Report By Michael Tobin (Craughwell AC & competition secretary for this race)

This report originally appeared on The Galway AAI Site at http://www.galwayathletics.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1

The biggest juvenile cross-country race on the Galway athletics calendar was held last Tuesday in Renmore. Over 800 children from over 40 primary schools across the city and the county took part. Organised by Galway AAI, there were separate races for 3rd/4th class girls, 3rd/4th class boys, 5/6th class girls and 5/6th class boys. This year the races had their biggest entry ever with over 200 entered in most of the races and a massive 280 entered in the 5th/6th class boys race. It was going to be a tough battle for teams and individuals to make it through to the Connacht finals. Read on for details...

A very wet sky hung over all of Galway as the teams prepared to leave their schools that morning, with teachers and pupils alike not looking forward to the prospect of getting soaked in the Renmore air. But miraculously the weather cleared as the participants started to arrive in Renmore and the rain stayed away for the duration of the events.

The races got underway shortly after noon with the 3rd/4th class girls off first, followed by the boys, followed by the 5th/6th class girls and finally the 5th/6th class boys. The races themselves were ran off very quickly, with the last race finished shortly before 1pm. The results weren’t as fast (mea culpa!) because of the size of the entry in each race, but we finally got them issued about an hour later.

The standard of racing in all of the races was exceptional, with some very close battles up front and strong running right down through the field. Whether you were in the top bunch striving for medals, mid-pack battling it out with your schoolmates or towards the back of the field striving to complete your first cross-country race without stopping, everyone ran a great race. The enthusiasm and good behaviour displayed by all the participants was a credit to themselves and their schools. Well done!

In each race, the top three individuals, top three teams and next nine individuals not part of these teams all qualify for the Connacht finals which will be held in Calry, Sligo on Saturday 11th October commencing at 1pm with the walks and followed by the cross-country races at 1.30pm. Registration and collection of race numbers is at 12 noon. T

The following are the individuals and teams who qualified for the Connacht finals. The full results of each race are also attached at the end of this article.

3rd/4th Class Girls 800m

Individuals:

1 Grainne McDaid, Craughwell NS

2 Shannon Lee, Scoil Chroí Naofa, Athenry

3 Aoife de Graoin, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh

Teams:

1 Craughwell NS 26 pts (1,5,7,13)

2 Claregalway NS 53 pts (4,10,15,24)

3 Scoil Chroí Naofa, Athenry 94 pts (2,17,33,42)

Next nine qualifiers not on these teams:

6 Grace Gilmore, Scoil Padraig Naofa , Cregmore

8 Shannon Haverty, Brackloon NS, Kiltulla

9 Orlaith Maloney, St Joseph's Carrabane

11 Becky Cawley, Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe

12 Vivienne Mannion, Brierfield NS

14 Elena Ní Mhaoláin, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh

16 Aoife Shorton, St Francis NS, Tirellan

18 Libby Burke, Scoil Róis, Taylors Hill

19 Muireann Ni Cheallacháin, Gaelscoil de hIde, Uarán Mór

3rd/4th Class Boys 800m

Individuals:

1 Jack Fitzpatrick, Esker NS

2 Eoin Rockall, Oranmore Boys NS

3 Liam Forde, Ballyglass NS, Ardrahan

Teams:

1 Oranmore Boys NS 33 pts (2,5,12,14)

2 Claregalway NS 97 pts (10,22,28,37)

3 Scoil Padraig Naofa, Cregmore 108 pts (6,19,39,44)

Next nine qualifiers not on these teams:

4 David Carter, Scoil Naomh Bríde, Moycullen

7 Liam Costello, Belmont NS

8 Jack Coyne, Scoil Chaítriona Renmore

9 Bronson Kelly, Milltown NS

11 Keane Holloway, St Joseph's Carrabane 'A'

13 Brian de Burca, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh

15 Maitiú Mac Oistigín, Gaelscoil de hIde, Uarán Mór

16 Oisin Woodlock, Ballymana NS

17 Luke O'Shaughnessy, Donnaghpatrick NS

5th/6th Class Girls 1000m

Individuals:

1 Alanna Lally, Crumlin NS 'A'

2 Michelle de Burca, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh

3 Laura Ann Costello, Belmont NS

Teams:

1 Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh 50 pts (2,5,6,37)

2 Craughwell NS 'A' 72 pts (8,12,20,32)

3 Scoil Padraig Naofa, Cregmore 83 pts (7,13,21,42)

Next nine qualifiers not on these teams:

4 Maebh Ni Bhrannagain, Scoil Iognáid, Gaillimh 'A'

9 Grace Cahill, Lisheenkyle NS

10 Adele Ni Cheedagáin, Scoil Iognáid, Gaillimh 'A'

11 Ciere Breathnach, Scoil Iognáid, Gaillimh 'B'

14 Ellen Treacy, Ballymana NS

15 Tanj Ní Dhonnabháin, Scoil Iognáid, Gaillimh 'A'

16 Sinead Treacy, St Joseph's Carrabane

17 Lisa Casserly, Ballinderrin NS

18 Sinead Folan, St Francis NS, Tirellan

5th/6th Class Boys 1000m

Individuals:

1 Conor Ó Giollán, Gaelscoil de hIde, Uarán Mór

2 Nicholas Sheehan, Oranmore Boys NS

3 Matthew Freaney, Craughwell NS 'A'

Teams:

1 Craughwell NS 'A' 51 pts (3,5,19,24)

2 Oranmore Boys NS 51 pts (2,7,16,26)

3 St. Patrick's NS Galway 75 pts (13,14,20,28)

Next nine qualifiers not on these teams:

4 Cathal Reidy, Ballymana NS

6 Stephen Coleman, Lisheenkyle NS 'A'

8 Simon Lee, Scoil Chaítriona Renmore

9 Ryan Murphy, Scoil Chaítriona Renmore

10 Darren Mac Oireachtargh, Scoil Iognáid, Gaillimh

11 Ronan Kelly, St Francis NS, Tirellan

12 Keegan Kelly, Milltown NS

15 Oscar Novak, Scoil Chaítriona Renmore

17 Brian Concannon, Brackloon NS, Kiltulla

Full results are available in the attached file.

If you have any queries on the results or on the Connacht finals, please contact me (Michael Tobin) at 087 6591879 or by email at [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you are not already in an athletic club and interested in joining one, there are clubs in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Corofin, Craughwell, Galway city, Lettermore, Loughrea, Portumna and Tuam. For contact details of any of these clubs, please contact Athletics Ireland Regional Development Officer - Paul McNamara at [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 087 2693675