Newcastle juniors excel in first race of McGrady’s series

Newcastle juniors excel in first race of McGrady’s series

4 October 2023

THE McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series returned for its 13th year to the Spring Gardens in Castlewellan Forest Park at the weekend.

Always a popular course in the past, it was the first time the series has returned to this venue since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 150 junior athletes have entered in this year’s series so far, so there was high anticipation and excitement before proceedings got underway. 

Murlough AC were hosts for this race and they were also first to trial a new race format for the day with the series kicking off with the Year 11 and over category. 

It was decided that the race day schedule for half the series would run in descending race order, to not only have a large cohort of support and encouragement for the older athletes but also to inspire the younger runners and give them something to keep on working towards.

 With the sun shining down upon the course, the ground was still holding a lot of the past week’s rain. 

This made for a tough climb up the back hill and a battle to stay upright as participants cruised down the hill around a tight corner. 

The Year 11 and over race welcomed the announcement that although they would all race together, the category was being subdivided in the results into two – Year 11 and 12 as well as Year 13 and 14.

The multi lap route that would be used in all races, had a glorious climb in which many battles unfolded throughout the day. 

However, in the first race it was Ethan McMullan, Ireland’s U-20 mountain runner, who was a class above the rest as he stretched out his legs around the course. 

Sophie Neill, who had an amazing season all round last year for club and school, showed that she has continued to work hard and put in a strong race around the Spring Gardens.

The Year 11 and 12 category was hotly contested and at times it was easy to lose count of the number of laps that had been completed. 

Euan McIntosh ran a controlled race and challenged many of the older runners in the race with Coehan Murphy-McKibbin really showing flare in this age group also. 

Although it may have been unnerving to be in the same race as runners nearly four years older than them, the Year 11 runners didn’t let that faze them with notable runs from all of them and a clear benchmark set for the season ahead. 

 The Year 10 race also welcomed some McGrady’s veterans to the course. The boys’ race saw Aaron O’Boyle run away with the lead and demonstrate the sheer power he has. 

Jamie O’Flaherty spoke fondly of some past race experiences as a junior on the start line and showed on the course the resilience and determination he has acquired from these races to begin to close the gap on Aaron. 

James Carson was also out to make his mark on the series and put in a good time for the 1800m route. 

In the Year 10 girls category, Erin Easton and Clara Flynn were using the competition to warm up for a football match in the early afternoon. 

Erin, who has spent more time chasing a ball for the U-14 ladies’ All-Ireland winning team than training for cross country, showed that regardless of the style of training, every little helps. 

Clara, who impressed at Armagh last week, enjoyed the distance being half of the previous week and was able to push herself more around the route. 

Strong finishes were plenty on the day with a gradual downhill which allowed runners like Piera Corrigan and Carrie Bradley to really attack the last 50m. 

The Year 9s also brought their A game. Fahlin Murphy-McKibbin put on display his natural ability to navigate a busy field and effortlessly took the win for the boys. 

He was chased by fellow team-mates Maisie McVeigh and Eve McNamara, who battled it out mid race for that top spot. 

A well judged attack for top spot on the final lap, gave Eve the win as she floated down the final hill with grace and elegance. 

With Fionn McEvoy, Ronan Grant, Sebastian McCaughey running well in addition to some nice race strategies from Mila Astruc-Kidd, Niamh Watson and Kate Bradley, this age category is showing great potential for the Ulsters in a few weeks. 

Connaire Og McVeigh led from the front and in his shadow for the first few laps was Saorlaith McAleenan. 

Together they worked off each other to build a strong lead and both went on to win the Year 8 category with ease.

As another strong category for the Ulsters at the end of the month, Eilish Donnelly, Aoife Grant, Alana Flynn, Lily Murray and Freya Muckian would together be an impressive squad. 

Senan Gosling was on a mission in the P7 race where there was plenty of drama to accompany the running. 

After a tumble on the last lap by Murlough’s Fionn O’Rourke, Senan capitalised on this and secured first place. Though it is inevitable this will be a tight competition as the series progresses and one not to be missed.

Back in her happy place, Emily Kerr embraced the hills, the mud and a massive smile as she sat comfortably in the shadows of the race in front of her between the two boys.

She was untouchable by any other of the P7 girls and started the series off with a win. 

Behind the battle out in front, smiles on faces from Isla McMullan, Zoe Astruc-Kidd and Isabella Sloan captured what the series is all about. 

There was no doubt from the start line that Harry McVeigh was going to win the P6 boys race. 

Five years ago, Harry toed the line as a P1 in a McGrady’s race where he first got the taste for running. 

Now as Ulster champion on home turf, he looked forward to the run as he continues to work towards his race goals for the year. 

He was chased by best friend Rossa McAleenan, who has shown great improvement since the last series, he ran hard and never let up.

Newcastle’s Aydha Murphy-McKibbin also demonstrated to the onlooking crowd her ability to go hard or go home. 

Flanked by both brothers encouraging her, she had the perfect team around her to push her on for the win. 

Rua Gosling, demonstrated that she is one to watch, her final 100m was spectacular as she hunted down the runners in front to gain a foot in higher up the field. 

Elizabeth Houston had an amazing run, leading Maebh McCartan and Aralynn O’Hare over the line.

 Cliona McAleenan continued on from where she left off last year and ran a hard fought race where she was evidently digging deep to push on harder to secure first place. 

Rua Gosling, demonstrated that she is one to watch, her final 100m was spectacular as she hunted down the runners in front to gain a foot in higher up the field. 

Sophia Sloan and Mark McDonald found that little extra at the end to make for a brilliant finish.

The best race was saved for last where the future of all our clubs lies. The P4 and under group ranged from three years-old to seven years-old and there were many returns from last year alongside some new faces. 

It was again a double win for Newcastle AC. 

Setting off at blistering pace up the first hill, Freya Savage went out like she was running a 100m race, leaving the field behind her in her first race as a Newcastle AC member. 

She was able to maintain this momentum for a lap and was only challenged by Ruaidhrí Watson, who has grown into this category over the past few years and shows huge potential in cross country running.

Both runners dug deep to find that something extra at the end to secure their first wins of the series. 

With Freya’s big sister and Ruaidhri’s little sister cheering on from the sidelines, these two are definitely two young runners to watch. 

Luca McIntosh ran a solid race and showed no nerves as he approached the final 50m. 

Alfie Sloan and Theo O’Hare were the picture of professional athletes as they took on the undulating course for the first time. 

Sophie Keep was hot in the heels of eventual winner Freya Savage, with Maria Sloan completing the full podium for Newcastle AC. 

Leonie O Hare and Charlotte Kerr completed the proceedings for the day with superb runs and proof that parkrun makes you better and stronger.

Race two will take place in Dromore on November 12. 

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.