McGrady Financial Services Junior XC Series Prizegiving

Photos and Overall Series Results

Newcastle, East Down and Burren celebrate the success of the McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series

A large and appreciative crowd packed into the Assembly Hall of Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle on Monday 18th March to celebrate the success of the young athletes who had competed with dedication and determination throughout the five races of the McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series. This year the young athletes of Newcastle AC and East Down AC had been joined by those from Burren AC, adding a splash of colour and extra competition to the races.

The series had comprised five races in a variety of beautiful settings displaying the beauty and scenery of South East Down: Castlewellan Forest Park; Kilbroney Forest Park, Rostrevor; Castleward; Delamont Country Park and Tollymore Forest Park – truly great races in great places. Weather conditions were not always favourable – this was the heart of winter after all – but the young athletes gave everything and battled through rain, wind and mud cheered and supported all the way by parents and coaches from all three competing clubs.

Top local athlete Benny Teer of East Down AC was guest speaker this year and he participated in a question/answer session with the young runners. This was followed by the prizegiving with awards for the first three in each age group and prizes for each runner who completed at least four out of five series races.

P4 and under prizes were won by Amy McCrickard, Lara McCarthy, Anna O’Flaherty, Jamie Williamson, Fionn Carey and Louis Sheridan. P5 winners were Izzy O’Farrell, Hannah Carson, Tierna Bardon, Thomas McKeaveney, Calum McDonagh and James McMahon. P6 winners were Eve Kenneally, Natasha Savage, Catherine McVeigh, Danny Williamson, Pierce Bardon and Joseph McDaid. P7 honours were taken by Niamh Scullion, Kiara Cairns, Lidia Ballocchi,Caoilin Quinn, Josh Faulkner and Ben McGuigan.

Year 8 prizewinners were Sarah Dougherty, Marie Claire McVeigh , Lucy Kenneally, Jack O’Farrell, Gabriel Corrigan and James McKeaveney. Year 9 prizes were won by Laura Green, Aoife Cochrane, Elisha Surginor, Oisin McKinley, Malachai McAvoy and Ardan McAvoy. Victorious Year 10s were Eilis Doyle, Niamh Doyle and Catriona Doyle, Paraic Delahunt, Daniel Molloy and Aidan Hawkins. Year 11+ victors were Dearbhla Magee and Anna Rogan. A further 37 athletes completed 4 or 5 of the five-race series to win a participation prize; making a total of 81 young runners completing the series (see results for a list of names). A very impressive turnout indeed!

The evening concluded with the presentation of the shields to the winning teams based on finishing positions and participation levels. Both were closely contested throughout the five races, but in the end Newcastle AC were able to retain both categories for the third year running – a testament to the strength in depth and commitment of the Newcastle juniors. Special team prizes were awarded to the most consistent boys’ and girls’ team and these were won by the excellent Burren AC Year 9 boys and the fantastic East Down AC Year 9 girls. Each received a perpetual trophy.

A successful undertaking such as this is not possible without a wealth of volunteers and the following contributed greatly to the smooth running and quality of the series:

PJ McCrickard and McGrady Financial Services for generous sponsorship and organisational support; local businesses Hales Fruit Sales and Barbican Supervalu; the coaches, parents and supporters from Burren AC, East Down AC and Newcastle AC; Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle for their generous provision of training and meeting facilities throughout the year; Graham McCauley for photos; Lisa Rice for help at registration; tea ladies Catherine McCrickard and her mum Marie Savage; Darragh McCrickard for speedy registration and results processing – sometimes before the races had even ended! And finally a mention for Newcastle AC coach Martina Hawkins who drives the series from gun to tape ably supported by her two boys, Aidan and Caolan, who are first to arrive and last to leave every race, rain, hail or shine and help with clearing up and typing up of results.

As the spring and summer and longer evenings approach, Newcastle Juniors will soon begin training for track and field events and the upcoming Junior Hill and Dale series. Watch this space for more details.