Kate has class

Kate has class

9 October 2024

AS the leaves begin to fall, within the junior cross country calendar, it signifies only one thing – the start of the McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series.

The successful series, now in its 15th year, has been the start of many athletes’ running journey and continues to grow. 

With over 170 junior athletes entered in this year’s series so far, it is shaping up to be a series full of plenty of battles and memorable moments in the making.

From the well seasoned and competitive cross country runner to the shorter, fresher and younger legs of those participating in their first races, there is always a great supportive atmosphere from start to finish.  

For the first meeting of the series, we returned to the Spring Gardens in Castlewellan Forest Park.

Always a popular course in the past, this year Murlough AC added a bit of spice to the route, taking full advantage of the “figure of eight” and creating a clockwise route which one might say was character building with every race ending on a long uphill.

With the weather staying on board for the duration of the event, the ground was bouncy but still very tight underfoot which made for perfect conditions and a rare day where spectators were not absolutely soaked as per most of last season. 

The Year 11 and over competitors welcomed the fact that they were first to go and could be found right around the park long before the race, warming up and preparing for their 2000m ordeal.

The Newcastle AC runners ran hard and set their bench mark for the cross country season ahead.

Natalie Cotton, who recently represented NI and Ulster in the British and Irish Mountain Running Championships, won the Year 13 and 14 race in 9.09.

Coehan Murphy McKibbin ran with conviction to take third place in the Year 11 and 12 race in 8.14 with Carrie Bradley and Piera Corrigan running very controlled races and pushing hard when needed to finish third and fourth respectively in the girls.  

The Year 10 races also welcomed some McGrady veterans to the course, but also some of the biggest rivalries that the series has seen in recent years.

The girls’ race got off to a blistering start, but not getting caught up in the early race excitement, Maisie McVeigh was confident in her race strategy and made a move in the 2nd lap to lead the second half of the race and take a convincing win.

Parisa Susay Quinn finished second after really having to dig into an uncomfortable place with a dazzling final 100m finish.

Kate Bradley proved that training is paying off as she completed the 1800m in 8.26 after pleading to down to the P7 race to give her a chance. Mila Astruc-Kidd came sixth in 9.12.

The Year 10 boys race was a race of friends. With school friendships, club friendships and general race friendships apparent amongst all the boys, the atmosphere was very positive on the start line. However, once the race set off, it was each man for himself. Fahlin Murphy McKibbin led from the front and demonstrated his conviction to succeed this year within cross country, winning the race even after a stumble on the finishing straight where he inspected the grass closely.

Fiachna McAleenan continues to make huge strides in his recovery from a serious injury and had a strong finish to take third in 7.05. Paddy Sherrard also ran well and will no doubt get stronger as the season progresses, finishing close on Fiachna’s heels in 7.08. Great runs also came from Sebastian McCaughey, Fionn McEvoy and Ronan Grant who all embraced the final 50m uphill finish with gusto. 

The Year 9 race saw the whole group set off together. There was always going to be a nail-biting finish as Connaire Og McVeigh, Dylan Hynds and Owen gilmore were equally matched during track and field season and this resulted in an all-or-nothing final lap. Connaire Og was pipped to the post on this occasion by Dylan and will take this with him into Race 2. Owen, who was taking part in his first cross country race, ran with flair and control and will only get better as his race experience grows.

Lily McMurray took the win for the girls as she claimed the undulating course suited her as she continues to train hard around the various terrains the park has to offer. Aoife Grant, fresh from parkrun the day before, continued her smile streak at the series and finished fifth overall.

With the course not being fully visible from one spot, it was always interesting to see who came out in the lead from the back hill. The narrow paths wouldn’t allow for much passing, so moves had to be made in the wider downhill sections.

The Year 8 race saw Harry King emerge the winner as he appeared from the trees in his final lap well ahead of second place, cruising up the hill to take the win in 5.19. Definitely a young man who, with more race experience, will be a threat in a larger field.

Senan Gosling had a brilliant run to take third place in 5.49 and Luke McDonald proved that there are plenty of hills in his legs as he made the final stretch look easy to finish in fifth.

Emily Kerr dug deep for a fast last lap to take second girl and a determined finish from Zoe Astruc-Kidd was instrumental in her securing third place. Isabella Mayers finished fifth in her first venture into cross country.

The P7 race was won effortlessly by Harry McVeigh, who put his natural talent on full display, finishing with a smile on his face and hardly out of breath.

With even bigger goals this season on the horizon for the current Ulster Schools and Club Cross Country champion, he still never misses a McGrady race and will shake hands with every competitor when they cross the line.

He was followed by training partner, best friend and partner in crime Rossa McAleenan, who was the personification of “leaving it all out there” with a clear objective to create as much space between him and those behind which he did with style.

Cuan McMurray and Leo McGlue showed some amazing race tactics as they crossed the line in fifth and sixth. Aydah McKibbin pushed hard as she fought for position, holding off clubmate Ellie Moore as the girls finished second and third respectively. 

It was Rua Gosling who made the move of the race as she found that something extra special going into the final 250m.

As one who was noted by this writer last year as one to watch, this year instead of hunting down the runner in front, she was striding at great pace hunting down the finish line as she left everyone in her dust as she cruised up the final hill with seven seconds to spare. Cliona McAleenan ran a controlled race to finish in third. Sophia Sloan and Mark McDonald found that little extra at the end to make for a brilliant finish.

 As always, the best race was saved for last where the future of all our clubs lies.

The P4 and under group ranged from four to seven years old and we welcomed back some of the little legs from last year that have grown a little bit more, as well as some new faces.

With six seconds separating the full cohort of the Newcastle juniors, they were flanked from all sides by their supporters as they encouraged and cheered on the little people as they fought their way around the 500m lap to finish to rapturous applause.

With the second meeting planned for Dromore on November 10, registration has now reopened for those runners who haven’t already registered for the series.

A huge thank you to Lorna Annett and the team at Murlough AC for hosting the event and we hope that the agreeable weather they arranged for the day appears again for each of the remaining three meetings.