The lights were on in Thomastown for the final cross country race for 2023. Our athletes relished the night and the competition with many achievements. Jack O’Shea 6th and Adam Murphy 8th represented the club in the under 7s. The u9s were out in force. Winter Rose Molloy won individual silver. Other u9 runners were Alicia Murphy, Summer Nova Molloy, Katlyn Phelan and Sarah Kelly. The u9 boys had Conor Kelly, Sam Greene, Adam Walsh, Jonah Cleere and Dara Walsh.
The u11 boys took first team medals with great running by Tom Hardiman 1st, Charlie Norris 3rd, Jake McGuire 4th and Charlie Brennan 17th. the girls had Casey Cleere 6th, Hannah O’Brien 10th, Grace O’Brien 11th, Caoimhe Malone 12th and Ava Walsh 17th.
The under 13 girls were led by Amelia O’Brien who won individual gold and with Ellie O’Shea 14th and Emma Millea 15th the team won the bronze medals. The boys went a step further with Cillian Croke first home – Aidan Malone 3rd – Noah Flynn 5th and Harry Greene 9th – the team won the gold medals.
Our O/35 ladies were also in on the action and they packed extremely well with the result that they won first and second team medals. Individual placings were – 2 Clare Dermody, 3rd Kate Millea, 4th Lisa Collins, 5th Gretta Beckett, 8th Sheila O’Callaghan, 9th Helen Crowley. The men O/35 under the guidance of Eamon O’Connor also won gold. Andrew Smith took individual gold and Graham Bourne won silver. Then with Mike Cullen in 4th and backup from Andy Hanrahan and Paul Crowley first team medals were secure. Happy Christmas all.