Newcastle AC
By Siobhan Grant
A FEW days of good drying weather had prepared the City of Belfast Playing Fields for the Ulster Schools Cross Country Championship Final last Wednesday. However, as fate would have it, sleet and some snow made a timely appearance, transforming an already bitterly cold Mallusk into a sub-zero winter wonderland.
Only a fortnight earlier, athletes had earned their places through a series of rerouted courses, new venues, and mixed-terrain qualifiers across the province. Once again, they toed the line, battling not only the conditions but each other for a coveted top 15 finish and qualification for the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country final.
Underfoot conditions were challenging throughout. Sections of the course were heavy and mucky, while others had frozen solid, creating a demanding mix that tested balance, strength and tactical awareness.
For health and safety reasons, the course was adjusted, with the traditional hill omitted after six weeks of relentless rain had destabilised the bank. Despite the changes, the revised route still provided a true test of cross- country running, rewarding resilience, control and determination in equal measure.
Word had spread quickly about the phenomenal performance witnessed at Bishopscourt Race Circuit prior to mid-term. Harry McVeigh, a Newcastle AC athlete competing for St Malachy’s High School, had obliterated the field, claiming victory by a margin of over 40 seconds.
Those who had followed his progression knew that even with such a commanding winning margin, Harry still had plenty left in reserve. Mallusk, they believed, would be the stage on which the full joy and depth of his talent would be revealed to a new audience.
He was a marked man, with many strategies built on following him and not letting him get too far out of reach. It was like fate had played into Harry’s hands, wearing the number 1992, coincidentally reflecting the year his dad, Connaire, had won the All-Ireland Schools Senior Steeplechase, so carrying such a meaningful number, the odds were stacked in his favour.
From the gun, Harry took control in the Mini Boys race, driving the pace from the front and pulling the pack with him. By the first rise in the course at 250m, he had already opened up a substantial gap, leaving the field in pursuit. In true Harry fashion, he stayed fully locked into his own race, seemingly unaware of the action unfolding behind him.
Step by step, he dictated how the race played out, giving a new cohort of athletes and spectators a clear view of the talent he possesses. Crossing the line, 16 seconds in front of second place, he drew no attention to his emphatic win, instead turning immediately to congratulate those who followed him home.
In the Minor Boys race, St Colman’s College, Newry took to the line with a single mission, to bring home gold in honour of their late coach, Rory Friel. Their collective effort paid off as St Colman’s secured victory, with Newcastle AC’s Senan Gosling playing a crucial role in the team’s success.
Harry King also made his presence felt for St Malachy’s High School. Called up late after illness sidelined a teammate, he proved that endurance is simply part of who he is. Harry crossed the line in 32nd place, finishing as the second St. Malachy’s athlete home and delivering a strong performance under pressure.
Next up were the Newcastle ladies, who were certainly not going to be overshadowed by the boys.
Newcastle AC’s Mary Houston (Hunterhouse College) went out with the lead group and matched the pace that was set from the gun. The sections of the course that had churned into slush were navigated with ease, as this natural mountain runner powered straight through them. Last year, Mary finished in 47th place; this year, she crossed the line more than 30 places higher and was pushing hard for a coveted spot in the All-Ireland final.
Despite an exceptional run, it came down to the smallest of margins, a hairline separating Mary and the athlete just ahead. The official time, agonisingly, did not fall in her favour, leaving her in 16th place.
Hermione Sheridan of Assumption Grammar School entered the Intermediate Girls race as one of the younger athletes in the field. The intermediate category combines both Year 11 and Year 12 students, so she was lining up against runners with an extra year of experience.
With the elegant, effortless stride Hermione is known for, she glided over the course, fully aware that the lighter she stayed on her feet, the stronger her run would be, though the biting wind made things just that bit more difficult. She completed the 3200m route in an excellent 13th place, securing her qualification and earning her return to Mallusk for the All-Irelands, as well as making a strong statement for next year’s competition.
The Junior Boys race was once again the one to watch. With such a strong field, it truly felt like anyone’s race, and in the end, it was the underdog who rose to the occasion.
St Colman’s College athlete Danny O’Connor took a remarkable win over the race’s top three favourites, proving that anything can happen on race day. Danny was lining up beside his cousin, Connaire Óg McVeigh, of St Malachy’s High School, who had finished neck and neck with him last year.
The 3200m route was quickly cutting up underfoot, adding another layer of challenge. Only ten seconds separated 5th and 15th place- a testament to the quality and competitiveness of the athletes in this field.
Connaire Óg delivered a phenomenal performance, staying composed in the lead group as the race lead changed hands several times. His final 400m was particularly impressive as he dug deep to find that extra gear. Racing right through the line, he secured eighth place, an improvement of two positions on last year’s result and ready to toe the line again on March 7 at the All-Irelands.
Jamie O’Flaherty of Shimna College was the final Newcastle AC athlete to take to the line in the Intermediate Boys race. Jamie has been steadily chipping away at his times all season and is a familiar sight around Dundrum, often pacing his dad David on training runs.
Jamie’s hard work paid off with an excellent 25th place finish from a field of more than 100 athletes, clocking 15.45 for the 4600m course.
With all Newcastle AC competitors safely across the line, the athletes wrapped up, grabbed hot drinks, and began the long process of thawing out. Connaire Óg McVeigh and Hermione Sheridan will return to Mallusk in a few weeks for the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country final, while Harry McVeigh will be watching closely and taking notes for next year’s Ulster Schools campaign.
Newcastle AC extends its warmest congratulations to every athlete who competed in their district championships and in the Ulster final.
