took part in the event went home with a T-shirt. The presentation party included Mr. Sean Sheehan, the Managing Director of Brother Ireland, Phyllis Fox of Brother, Mr. Paddy Marley, President of Clonliffe Harriers, Mr. Liam Hennessy, President of Athletics Ireland, Mr. John Foley, CEO of Athletics Ireland and Clonliffe’s international athlete Mark Kenneally.
Results
Primary Schools
Girls
1 – Rachel Ni Dhuinm (Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna)
2 – Hannah Winnie (St. Fiachra’s)
3 – Zara Nixon (St. Vincent de Paul)
Teams
1 – St. Vincent de Paul 30 points
2 – St. Fiachra’s 53 points
3 – Mary Help of Christians 56 points
Boys
1 – Joseph Hession (St. Fiachra’s)
2 – Conor Halpin (Willow Park)
3 – Christopher Walley (St. Patrick’s BNS)
Teams
1 – St. Patrick’s 31 points
2 – Willow Park 42 points
3 – St. Fiachra’s 45 points
Secondary Schools
Girls Minor
1 – Vanessa O’Connor (Mount Sackvill)
2 – Sarah Reihill (guest)
3 – Eileen Byrne (St. Dominics)
Teams
1 – St. Dominics Cabra 44 points
2 – Loreto College Foxrock 49 points
3 – Our Lady’s College Drogheda 78 points
Junior Girls
1 – Emma Fennelly (Mount Anville)
2 – Doirean Ni Mhalleanaigh (Col Iosagain)
3 – Eve Kehoe (Skerries)
Teams
1 – Skerries College 26 points
2 – Colaiste Iosagain 31 points
3 – Loreto College Foxrock 65 points
Intermediate Girls
1 – Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Colaiste Iosagain)
2 – Sarah Hawkshaw (Mount Sackville)
3 – Saoirse Ni Umphraidh (Colaiste Iosgain)
Teams
1 – Colaiste Iosagain 17 points
2 – Mount Sackville 21 points
Senior Girls
1 – Clar Nic Chartaigh (Colaiste Iosagain)
2 – Megan Ni Riaian (Colaiste Iosagain)
3 – Marie Ni Chartaigh (Colaiste Iosagain)
Teams
1 – Colaiste Iosagain 13 points
2 – Our Lady’s College, Drogheda 53 points
Boys Minor
1 – Cathal Doyle (Col. Cholin, Swords)
2 – Luke McCann (Willow Park)
3 – Adam Cunningham (St. Fintan’s High School)
Teams
1 – St. Fintan’s 39 points
2 – St. Aidan’s 50 points
3 – Willow Park 55 points
Junior Boys
1 – Eoghan Strutt (St. Fintan’s)
2 – Patrick Elliott (Lucan)
3 – Liam Fitzpatrick (Colaiste Eoin)
Teams
1 – St. Fintan’s 40 points
2 – Presentation College Carlow 51 points
3 – St. Aidan’s 68 points
Intermediate Boys
1 – Mitchell Byrne (Templeogue College)
2 – Darren Farrell (Guest)
3 – Eoghan Taggart (Guest)
Teams
1 – St. Aidans 47 points
2 – Templeogue College 68 points (correction of incorrect school called out on day)
3 – St. Fintan’s High School 69 points
Senior Boys
1 – Kevin Dooney (CBC Monkstown)
2 – Ian Guiden (St. Aidan’s)
3 – Fintan Doherty (Castleknock College)
Teams
1 – Belvedere 53 points
2 – CBC Monkstown 57 points
3 – St. Fintan’s High School 59 points