Ulster Schools Cross-Country

by Perri Williams

ULSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY

The Ulster Schools Cross-Country was held yesterday at the City of Belfast playing fields, Mallusk, a course known to many competitive athletes in both the north and south of the country. Windswept and more difficult than it appears to be, it can be a course that will challenge many athletes. While it is not flat like the Leinster Cross-Country and it certainly did not possess anything like the mucky, slippery conditions experienced by the Munster athletes, the wind was the main antagonist for the athletes.

Senior Boys and Girls. 
Frank Buchannan (St Michaels, Enniskillen) has been experiencing athletics at a different level this past few months. A solid win of the boys u19 All-Ireland 1,500m last July led to the invitation to race in Boston earlier this year. On the back of his American debut, Buchannan had an immersive challenge in the Senior boys 6,000m race with Finn Diver (St Malachy’s Belfast). These two athletes from early on in the competition were clear contenders for the gold and silver medals. Content to stay with the main group for part of the first lap, they gradually moved ahead, gaining momentum as they progressed through the race itself. While they may have run side by side for the majority of the race, it was clear to many seasoned athletic pundits that the real race began towards the closing stages. It was Diver who made the first move but was quickly recoiled by Buchanann who used his track speed (and recent honing for indoors) to drive on with power and conviction. The Enniskillen student had a victory of eight seconds over Diver, which probably does not reflect enough closeness of this race. There was a large gap of thirty-eight seconds (over 200m) to the next group of athletes. With a notable difference of pace and not too much between them, it was Ciaran McCarroll (Omagh CBS) that claimed the bronze. St Malachy’s, a school well know for its athletics success took the team title with back-up from Locan McCann in 4th, Eoin McConnell in 5th and Jude McGann in 12th. It was a narrow victory of just two points from St Michaels, Enniskillen.
The girls race was not such a tight affair as the boys. While distances between each athlete were not as substantial, there was a steady stream of finishers all within a few seconds of each other coming towards the finish. It was more reflective of a dismantling of the main group towards the latter stages of the race than any individual being a foregone conclusion. The winner was Elsa Moore (Royal and Prior Raphoe) who looked comfortable as she crossed the line eleven seconds ahead of Mairi Clements (Coleraine GS). Eight seconds behind in third place was Anna McGookin (Limavady GS) while Cora Scullion (Omagh) occupied fourth spot. Probably the most contested placings came from the 6th to 8th spots with Jodi Foster (Down HS, Downpatrick) managing to nab the 6th place. Loreto, Omagh took the team title from Loreto Letterkenny with nine points to spare.

Inter Boys and Girls
This should be an interesting contest when it comes to the Nationals. In Leinster we had victories from Emma Hickey (St Mary’s New Ross) in the girls with Ellen Goggin (Cresent College) taking the Munster title. The boys saw Charlie O’Neill hold off David Wajark in what was a competitive affair. Munster resulted in a win for Andrew Hinds in what was a clean sweep for Cork for the podium placings. 

With the Connaught Cross-Country yet to be held and both Ciaran Considine and Luke Walsh yet to race, the battle is really on for the All-Ireland. At the recent Celtic International it was Luke Walsh who finished the first of the Irish ahead of Charlie O’Neill. However, Odhran McBrearty the winner of the the Ulster Cross Country from Harry McKenzie will add an interesting mix into the equation. Both McBrearty (St Columba’s Stranolar) and McKenzie (Enniskillen Royal Grammer) are a year older. At the All-Ireland u17 Championships in Tramore last December where all these athletes would have last met, it was Harry McKenzie who secured victory over Odhran McBrearty, with Harry Cahill (Donore) third and Daire Matthews (Dunleer) 4th. The latter two did not compete in the Leinster schools, leaving the way open for Charlie O’Neill, Luke Walsh, Andrew Hinds, Finn Yore, Jack Mahon, David Wajark, Jacob Ciomek, Ciaran Considine, Noah Harper (3rd in the Ulster Schools) and Riley Connolly to battle for places on the Irish team for the SIAB International. Of all of these athletes it is Andrew Hinds that has shown the most improvement since last December where he finished 13th, just outside of the medals and six places behind Yore.

The Inter-girls was won by Emer McKee (our Lady and St Pats Knock) who remained with a group of four in the leading pack until the final stages of the race. Locked into the leading bunch were; Abby Smith (Kingscourt), Emily Morris (Strathearn School) and Emma Stewart (Banbridge Academy). While only nine seconds separated McKee and Smith, McKee was very comfortable as she strode to victory, looking like there was a lot more to give. She will indeed have to give a lot more as she faces the Renton twins who are mostly likely to emerge from the Connaught Cross-Country. This will be the first time McKee will race the Rentons and the result will be much anticipated. McKee’s long term rival Emily Bolton will contest the senior race. Emma Hickey had an outstanding race to hold off Meagan Brunt in the Leinsters this leaves the way open for the Munster one and two (Ellen Goggin and Sophie Maher) to compete for places on the Irish team for the SIAB’s. The second, third and fourth places from yesterdays Ulster Championships should also be contenders, making Ulster a strong force at the All-Ireland’s next month. The burning question of course will be can McKee get the better of Freya Renton. Our Lady and St Pats Knock were clear winners of the team title and might just manage to squeeze a gold in the All-Irelands too.

Junior Girls and Boys
St Malachy’s Belfast are indeed an incredible force in the Ulster Schools Cross-Country scene. The junior boys saw victory going to Thomas Coy (St Malachys Belfast) with 15 seconds to spare over Owen Acheson (Royal School Armagh). A steady stream of runners came through the finishing line after these two, indicating the closeness of the competitive action throughout the race. St Malachys were clear winners of the team title, their nineteenth in this age group. With places on the SIAB international up for grabs, it is hard to see anyone beating the Munster winner Darragh Whelan.

The Junior girl’s race was won in a very convincing fashion by Madison Welby (Friends School Lisburn) over 16 seconds clear of Hermione Sheridan (Assumption GS) in second. Cassie Curran (Dominican Col Belfast) was third, fading from her primed sprint to the finish with Curran. Mount Lourdes (Enniskillen) took the team title. One of several Enniskillen schools to do very well from these Ulster Championships. Madison Welby will probably go into the All-Ireland’s as the favourite having beaten the Leinster winner Lily Walsh and the Munster winner Freya Bateman at the u15 All-Ireland’s in Tramore. Though the position for the remainder of the places on that Irish team for the SIAB International will now be wide open. 

Minor Girls and Boys
In their first year of Schools competitions the minor girls and boys in Ulster had finishes as exciting and closely contested as they could possibly be. Fatigue had definitely set in, through the closing stages as what started out as challenges at the start of the finishing straight turned into resignation towards the end. Once Ciaran Smyth (St Colmans Newry) proved mid-way through the run up to the finish that his power and speed was more dominant, Diarmuid Quigley (Largey College) was happy to settle for silver. Aidan McGaughey (St Marys Magherafelt) finished third after getting the better of Caidan Harold some 300m previously. St Colman’s were clear winners of the team title. The girl’s race was won by a spritely Kate Kelly (Mount Lourdes Enniskillen) as she effortlessly ran clear of Clodagh McSorley (Loreto Coleraine) who in turn had much more to give. Content to finish with silver ahead of Annabelle McKeown (Friends School Lisburn). Mount Lourdes Enniskillen took the team title, ahead of what was to be a very successful day for the Enniskillen schools in general.

Overall, the Northern runners look very strong as we head towards the All-Ireland’s next month. With final predictions being reserved until the completion of the Connaught Schools next week.