Eugenia Bateson reports: 2025 Juvenile Awards Night. U12 to U16 Athletes.
On Tuesday 16 th December the Juvenile Awards night took place celebrating the incredible
achievements of 2025. The group has grown in numbers which has been amazing but also
has grown in success. In 2024 we had 30 athletes qualify for National Championships. This
year this figure has risen to 42!! This is not only due to the hard work of the athletes but to
the incredible commitment of the coaching team who give so freely of their time.
A full report will be available on the Club Website following the AGM in March as part of the
Juvenile Captains report, the below are some of the highlights.
We were truly honoured and inspired to have 5 of our very own athletes present these
awards having themselves achieved great things this year and all being selected to
represent Ireland in their various disciplines. Sean Cronin, Lorraine O’Connor, Tom
Breslin in Middle Distance and Cross Country, and Christopher Lynch and Craig Duffy
from our Sprints Groups. All with the exception of Craig competed at Juvenile and Junior
level this year with Craig competing at the U23 European Track and Field Championships.
Ireland selection is within touching distance for the athletes who attended tonight as the age
difference is not that much!!
The 42 National Finalists were presented with their National Finalist 2025 trophy. It gave
great pleasure to present trophies in particular to the athletes who didn’t receive one last
year, who showed such determination to ensure that they had their moment this year. Hard
work pays off and good things come to those who wait, who work hard and who listen to
their coaches.
In addition to the National Finalist Trophy a number of athletes where awarded with their
recently won National Championships medals. Last year, we presented one National
Championship County medal. This year we presented a total of 12 City and Provincial
Medals
At the Even Age Cross Country Championships held in Derry on the 23 rd November, not
only did Luke Tracey achieve a 5 th place individual medal, but Luke led the Dublin Team
home to victory along with Daire Cronin who finished in 30 th – both awarded their Gold
National County Medals and a Bronze for the Provincial Team.
The U14 Boys Team had an outstanding result in the Championships with a Silver Team
position. Luke Tracey finished 5 th , Daire Cronin 30 th , Sam Steenson 38 th , Seamus Phelan
43 completing the scoring 4 with Andrew Lowe and Finn McGurren completing the team, a
mere 8 points off 1 st place!!!
Kate Gill was awarded with a Silver National Championship Medal as part of the U16 Girls
Dublin Team with her 52 nd place finish and a bronze in the Provincial Team
In the Uneven Age Championships held in Abbottstown on the 7 th December Finn
McGurren was the 2 nd scorer on the Dublin Team with Ruairí Donnelly Browne the 3 rd
scorer for Dublin. Their efforts ensure that the Dublin team finished in 3 rd giving them a
National Bronze Medal
The U15 Boys had a fantastic year and though some of the team were unwell on the day
they stll managed to pull out a brilliant performance securing a National Team Bronze.
Conor Kenny had the run of his life with an 11 th place finish and individual medal. Mark
Kelly finished 15 th , Sam Steenson 57 th and Braxton O’Shea finishing the scoring 4 in 80 th .
Seamus Phelan and Hayden Kenny backed the team well. Definitely, a team to be
watched. They achieved Team Bronze, 1 st Dublin Team home. Conor Kenny and Mark
Kelly were also on the Dublin Team that won Gold and Provincial silver.
There were some special awards also given on the night that acknowledged the hard work
and dedication from the various groups.
We have seen so much improvement across our group this year, faster runners, stronger
sprinters, longer jumpers, that this has been very, very difficult to choose one person. This
winner was chosen because of her determination and her wish to do better, do better, do
better. This girl is not our greatest athlete … yet … but if she keeps trying this hard, she will
be. Our Most Improved U12 Girl is – Brianna Lawless
This athlete has quietly grown and improved through this year to a point now where he is
one of our strongest athletes across a number of disciplines. He is dedicated, he can be
trusted to give every run his all, he is focused and he never stops trying. One to watch for
the future Our Most Improved U12 Boy is – Luke Stevenson
This athlete will be in the Olympics … he tells his coaches all the time … he also tells his
coaches everything else. He is one of the most energetic athletes we have ever seen as well
as a great runner. Between asking question after question after question, he tries harder
than anyone and he wants to beat everyone. Our Most Commitment Award for 2025 is –
Lenny Keane Flannery
This person is someone the Coaches have been watching closely in training, as she seems
to be
making great improvements every single month. In this year’s Dublin Cross Country
Championships, she proved them right. Last year she finished in 81 st position. This year, just
one year later, she finished in 44 th place. A massive 37 place improvement in just 12 months.
But this is just the beginning for our Most Improved Middle Distance U13 Girl 2025 – Aoife
Henry.
This person is someone who has been plagued by a recurrent foot injury which has limited
his ability to train properly for several months during the year. However, despite this, when
he’s been able to train, he always gives everything he’s got. It turns out his efforts have
definitely been worth it. Despite all the training he was forced to miss, he still finished 22 nd in
this year’s Dublin Cross Country Championships. This year’s Most Improved Middle
Distance U13 Boy for 2025 – Robin Lane.
From the moment this person joined the Club, she has always shown a great commitment to
training. She fully understands that consistency is the key to continued improvement, and my
God she is extremely consistent. She never seems to miss a single training session. And her
consistency is reflected in the huge improvements she’s made over the year. Most
Dedicated to Training – Middle Distance U13 Girl 2025 is – Grace Byrne.
Very much like Grace, this particular individual, seems to be an ever-present at training.
Come rain, hail or shine, you’ll always find this particular gentleman among the group of die-
hard distance runners. This year’s Most Dedicated to Training – Middle Distance U13
Boy 2025 is – Tom Byrne.
This person has been doing her best, and consistently competing all through 2025. Apart
from
entering the League and Championship races that we as a club were going to, she also
entered the Track & Field B Nationals in Tullamore, where she achieved a PB in the 600m
race despite the extreme high temperatures on the day. The Best Competition
Commitment U13 2025 goes to Aoife Fowler.
In our U14 Distance Group we have a very talented group emerging through. This particular
girl has been with the club for some years and has shown some great potential. She has
had some tough races as she finds her feet and her race rhythm and confidence. Despite
some disappointing races for her she has fought back and worked harder, and I truly believe
she has a talent that will emerge to bring her to great things. The Most Improved Middle
Distance U14 Girl 2025 is Nessa Byrne
Our 14 Boys also has great depth in the squad and a group that are determined, mature
beyond their years, in terms of training and a brilliant work ethic. It was an extremely difficult
job to choose this recipient, but one young man is the definition of a determined and hard-
working athlete who has improved this year with definite potential of more to come. His
breakthrough is yet to come, but it is coming. The Most Improved Middle Distance U14
Boy 2025 is Darragh Kidd
The U15 Girls has also shown great improvement this year and good commitment to
training. One such girl rarely misses training, she listens, she learns and she improves each
session. On top of that she as a smile on her face at every session and is a joy to watch
around the track for the joy she brings. She is a pleasure to have in the group and is
improving greatly. The Most Improved Middle Distance U15 Girl 2025 is Laura Heaslip
Another tough category to pick one winner from is the U15 Boys. This group is incredible for
how they work and train as a team, but one particular boy has had a breakthrough this year
and is really finding himself. He is on the brink of making the team and as the ability to do
so. The Most Improved Middle Distance Boy U15 is Joel Thomas
A new group was formed this year to allow athletes to explore their abilities as Multi Eventers
and Sprinters. This group while in its infancy has shown some great talent and promise.
While still finding our feet with this group a number of athletes have been selected by their
coaches for their hard work.
The Most Improved Multi Events U13 Girl 2025 has been selected for her determination
and commitment to her training. She works hard and listens to her coach which means that
she is getting better and better. This years winner is – Caoimhe Bushell
The same will be said for the Most Improved Multi Events U13 Boy 2025. This boy has
been consistent in his training and has shown that he is keen to compete by taking on the
Cross Country League as he is new to athletics. This years most improved Boy is David
Chilug
Our Most Improved Multi Events Girl U14 2025 is also a young lady who is working hard
at training and showing great promise and improvement. She is working hard and
improving. This years award winner is – Faye McDonnell
Our Most Improved Multi Events Boy U14-16 2025 is a young man who has only recently
taken up athletics. He has shown great attention and always willing to try new things. He
recently did his first race in the NIA live gaining great experience. This years winner is –
Mark Sutton
Our Throws group is showing great promise with a core group now dedicated to this
discipline. The are getting stronger and better year on year and will now doubt continue to
improve and turn into fine senior throwers. Kieran has struggled with this particular award as
it really could go to anyone in the group, but one girl has shone this year and a is a very
deserving winner of the Most Improved Throws 2025 – Eleanor Fanning
Our Multi Events Group as already said is a new group with great potential. On the success
of Kate O’Connell this year many young athletes have been inspired to try various disciplines
which of course includes sprints. While we have already have some great sprinters in this
group one new comer is already showing that she has something special. The Most
Promising Multi Events 2025 athlete is – Daisy Asante Keenan
We also have to acknowledge dedication to training in this group and one young man has
really been outstanding in this area. He brings the fun, he keeps the coaches on their toes
and he loves his training. He is willing to try anything and loves racing to the best of his
ability. This years Most Dedicated to Training – Multi Events 2025 goes to Zakhcar
Horiachi
We are a competitive club and we love to compete. It has been amazing to see so many
compete this year and inparticular across so many disciplines.
We have a number of Best Competition Commitment for 2025 this year which as a coach
is incredible.
This years winners need no explanation why they got their awards and are as follows:
This person who enters everything she can, who tries as hard as she can and wants to win
more than anyone. Everything this athlete does is a competition, her every step looks like
she wants to be stronger and faster and better ,and our coaches have said that they better
not get things wrong, cos Molly will give them ‘a look’. U12 Best Competition Commitment
– Molloy O’Brien
This person has been doing her best, and consistently competing all through 2025. Apart
from entering the League and Championship races that we as a club were going to, she also
entered the Track & field B Nationals in Tullamore, where she achieved a PB in the 600m
race despite the extreme high temperatures on the day. The Best Competition
Commitment U13 – Aoife Fowler
U14/U15 – Peter O’Sullivan
Throws – Savannah O’Neill
Sprints – Laura King
Team Spirit – The U13 Distance Runners group also wanted to present an award for
someone who has shown great Clonliffe Team Spirit. The winner of this award is very new
to the club, and up until a couple of months ago had no experience of racing. The day
before one of the Cross Country Relay races there was a very late withdrawal of one of the
runners due to injury. The Coaches were in a panic as they had nobody lined up to step in.
The call went out, and although he was extremely nervous about his first race, this young
gentleman put his hand up so that the team could still enter the race. The U13 Distance
Runners award for Clonliffe Team Spirit goes to Rhys Sexton
Captains One to Watch – This award has been near impossible to pick. I have changed
my mind every day for about two weeks, sometimes twice a day. It has quite literally kept
me awake at night. The award is for someone who has shown something special this year,
someone who I believe has real potential and someone who I think has yet to have their
breakthrough. So you can see on that criteria how it is so hard to choose one. This person I
believe has real class in their running, in their approach to training and a strong maturity
around the high’s and lows they have experienced in the past year. Their commitment and
their attitude to dealing with their year is bringing them back to their strong form and if they
continue I believe will be one of our stars of the future. This year’s one to watch is – Mark
Kelly
We celebrated our National Champions also for their incredible achievements this year.
One outstanding young man has had an incredible year. Rhys Daly won the National U13
Boy’s Long Jump Championship in Tullamore with a jump of 4.83
We also boast the U13 4 x 100m Relay National Champions with the team of Isaac
O’Neill, Rhys Daly, Channing O’Shea, Max Bamford and Rhy Jenkins
Our U15 Boys Team had a massively impressive win in Abbottstown to take the National
U15 Cross Country Relay Championship title – Braxton O’Shea, Conor Kenny, Haydon
Kenny and Mark Kelly.
Juvenile Harrier of the Year. This is the first time we have had a Juvenile Harrier of the
Year. The Harrier of the Year has been a long standing award with the club and is a privilege
to receive. The Harrier of the Year is someone who has shown enormous commitment to
Clonliffe Harriers, is a true club person, a team player, a dedicated member and a huge
supporter of all that run in the Black and Amber. This person is at everything, Juvenile
Events, Senior Events / Grand Prix races and brings a set of lungs like no other,
encouragement and motivation that pushes every athlete she cheers on to be the best
athlete they can be. She is always a huge supporter of her friends when they are
competing, calculating splits and places and shouting out to them what they need to do to
take that next place. She has an energy that is infections. She is everything a young
Clonliffe Harrier should be. The Juvenile Harrier of the Year is a very deserving – Aoife
Henry
The last award of the night is the Juvenile Harrier of the Year. This award has been won
by many very successful athletes in previous years and is a real stepping stone. Again a
difficult one this year with so much success in the club. However having gone through
results this young man has achieved 4 podium individual positions, 2 National Level. This
young man has a great talent and is only tapping into this, the possibilities are endless,
though indeed this could be said for his training partners. He has shown particular talent in
the 800m and 1500m and achieve 2 nd place in the National Indoors this year and 3 rd in the
National Outdoors. This years Juvenile Harrier of the Year is Braxton O’Shea.
Special Thanks to our Club Presedient Mick Kearney, our Trustee Johnny O’Leary and our 5
International Athletes who presented the awards, Lorraine O’Connor, Sean Cronin, Tom
Breslin, Chris Lynch and Craig Duffy. Thanks to our amazing team of coaches who coach
and mentor our athletes to these achievements.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a successful and competitive 2026
For photos click link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/146364500@N04/albums/72177720330959102