Yesterday was a day where grit met glory as the athletes of Boyne AC took on one of the toughest courses they’ve ever faced. The pre Louth Championship were held in the fantastic course that belongs to Drogheda and District AC.

The winding terrain was beastly, with a towering manmade hill dominating the landscape, a hill designed to test the very limits of stamina and strength. But for the athletes of Boyne AC, this was just another challenge to conquer, and conquer it they did.

The day got underway with the youngest competitors, the Under 9 Girls, lining up for their 500m race. The air was thick with anticipation, but Stella Gow, Ellie Fay, and Emilia Wheat didn’t let the pressure get to them. With hearts pounding and legs pumping, these young stars set off at a blistering pace, attacking the course with a mix of determination and joy. As they crossed the finish line, their beaming smiles told the story—each had run a brilliant race, undeterred by the course's demands.

On the boys' side, Cormac Brodigan put in a worthy performance. His focus unwavering as he powered through the challenging course. For such a young athlete, Cormac showed an extraordinary level of composure, running brilliantly and finishing just outside the medals.

In the Under 11 Girls Caithlin Highes and Millie Bell faced down the 1000m race, a longer distance that wound through twisting paths and over rugged terrain, but neither Caitlin nor Millie faltered. Both ran brilliantly, pushing through the fatigue with sheer determination, their performances a testament to their training and mental toughness.

The Under 11 Boys followed, and Boyne AC’s dominance continued. Malachy Brodigan, Rasmus Fangeru, and Conor Hughes each took to the course with a steely determination. This was no ordinary 1000m race though, the aforementioned hill loomed, tempting them to give in to fatigue. But the boys refused to yield, attacking the hill with energy that left onlookers cheering in amazement. They crossed the finish line, each having run brilliantly, showing they were more than up for the challenge.

The competition intensified as the day wore on and in the Under 13 Girls 2000m race, Isabelle Winters took centre stage. The longer distance was punishing, but Isabelle held her ground, keeping pace with the leaders and pushing herself to the limit. She fought through the hills and turns, ultimately finishing in 6th place, a remarkable achievement in such a fiercely competitive field.

Will Gow showed that stamina and perseverance run deep in Boyne AC’s ranks and he too ran a brilliant race, demonstrating the heart that are the hallmarks of the club. The course may have been designed to break spirits, but Will showed that it would take more than a hill to stop him.

The Under 15 Boys 3000m race was nothing short of epic. Riley Byrne, Ciaran Garvey, and Joe Bell knew they had a fight on their hands but right from the start the trio surged forward, their eyes set on the course and the mammoth hill that awaited them and in the end, their combined efforts resulted in a well-deserved team Silver.

In the Under 17 Girls 4000m, Shauna Rice pushed herself to the limit, matching her competitors stride for stride. The long distance, the hill, the winding paths and yet none of it could deter her. As she crossed the finish line in 2nd place the Boyne Ac camp cheered.

But it was the Under 17 Boys who stole the show. Jack Garvey came to this race with just one goal, to win. And win he did, with a stunning display of endurance and skill. From the start, he took control of the race, navigating the course with precision and speed.

As he approached the final stretch, there was no doubt he had claimed the gold, cementing his place at the top. Behind him, Seamus Keenan wasn’t far off, securing bronze with a performance that highlighted his own formidable abilities. Together, the Under 17 Boys delivered a masterclass in distance running.

The day closed with the Under 19 Girls 4000m race, where Eilish Keenan took to the course with a quiet determination. This was a race that demanded not just physical endurance but mental toughness, and Eilish had both in spades. She fought through the relentless terrain, the exhaustion, and the pressure, earning herself a well-deserved Bronze. It was the perfect end to a day filled with Boyne AC victories.

Last Wednesday Boyne Ac had three athletes present their school in the Phoenix Park Schools Race and what a fantastic day of running it was. Huge congratulations to Dara Ellie Winters, Shauna, and Georgia Rice for representing their school in the cross country event.

Making her school debut, Georgia, tackled the 1.3 km course with determination and ran a brilliant race. She’s already excited for her next challenge! Her sister Shauna, a seasoned runner in third year, took on the tougher 2.6 km course and finished with a well-earned smile and a medal to show for it.

Dara Ellie was also in top form, storming through the race to place in the top 20 and taking home a much-deserved medal. Well done to all the girls! Boyne AC is so proud of your achievements and the power and spirit you showed out there today. Keep flying the flag high!