Our Juvenile Club Cross Country Championships was held in Santry Demesne on Saturday 19th September in glorious conditions. The morning started with our U9 and U10 boys and girls starting from the wall garden down the avenue of trees that have seen many a National Champion thunder to the finish line.
Our juveniles put on a fine display of cross country running and for those looking towards Dublin Championships on the 4th October, we are ready!
Our U9 Boy Champion for 2026 is Joshua Hollywood with Cora Costello taking the title for U9 girl. On the same start line our U10’s results are as follows: 1st, Saul Valvari, 2nd Senan Blake and 3rd Zachary Keenaghan. A brilliant race from the girls saw Ciara Alwell take the 2026 girls title, with Louise O’Connor in 2nd and Zoe O’Regan in 3rd.
The U11’s ran 700m and in a very impressive victory Charlie Rooney took the boys U11 title. 2nd place was Conor Chambers with Cuilainn Costello in 3rd. Our girls race U11 saw Leah Horgan’s hard work in training award her the title with Ciara Bannon in 2nd and Neveah Dillon in 3rd.
The U12 and 13 combined race took on the 1000m loop. Eoin O’Sullivan took the U12 Boys title followed by Vladimir Kurockin and the bronze when to John Curtain. Ellie Walsh stormed home to take the U12 Girls title with the silver going to Alice Hassett and bronze to Ivy Haughey. Well done girls. In the U13 race, Lenny Keane Flannery took the Boys title, with Eoghan Delaney in 2nd and Charlie O’Regan in 3rd. The girls also had a fantastic race with Aoibhinn Deignan taking the Championship title, with Anna O’Connor in 2nd and Bethany Hollywood in 3rd.
The U14 and U15 combined races was a brilliant race. Boys and Girls took to the start line together with a distance of 2k. Very competitive runs from all who took part. Finn McGurren U14 challenged Seamus Phelan and Sam Steenson from the U15’s from the gun. Some very mature and tactical running from the boys eventually saw Sam Steenson take the lead down the avenue to take the title, closely followed by Seamus Phelan for silver in the 15 Boys Race. Finn hot on their heals took the U14 title. Conn Feore took a well deserved 2nd in the U14 race with Sena Carson taking the bronze. In the Boys U15 Race, Sam took the title, Seamus 2nd and Darragh Kidd took a very comfortable bronze. These guys were well supported by their team mates and the Dublin Championships looks like it will be a great day out for the Clonliffe lads. Equally the Girls U14 Race is showing fine strength and depth in their squad. Ava Fagan took the title very comfortably and ran a very clever race. Adrianna Madrzynska is showing fine form in her cross country running and took the silver. Sarah Thomas is showing great strength and determination and took a well deserved bronze. While we only recorded the top three in results, the team of 6 in the girls is also looking very good for Dublin’s. Aliyah Riyadh was the sole participant in the U15 girls and used the combined race to prepare what also looks like with be a great Dublin Championships for her as she worked through the mixed field of boys and girls and looked very strong throughout the race.
Our U16 Athletes ran 3k in a combined race with the Juniors, Seniors and Master Athletes. This proved a great experience getting stuck in the mix with the senior athletes such as Colm Rooney, Ian Guiden, Helena Butterly, Laura Tuite and impressive National Cross Country Juniors such as Isla Duncan and Matei Urschai. The U16’s used this experience well and drew from the talent and strength of their club mates as well as putting it up to them. Our U16 Boys are not know to shy away from a challenge and they impressed running shoulder to shoulder with the older athletes. Conor Kenny took the U16 Boys Title, with Chris Collins taking the silver and Braxton O’Shea taking the bronze. As always, the team mates were packing in close behind. A very strong display from the U16 Boys team. The Girls also benefited from this combined race. The ever impressive Kate Gill took the U16 girls title and looked very comfortable as she cross the finish line. The determination of the U16 girls was evident as Alex Wallace and Sophia Tennant battled in a strong sprint finish down the avenue putting their training plan into place, push all the way over the line, take every place!! Sophia pipped Alex on the finish line, both girls pushing each other to the line and again, showing what a strong team they have built ahead of Dublin Championships.
Special thanks to all the parents who lent a had on the day and to all the coaches for their commitment to our young athletes. It was a brilliant day for the Club with the black and amber visible throughout the park. The spirt of the club was tangible, a proud day for the parish!
After all the hard work that has been put in and the results that were shown by every single athlete who took place, we set our minds to the Dublin Cross Country Championships on the 4th October. Entries close on the 26th and there will be NO LATE ENTRIES!!. Don’t put all your hard work to waste – make sure you enter. Below are the upcoming Dublin Competitions