After the usual bustle getting athletes signed up, the host team of EDAC parents and coaches swung into action to get the packed schedule underway. The P4 and under race is always a big draw particularly with the girls. 17 girls took part in that age group so it was a full on battle with a string of girls coming in each a mere second apart. It was Saoirse Morgan of Burren AC who took first place with Anna Kelly and Mary Houston of Newcastle battling right to the line for 2nd and 3rd place in that order. The boys were let off next and zipped round the 500m course in no time and with only Newcastle on the books they were fighting for in club bragging rights. Harry McVeigh slipped a lead on Joseph Uhomoibi for the honours and Connaire Og McVeigh was in 3rd place.
The P5 Boys had Darragh Ruddle Newcastle in first place one second ahead of club mate Conall Kelly. Jarlath Kearne (East Down) who is improving by the day was a good 3rd. There was a good scrap between 5th 6th and 7th place in which excited the onlookers. William Taylor of EDAC managed to hold off Ronan Grant with a spirited surge on the hill sprint. The P5 Girls’ podium was split between 3 clubs. Murlough in first with Maisie McVeigh who lead from the off, Dromore in 2nd (Maisie Nicholl) and East Down in 3rd (Caragh Moore). In the P6 Boys, Henry Houston of Newcastle ran strongly to finish first with Aaron O’Boyle in hot pursuit. Rory Morris still fairly new to cross country gave EDAC a third place slot. The P6 Girls was again a Newcastle one and two with Erin Easton having the edge over Sarah Uhomoibhi. Dromore took third with Hannah Topping.
