Newcastle’s finest lead way at McGrady Series

Newcastle’s finest lead way at McGrady Series

27 March 2013 - by BY JOE McCANN

A LARGE and appreciative crowd packed into the assembly hall of Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle, to celebrate the success of the young athletes who had competed with dedication and determination throughout the five races of the McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series.

This year the young athletes of Newcastle AC and East Down AC had been joined by those from Burren AC, who added a splash of colour and extra competition to the races.

The series comprised five races in a variety of beautiful settings — Castlewellan Forest Park, Kilbroney Forest Park, Castleward, Delamont Country Park and Tollymore Forest Park. Weather conditions were not always favourable, but the young athletes gave everything and battled through rain, wind and mud, cheered and supported all the way by parents and coaches from all three competing clubs.

Top local athlete Benny Teer, of East Down AC, was the guest speaker and he participated in a question-and-answer session with the young runners. This was followed by the prize-giving with awards for the first three in each age group and prizes for each runner who completed at least four out of five series races.

P4 and under prizes were won by Amy McCrickard, Lara McCarthy, Anna O’Flaherty, Jamie Williamson, Fionn Carey and Louis Sheridan.

P5 winners were Izzy O’Farrell, Hannah Carson, Tierna Bardon, Thomas McKeaveney, Calum McDonagh and James McMahon.

P6 winners were Eve Kenneally, Natasha Savage, Catherine McVeigh, Danny Williamson, Pierce Bardon and Joseph McDaid.

P7 honours were taken by Niamh Scullion, Kiara Cairns, Lidia Ballocchi,Caoilin Quinn, Josh Faulkner and Ben McGuigan.

Year 8 prizewinners were Sarah Dougherty, Marie Claire McVeigh , Lucy Kenneally, Jack O’Farrell, Gabriel Corrigan and James McKeaveney.

Year 9 prizes were won by Laura Green, Aoife Cochrane, Elisha Surginor, Oisin McKinley, Malachai McAvoy and Ardan McAvoy. Victorious Year 10s were Eilis Doyle, Niamh Doyle and Catriona Doyle, Paraic Delahunt, Daniel Molloy and Aidan Hawkins. Year 11 and over victors were Dearbhla Magee and Anna Rogan.

A further 37 athletes completed four or five of the races to win a participation prize, making a total of 81 young runners completing the series, which was a very impressive turnout indeed.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the shields to the winning teams based on finishing positions and participation levels.

Both were closely contested throughout the five races, but in the end Newcastle AC were able to retain both categories for the third year running — a testament to the strength in depth and commitment of the Newcastle juniors.

Special team prizes for the most consistent boys’ and girls’ teams were won by the excellent Burren AC Year 9 boys and the fantastic East Down AC Year 9 girls. Each received a perpetual trophy.

A successful undertaking such as this is not possible without a wealth of volunteers and the following contributed greatly to the smooth running and quality of the series:

PJ McCrickard and McGrady Financial Services, Hales Fruit Sales, Barbican Supervalu, the coaches, parents and supporters from Burren AC, East Down AC and Newcastle AC, Shimna Integrated College.

Thanks are also extrended to Graham McCauley for photos, Lisa Rice for help at registration, tea ladies Catherine McCrickard and her mum Marie Savage, Darragh McCrickard for speedy registration and results processing, and Newcastle AC coach Martina Hawkins, ably supported by her two boys, Aidan and Caolan, who were first to arrive and last to leave every race and help with clearing up and typing up the results.