Day 1 of the Laois Cross Country Championships took place in the familiar setting of Bernard’s Field, Tolerton on Sunday 24th September. Athletes were greeted by wet conditions upon arrival, with the weather detiorating as the programme progressed. Day 1 sees the even ages toe the line and serves as the first County Cross Country event of the year. The course was very similar to previous years, with plenty of hills to really test athlete’s stamina and strength.

In the Girls U10, the St Abbans colours were very much to the fore with the club taking the first 8 places. This also saw the club take both gold and silver medals in the team competition. Ava Brophy took the victory and she was followed home by Penelope McMahon, Realtin Byrne, Lily Knowles, Meabh Kearney, Kate Kelly, Amelia Flanagan, Beibhinn Byrne and the club’s athletes were rounded out by Erin McGuinness in 10th place.
In the Boys U10 Liam Doyle led the St Abbans contingent home with Edward McDonald close behind in 2nd. Conor Keegan, Sean O Doherty, Reuben Kelly, Brenin Haughney, Tom Condron, and Rian Bolton all came in from 4th to 9th place ensuring St Abbans claimed gold and silver team medals. Conor Kennedy, Aaron O’Connor, Conor Boran and Ben Conway completed a clean sweep for the club taking the bronze medals. James Conway, Isaac Fitzgerald, Aidan Conway, Mason O Doherty, Sebastian Harding and Jack Brennan completed the St Abbans athletes in action in the boys U10 with each one of them battling all the way to the line.

The Girls U12 was once again dominated by St Abbans athletes with the first 6 positions claimed by the club’s athletes. Sinead Fitzpatrick led the girl’s home with a dominating performance. She was followed home by Ellie Knowles, Roisin Kearney, Anna Kennedy and Abigail Daly. With Sophie Dowling in 7th and Amelia Fitzgerald in 8th St Abbans claimed gold and silver medals in the team competition. The depth of athletes at this age group was on display again with St Abbans also claiming the bronze team medals. Leah Kavanagh, Naoise Buckley, Sarah Milton and Emilia Pamplega ensure all the medals stayed with the host club.
The Boys U12 was a similarly dominating performance by the St Abbans contingent. The first 11 positions were claimed St Abbans athletes with all team medals also claimed by the club. Eoin Dowling won the race, Shane Kelly, Daire O Sullivan, John Conway, Cathal English, Harry Brennan, Rory O Doherty, Paudi Murrin and Dara Murphy rounding out the top 11 positions. Josh Delaney, MJ Dowling, Adam Mooney, Charlie McIlroy, Oran McCarthy, Sean Townsend and Marcus Harding worked hard in the tough conditions today.

The Girl’s U14 were led home by Chelsey Dooley who finished in 2nd place with Katie Hartnett close behind in 3rd. Zoe Dunne and Molly Kelly completed the St Abbans team who claimed gold by the smallest of margins, just 1 point. Lily O’Neill and Lily Brophy kept picking off athletes as they worked their way through the testing course.
Adam Kelly was our sole participant in the Boys U14 where he paced himself well throughout to take victory.

In the Girl’s U16 Aine Carter claimed the bronze medal with Rachel Dooley and Cara English back in 6th and 7th place. In the U16 Boys race Kalem Buggy led the team home in 4th place with Cian O Sullivan 5th and Shane Stynes close by in 6th. Eoghan Mitchell finished in 8th place with Cormac Dineen in 12th.  The lads just missed out on team gold having to settle for silver with 23 points just behind St Michael’s AC.

Rachel Ayers was the dominant winner of the Girl’s U18 where she led from gun to tape to take victory. The Boys U18 was a similar story with recent addition Craig Finn dominating the race. St Abbans claimed each of the podium places with John Delaney in 2nd and Fionn O’ Sullivan in 3rd place.

The weather got progressively worse as we headed for the Novice ladies race with the wind and rain teeming down. Aileen Lynch was first of the St Abbans athlete’s home claiming a silver medal. Aoife Gallgher was next in 6th place. Carmel Ryan was 3rd home for the club in 10th and the team was rounded out by Cathy Lawlor in 13th place. The ladies efforts in the rain saw them claim silver medals in the team competition. The Men’s race was a very tight affair with the team competition separated by just 3 points. David McEvoy, who is making great progress in the last 12 months took the overall victory, separating himself from the rest of the field and looking strong throughout the closing stages. Richie Harte was next home for the club in 7th place, Conor Barry was 10th and a fast finishing Patrick Dunne finished in 11th place. William Kelly was 14th, John Graham 22nd and Francis Fleming finished the St Abbans team in 24th place. The lads just missed out on team gold, settling for silver behind Oughaval AC.

Upon reflection, it was a hugely successful opening to the Cross Country Season for the club. Through the early age groups the St Abban’s athletes were dominating, claiming all of the team medals on offer up to the U14 girl’s race. There was also a number of athletes missing today due to other sporting commitments. We hope to welcome them back for Day 2 of the Laois Cross Country Championships in 2 weeks’ time. We hope to have more athletes to fill out the older age groups in Abbeyleix on the 8th October. A huge thank you to Bernard Graham and family for hosting today’s event, with no stone left unturned in preparing the venue for the event. Thank you also to all of the club volunteers who made the day a great success. Finally a huge thank you to the parents and athletes who continue to turn up each night to train which leads to very successful days like today.