The annual Kearney and McBride races were attended by a small but competitive group of Boyne AC athletes, who were not deterred by a week of unpredictable weather.
The athletes faced challenges due to the heavy rain from the previous night, even if the event was taking place on the magnificent Bellurgan Park grounds with the breathtaking views.
The footing was slick in the corners and deep in other spots. The race was intended to be for true cross-country athletes who relish the challenges that come with it. Coaches Jack O’Donoghue and Catherine Tiernan kept a close eye on the Boyne AC athletes as they warmed them up and helped them relax.
Ruby Winters started the under-8 girls’ race, marking her first official start for Boyne AC. She made all the running and led from the start to the finish, taking the well-earned Gold medal.
Stella Gow and Millie Bell were the next two competitors for Boyne AC in the under-10 girls category, and both of them relished having to compete in difficult conditions. They had a terrific time and can’t wait for their next event, even though they finished just outside the medals. It will be exciting to follow these two young athletes in the future.
In the under-10 boys competition, Conor Hughes was the only representative for Boyne Ac. Over thirty athletes competed in this well-supported 600-meter race. Conor moved quickly to gain control of his position and fought valiantly up the hill to secure seventh place overall and another medal for Boyne Ac.
Next was Caitlin Hughes, who completed the 1200m course and did an excellent job considering the difficult circumstances and the deep terrain. Caitlin is a gifted athlete with more to come.
Will Gow lined up in the under-12 boys race, which attracted over 40 competitors and ran an excellent race, finishing just outside the medal positions. Given that Will is well-known for his track speed, his ability to compete in two distinct sports is incredible.
Sisters Ruby and Isabelle Winters.
Isabelle Winters, who is only eleven years old, competed in the under-14 girls’ race which was well supported. The race leaders broke away early and the leading pack continued to fight their positions throughout. The tough 2100m course did nothing to slow this group down and it was a fight up the hill to the finish. Isabelle took home a well-deserved 7th place medal.
The boy’s u-14 race’s next competitor was Riley Byrne. Riley is a promising young athlete to keep an eye on in the future as he seems to be improving constantly. The course was now getting muddier and even more slippy after each race but it did nothing to stop this young athlete cruising along and even at the finish he was being rallied by other athletes but he held onto his position and finished strongly to also take home a 7th place medal.
The formidable Shauna Rice, an athlete with unwavering resolve and a deep love for cross-country running, was up next, competing in the under-16 competition, a 3,000-meter event that called for extreme stamina, talent, and speed, all of which Shauna appears to have as she finished in the top three, exuding confidence and ease from the outset, handling the entire race with ease. Unfazed by the approaching hill finish Shauna easily secured the second place spot.
The next Boyne AC athlete to compete in the u16 race was Evan Gamble, who also has a bright future. Evan had to pull over due to the difficult terrain with a slight injury, but he will soon be back in action.
Shauna Rice running in the under-16 3,000-meter race.
The incredible 15-year-old Jack Garvey ran the men’s 5 k, jumped into an early lead and never let up. He was not hindered in the slightest by the heavy going or arrival of the rain. Three competitors challenged him for the lead over the last lap, but Jack remained consistent in a fierce contest of speed and absolute endurance, which saw him take the well-earned silver medal. However, he would win the junior race overall because he was the first u18 home, so it wasn’t his only victory of the afternoon.
Also last Wednesday, both Jack Garvey and Shauna Rice competed in DCU’s National Secondary Schools. In the junior teams 1500m event, Shauna won another silver medal, and in the intermediate boys race, Jack Garvey won an individual bronze.
In the minor boys category, Louis Devitt raced a strong race and ended just outside the medals. In the intermediate boys category, Evan Gamble had a strong race alongside Sam Doyle. Ryan McMahon who is known for his talent as a sprinter also took part and fished high up in a field of over 90 athletes.
After an extended bout of injury, Dara Ellie Winters made her cross-country racing comeback at the DCU National Schools Race. Her impressive fifth-place performance in a large field of entries indicates her return to action!
In the event that any interested athletes would like to participate, registration is now open. To learn more, like and follow Boyne AC on Facebook.
