Tonight Clonliffe Harriers proudly welcomed home to Santry the club’s first European gold medal winner Efrem Gidey. Efrem on Saturday, May 24 made history, not only from a Clonliffe perspective but from an Irish athletics perspective, as he became the first Irish athlete to win the European 10,000 Cup.
There was a huge crowd of fellow clubmates gathered in the Clonliffe Harriers clubhouse to pay tribute to Efrem and to welcome him back to the club, in particular an amazing turnout of young Clonliffe Harriers who formed a guard of honour all the way from the hall to the club bar. Every single one of those young athletes cheered loudly as Efrem made his entrance and then either shook his hand or produced a picture for Efrem to sign. Efrem being Efrem provided an autograph for everyone. It must have taken 20 minutes for him to get up the stairs!
Tributes were paid to his achievements by the club Captain Noel Guiden and club President Mick Kearney and then Efrem took the microphone and gave an inspiring speech impressing upon the athletes that the will to win and to perform comes from within every athlete, he then thank everyone in Clonliffe Harriers for all the help and support given to him.
It was once again another outstanding Clonliffe Harriers occasion. A huge thank you to Eugenia Bateson, Stephen Bateson, Noel Guiden and Paddy Tuite for organising the reception.
