Wednesday’s Storm Dudley vented its anger on proceedings at the Leinster Schools Cross Country Championships in Santry Demesne. The wind howled, the rain lashed, the ground softened, questioning the resolve and desire of athletes, officials and spectators alike. In truth it was a real cross country day for the purists and none relished the challenge of it more than Raheny’s George Sevastopulo. Running the most astute of races in the…
After two years of frustration, competition finally returned to the Secondary Schools this week with the kicking off of the various qualification races that lead to the prestigious All-Ireland Schools. This being January, it was all about Cross Country. For the uninitiated there are three rounds, the provincial zone championships, the provincial championships and finally the All-Ireland championships. Thus it was that our clubs students depending on the locations of…
Club is family. Never underestimate it. We all have a deeply embedded need to belong. To be part of something that is for the greater good. To help, to contribute, to take part, to be involved. Yesterday in St Anne’s Park Raheny, the spiritual home ground of Raheny Shamrock, the family had a gathering like no other. It started early. January can be bleak. But the second Sunday means the…
What is it about the Dublin masters cross country? Ask any club captain? Try cobbling together a team for the Dublin Senior last October, the Leinster Masters next week or the National Intermediate next month. It’s a gargantuan task? Niggles, birthday parties, long runs in preparation for a Marathon months away are all trotted out. When you do get them on board you wince with dread every time the next…