IT was an unseasonably mild November in Dromore to welcome back the start of the McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series for this year.
The day kicked off with the P4s and under races.
Harry Flynn put in the finish of a lifetime to pip Murlough’s Adam Brennan on the line to take third place in 2.02.
Mark McDonald put in an amazing run, pushing through the final 200m to finish in 2.30.
Next up the girls took to the line.
This year Cliona McAleenan put behind her the overwhelming experience of her first race at McGrady’s last year.
She led from the off and put in an amazing time of 1.53 showing that the youngest of the McAleenans is definitely one to watch.
She was soon followed by three more of the Newcastle team who have also proven that with time they can reach their full potential with Meabh Flynn, Sophie Kerr and Rua Gosling taking fourth, fifth and sixth place.
An honourable mention to the exceptionally short legs of Charlotte Kerr that bounced around the 500m alongside her curls.
Smiling from ear to ear and independently navigating the course, with the support of her sister and every onlooker in Dromore.
This time it was U-10 Ulster champion Harry McVeigh who kept himself firmly in first gear due to a rogue open lace.
Needless to say this wasn’t the plan but he handled the minor obstruction well to take first place in the P5 boys race, seven seconds in front of the battle for second place which saw Rossa McAleenan take third place behind East Down’s Mark Canavan after a hotly contested battle.
Cuan Murray found his stride as he entered the final stages and crossed the line in 2.58.
Elizabeth Houston was the only Newcastle AC representative in the P5 girls race and she ran a solid race to take third place, crossing the line with a huge smile, doing the club proud.
The P6 boys race was a great race to watch. With recent Newcastle AC addition Rory Quinn setting the pace from the off, he was matched by Murlough ACs Fionn O’Rourke and club-mate Senan Gosling.
All three boys, who know each other from other sporting events hustled for the front position throughout with Fionn winning the battle quickly followed by Senan and Rory.
Luke McDonald dug deep to hunt down the runner in front and with a few more metres would have caught him. He finished in 5.19.
Emily Kerr was the first to cross the line of the P6 girls race.
As her race strategy develops and she cruised past mid race and secure the win with 18 seconds to spare over second place.
The midfield battle allowed Isla McMullan to weave through and move up the gears a lot quicker than those around her to take fourth, only one second behind third.
The P7 race became a mixed event with both the boys and girls running together due to numbers.
Hidden in amongst of full field of young ladies where four P7 boys, including Newcastle’s Connaire Og McVeigh.
The addition of the P7 girls to the race allowed the regular training partnership of Saorlaith McAleenan and Connaire Og to work off each other and push each other around the course. Connaire Og secured third place.
As for the girls, it was a full Newcastle podium with Saorlaith McAleenan ensuring that she continues to top this category finishing 27 seconds in front of second in 4.51.
Club-mates Mary Houston and Alana Flynn pushed each other around the course and kept the threat of the runners behind at bay to take second and third place.
Aoife Grant saw the finish line in the distance and took off, passing two further runners to finish in 5.57.
The Year 8 boys race hosted an exciting battle between last year’s series winner Fiachna McAleenan and Darragh Kerr.
Fiachna had to dig in and stretch it out to secure the win. This will definitely be the category to watch as the series progresses. New addition Fionn McEvoy had an amazing first run within the series to finish in 7.32.
A large field of 11 Year 8 girls took to the line for their two larger laps to make a 1400m route.
Maisie McVeigh led from the front and was closely tailed by Dromore ACs Mollie Tumilty throughout. A well paced race but with 150m to go, Mollie switched up the pace and Maisie couldn’t match it, this time.
Club-mate Niamh Watson crossed the line in 6.32 showing the extent of her ability within this category.
Another mixed race allowed for the Year 9 boys and girls to pitch their talents against each other.
Jamie O’Flaherty put in an amazing 1600m run to secure first place in 5.49.
Year 9’s Erin Easton and Sarah Uhomoibhi had been selected to attend County Trials on Sunday morning for their respective GAA clubs.
After giving their all, they went out and ran a phenomenal race with Erin taking first place and Sarah taking second.
Club-mates Piera Corrigan and Clara Flynn also demonstrated that those Monday night speed sessions are paying off to put in times of 7.35 and 7.42.
Ethan McMullan presented East Down’s Ollie Robinson with a hard challenge over the 2000m.
Ethan finished only four seconds behind in second place.
Oliver Corrigan and Yasin Brannigan matched each other, stride for stride, however, it was Oliver who finished just ahead.
Euan McIntosh ran a steady and controlled race to finish in 8.25. Callum Flynn continued the exceptional overall performance on the day at Dromore to finish in 8.43.
Sophie Neill ran a steady run, allowing her to elegantly swoop down the final straight in 10.56.