McVeigh takes gold in Cross Country League

27 September 2023

NEWCASTLE AC juniors fielded a sizeable squad at Palace Demesne in Armagh for the opening race of the Cross Country League for the TJ McElmeel Cup on Sunday.

Newcastle AC U-9 runner Harry Flynn toed the line first and made sure his presence was felt.

Determination filled every step and he made some great moves over the course of the race. Sophie Kerr also put into practice some great skill and navigated the race like a pro.

All eyes were on the U-11 boys’ race next, as Ulster U-10 XC champion Harry McVeigh toed the line under the watchful eye of coach Siobhan Grant.

Harry set off at a blistering pace to lead from the front. There wasn’t even any challenge to his shadow as he was unstoppable and on a mission to prove himself from the first day of the league.

Over the tannoy, attention was directed his way and he continued to accelerate down the finishing straight, over 80m ahead of second place to secure first.

Clearly Harry has set his sights on big things this year in his new age group.

Up next in the U-11 girls, Emily Kerr returned to what she loves best – hills, muck and a good old battle on the grass.

The course suited the youngster who is only a few weeks from her 100th parkrun.

She took advantage of tiring legs on the second lap and made up places in the final straight.

The U-13 category didn’t disappoint either with numerous unforgettable moments throughout both races.

In his first race in yellow and red, Fahlin Murphy-McKibbin, who last year caught the eye of one coach during schools’ cross country, joined Newcastle AC at the tail end of the season and is already promising to be one to watch.

Taking on the 1500m, wee loop and big loop route, there were plenty of undulations to contend with and manage.

He opted to take the wider line at the start to avoid the jam on the first corner and that proved to be a valuable move as he merged into the lead group, finding himself out in front, a number of times.

He fought hard right to the end as even with metres to go, he wasn’t going to give up on first place easily but had to settle for second.

A spectacular performance and one which will set him up for the rest of the season.

Also in the U-13 boys’ race, Connaire Og McVeigh showed the value of his summer training on the back lanes.

His agile overtaking and belief in his abilities to finish strong made for a top ten finish and a great marker for the season.

Donal McDaid, who has really impressed at Castlewellan parkrun recently, also stepped up as a junior in this age category.

He clearly has a love for hills as he made up ground on the undulating sections and tackled them with no fear. A great skill to have and will serve him well on the more challenging courses in the league.

The U-13 girls were out in force with five Newcastle juniors toeing the line. As the older girls in the category, Maisie McVeigh and Eve McNamara, had swapped out their track spikes for the cross country ones and even as the rain continued to fall heavier, they got off to an excellent start and avoided any traffic whilst finding their place.

Eve bided her time and stuck to her pace and held strong. This paid off dividends in the closing stages of the race as she soared up the finishing straight, moving from ninth place to fifth in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, Maisie held on for a top ten finish and has taken a lot from this race to work towards in future competitions.

Alana Flynn made great strides throughout the whole race. She dug in deep to keep a strong pace and finished mid-table with a powerful finish that will stand by her this weekend when she toes the line in Castlewellan.

Lily McNamara, a junior in this category, showed amazing flare for cross country and held her own over the 1500m. She is definitely one to watch who will flourish with more experience.

Aoife Grant, who even in the pouring rain and driving wind, never fails to make cross country look like the most fun ever, ran a great race off the back of a season’s best at parkrun the previous day.

At U-15 level Coehan Murphy-McKibbin took the field by surprise, challenging well established club runners and All-Ireland champions in his first competitive race for the club.

Although the 3000m distance was tough as a three lap route, he looked comfortable and displayed natural talent and flare for cross country running.

Clara Flynn knew the task ahead was a mammoth one but on her first outing at U-15 level, she demonstrated a high level of resilience as she worked her way through three laps of the 1K loop.

Finding her stride on the flats and digging deep on the hills, she still managed a smile to supporting club mates as she set off on yet another loop.

The U-18 men’s race was a big jump for some of the Newcastle juniors who only last year were U-15.

Patrick McDaid led the way for Newcastle making light work of the worsen conditions underfoot.

Hot on his heels was Yasin Brannigan with Euan McIntosh not far from his shadow.

Karim Jaidine and Callum Flynn, who have been a formidable force on the race circuit this summer, showed the level of their adaptability to move from road to the muck and gutters and still turn out outstanding results.

A huge thanks to Mark and his team in Armagh for the experience.

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