Another successful Kildare Cross-Country Championships

Another successful Kildare Cross-Country Championships

Girls u11 County Champions - Crookstown-Millview Photo Credit: Crookstown-Millview

It was back to Hodgestown again last weekend for the second stage of the Kildare cross-country championships. Boys and girls, ladies and men all competing for county titles. The intermediate ladies title was a well fought race with Gillian Clyne (Clane) out kicking Aoife McNerney (St Coca’s) to take the 2025 Intermediate Ladies crown. The men’s title went to Luke Gilmartin (Celbridge AC). There were some outstanding juvenile races where close and competitive races added to the day’s excitement. Iris McCartan (Clane), Patrick Guther (Newbridge) and Laoise Byrne (Suncroft) became double county cross-country champions, as they added their U14, U16 and U12 titles to those that they won the previous week.

This week there was an eclectic mix of competitions with Schools Indoors, University Cross-Country and Masters Track and Field taking place. The Irish Universities Cross-Country was held last Saturday at Tagmon Park in Dublin. Evelyn Coughlan (Trinity College) was the highest placed Kildare athlete. Coughlan finished 13th in the ladies race. Racing overseas this week was Bobby King (St Coca’s) who took second place in the over 80 European Masters 5000m racewalk in Madeira. King is a former Irish International. Finally, Max Crampton and JP Archbold (Newbridge) took silver in the Leinster Schools Junior and Intermediate pentathlon last week, representing their secondary schools the Patrician College Newbridge.

The Healthy State of Kildare Juvenile Athletics 

Almost 400 juvenile athletes gathered at Hodgestown for the county uneven age cross-country last weekend. Host by local club Tir Mona, the course and proceedings were once again rolled out with impeccable precision and efficiency. The large numbers and good quality of the races are a positive indication of the healthy state of Kildare distance running ahead of the upcoming Leinster Championships which will be held in county Kilkenny in less than two weeks time. Impressive performances came from Laoise Byrne (Suncroft), Garbhan Prendergast (St Coca’s), Alexander Guther (Newbridge) and Iris McCartan (Clane).

Nugent and Holland are the U9 county champions 

The girls U9 kick-started the days activities with 42 seven and eight year olds lining up to claim the first title of the day. Seven clubs were represented by these young athletes, all eager to run for their clubs over the 600m distance. Edel Nugent (Newbridge AC) took gold, Rose Hurley (St Coca’s) claimed the sliver and Isla O’Connor-Doyle (Naas) just edged into the chute ahead of Roise Brennan (Newbridge) to take the bronze medal. Nugent and Brennan were joined by Siomha McElroy and Olivia Fitzgerald as they took the gold medals in the team category. St Coca’s were second team with Naas AC taking the third spot ahead of St Coca’s B team.

The boy’s U9 was an equally competitive affair with even more athletes gathering on the starting line. 62 boys all eager to race of their club were off like bullets once the starter blew his whistle. Sprinting hard to get out in front, there were six different clubs in the leading bunch of eight athletes. Turning into the home straight Tom Holland (Naas AC) took the lead and held that lead all the way to the finishing chute. Behind Holland it was Theo Vwale (Celbridge) who emerged for the second spot on the podium. Robbie McCabe (Newbridge) managed to hold off a fast finishing James Phelan (Crookstown-Millview) to claim the final podium place. Once again it was Newbridge AC that took the top team honours (Robbie McCabe, George Eustace, Sean O'Sullivan and Eoghan Ruffer). Naas AC took silver with St Coca’s third.

Girls U13 County Champions - St Coca's Photo Credit: St Coca's
Girls U13 County Champions - St Coca's Photo Credit: St Coca's

Gold for Byrne and Prendergast in the U11 county championships 

As the excitement of the U9’s calmed down, the attention turned to the slightly more experienced u11 athletes. Once again large numbers participated in both the girls and the boys races. A prelude to the Leinster championships, it was important that these athletes got a good run over the 1,500m distance, giving their coaches an indication of how race-ready they were for a step up to the bigger stage in Kilkenny next month. The girls race had over 60 athletes tightly packed on the starting line. The pre-race favourite was Laoise Byrne (Suncroft) who had a phenomenal victory in the girls U12 race (out of age) the previous week. True to form Byrne hit the front from the start and was never in danger of being beaten. Crossing the line for gold, she became a double county cross-country champion. Eibhlin Valentine (Naas AC) took silver ahead of the u10 county champion Amelia Brogan (St Coca’s). Fast finishing Sienne Cooke and Amy Sheridan (Crookstown-Millview) finished fourth and fifth. They led their team-mates Ava Jones and Hannah Bewley to yet another team gold. The team competition was an exciting one as just two points separated the top three teams. Naas AC finished just one point behind Crookstown-Millview on 35 points with St Coca’s third with 36 points. It was good to see so many clubs once again taking part and finishing inside the top ten.

The boys U11s had just as many athletes as the girls toeing the starting line. Off to a flying start were a strong group of Newbridge athletes along with Garbhan Prendergast (St Coca’s), Sean Browne (Crookstown-Millview), Sean Campbell (Le Cheile), Ted Davis (St Coca’s), James Valentine (Naas) and Cian Tuite (Suncroft). Just behind this group a swarm of St Coca’s athletes were working hard to maintain their team position. As the race progressed the leading group split with Tom Barron and his Newbridge team-mates doing their best to shake off Garbhan Prendergast. It was not an easy task and Prendergast was not going to give up that easily. Rounding the final bend the St Coca’s athlete sprinted for home to take the boys U11 title. Tom Barron took silver and his clubmate Billy McCabe the bronze. With athletes occupying positions number two to five, Newbridge were easy winners of the team title from St Coca’s in second and Crookstown-Millview in third (just five points ahead of the second St Coca’s team).

O’Neill and McCabe take the U13 county titles 

Chloe O’Neill (Clane AC) looks poised to take another Leinster individual medal next month as she took an impressive victory over Ailbhe Byrne (Suncroft) in the girls u13 2,500m. O’Neill along with Byrne and a group of six athletes stamped their dominance at the outset. As the race progressed the Clane AC athlete created space between herself and Byrne who had also moved ahead of the group. Behind these two a different race was unfolding. Lucy Doolan (St Coca’s) made an attempt to move ahead but was tracked by Ava Waugh (Eire Og) and Kate Kinsella (Clane AC). Waugh who finished in the top twelve at last year’s All-Ireland Championships was having a much better race this week and moved strongly over the latter stages of the race to eventually take the bronze. The St Coca’s team of Lucy Doolan, May Hughes, Holly Fagan and Amy Hedderman took gold ahead of Suncroft and St Coca’s B.

Girls u13 Top Three L to R: Ava Waugh (Eire Og), Chloe O'Neill (Clane), Ailbhe Byrne (Suncroft) Photo Credit: Kildare AAI
Girls u13 Top Three L to R: Ava Waugh (Eire Og), Chloe O'Neill (Clane), Ailbhe Byrne (Suncroft) Photo Credit: Kildare AAI

The boys u13 presented a challenging race for the athletes as the fast pace set by Charlie McCabe (Newbridge) and Michael Brennan (Naas) left many of the boys with plenty of lactic after just 1km. Working hard to sustain the their positions and battling for top honours all the way, it was an exciting race to watch. Charlie McCabe took gold with Brennan settling for silver. Bronze went to Adam Claney (Clane AC). Newbridge had a narrow victory (just two points) over Naas for the team gold with St Coca’s taking third place. The Newbridge winning quartet were: Charlie McCabe, Patrick Guther, Freddie Boland and Paddy Crampton.

McCartan and Brennan impress U15

Iris McCartan has been running well all year. On the back of a terrific track season where she claimed national gold, the Clane AC athlete took an impressive victory in the girls U14 at the first day of the county cross-country championships over a week ago. Her victory last Sunday was just as impressive. McCartan easily navigated the 3.500m course, looking comfortable throughout. Chasing McCartan were the Newbridge pair of Robyn Browne and Kate Hargaden, with Browne easing away from her team-mate as the race progressed. Back in fourth place Aisling Loughlin (Le Cheile) was having a superb race as she managed to move ahead of the Naas pair of Caoimhe Brennan and Anna Garcia. This pair were joined by Sophie Geraghty to bring the team gold home to Naas. Newbridge were second with St Coca’s third.

The 2024 Leinster Cross-Country champion Jack Brennan (Newbridge) glided across the fields, with his glimpses of his trademark smile along the way. He looked every bit of the Leinster champion that he was, as he pulled clear of the chasing peloton, oblivious to its composition or status. An exciting race was unfolding in this group as St Coca’s and Newbridge athletes battled for team honours with every position being as important as the one before. Team-mates Eoin Kelly and Matthew Ennis (St Coca’s) managed to shake off the opposition and take silver and gold. In the end the Newbridge team of Jack Brennan, Jayden Murphy and Harry Boland took gold – a meagre two points ahead of the St Coca’s trio of Eoin Kelly, Matthew Ennis and Eoghan McNearny. A good run was had by Zian Soobaya (Celbridge) in sixth place.

Newbridge dominate the girls and boys U17 

Just as they did with the u16 girls and boys races the previous week, the Newbridge U17 athletes dominated both U17 races last weekend. This time around it was Mia Lennon who took gold over the U16 champion Hannah Cash. No strangers to Leinster titles and medals the girls were led by Mia Lennon with Newbridge occupying the top four positions. Lennon, Hannah Cash and Eabha Brennan took the team title for Newbridge. Their B team of Elsa Browne, Ciara Barrett and Eve Dowling were runners-up.

Boys u17: Robert Gleeson (Newbridge) Alexander Guther (Newbridge) Jonathan Kenny (Kildare) Photo Credit: Kildare AAI
Boys u17: Robert Gleeson (Newbridge) Alexander Guther (Newbridge) Jonathan Kenny (Kildare) Photo Credit: Kildare AAI

It was gold too for the boys U17 as the trio of Patrick Guther, Robert Gleeson and Shane Matthews finished ahead of Naas AC for team honours. The boys race was won by the U16 champion Patrick Guther who has been a revelation this season. Behind Guther it was Kildare AC’s Jonathan Kenny who took silver, after he worked hard to surpass Guther. Robert Gleeson took the bronze.

Cadwell and Gilmartin are U19 champions 

Numbers in the U19 races as expected were low. A similar situation being experienced in other counties as athletes knuckle down to leaving cert and opt of specialising in just one sport or drop out of sport altogether. Ruby-Jo Cowdell (Naas) took the honours in the girls u19. Jack Gilmartin (Celbridge) took the boys U19 title as he lead his Celbridge team to overall team gold. The call will be out by the county board to get athletes out for the Leinster’s in an effort to compile a county team in these age groups.

Clyne and Shanley take top honours in the Intermediate races 

Just as they had done for the county novice, Aoife McNearny (St Coca’s) and Gillian Clyne (Clane AC) once again battled for top honours – this time the county intermediate title. McNearny may have entered the novice as the “unknown” but such was not the case last Sunday. The county novice champion was the red-hot favourite for the title. Covering her every move on this occasion was the Novice runner-up Gillian Clyne. The Clane AC athlete was fastidious in her approach to the race, intent on making the break this time around. While both athletes did battle all the way for the title, this time around it was Clyne who sprinted clear to take the gold. Ruby-Jo Cowdell (Naas) finished third with juvenile walking champion Sinead O’Connor (Celbridge) in fourth place.

As Rob McCabe and Andrew O’Brien were not racing, this paved the way for Clane’s Terry Shanley to take the men’s intermediate title for his own keeping. McCabe lingered with the race field for the initial stages of the race before pulling ahead, gaining more ground as the race progressed. He finished almost 300m ahead of the Newbridge pair of Eoin Murphy and Eric Boland, taking the Intermediate title. There was a double team victory for Celbridge AC as they added the men’s Intermediate team title to the ladies.

Irish University Cross-Country Championships 

Several Kildare athletes represented their universities at the annual IUAA cross-country championships held last Saturday at Tagmon Park in Dublin. Competing for Trinity College, Evelyn Coughlan (now a member of Tullamore Harriers) finished 13th, the second scorer on the Trinity team that finished fourth. Meave Caffery (St Coca’s) was the first lady home for Maynooth University as she finished in 23rd place. Behind her Saoirse Reynolds (Le Cheile) was the third lady home for UCD. Reynolds had an excellent race to finish 26th. Also taking part was Caoimhe Dempsey (Naas). Over 100 athletes participated in the 5000m event.

Keeley Hogan TUD and Adam Berry (Maynooth University) – took part in the men’s event. Both athletes are members of Le Cheile AC.

European Masters Silver for Bobby King 

Bobby King (St Coca’s AC) took silver in the 5,000m racewalking competition last week. This year’s European masters take place on the island of Maderia. Recording a time of 37:16.65 King finished second to Torkjell Spigseth (Norway) in the over 80s men’s event. He also finished an incredible 6th overall in the men’s 75+ race. Competitors from all over Europe are gathered on Maderia where they will contest a plethora of events. Athletes are aged 35 and above. The St Coca’s athlete will also take part in the 10,000m racewalking event this week.

Leinster Schools Combined Events 

While Cross-country may be all the range on the outdoor scene, indoors the Leinster Schools Combined events took place in Abbotstown, Dublin. Inspired by Ireland’s Kate O’Connor there were record entries this year.

Max Crampton took silver in the junior boys pentathlon with JP Archbold taking silver in the intermediate boys event. Both have thus qualified for the national championships to be held next month.

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