Champion cup FV September 2022

Finn valley champions cup took place on Saturday last.

This was a bright and fine day at the Finn Valley centre to start the cross country season for many of our athletes who travelled to Stranolar today. Finn Valley AC had organised a challenging and spectator friendly course around the fields at the Finn Valley Centre which provided a good start to the cross country season.

First to put her toe to the line for Cranford AC was Sadhbh Mc bride who ran a great race in the under 8s to earn herself a well deserved bronze medal in this the first race of the season. Great running Sadhbh.

Our under 8 boys also lined up with anticipation to compete across this 500m course and held on well against stiff competition, first home for Cranford was John Patrick Duffy 4th, Oliver McFadden 6th and Dara Gallagher brought this team home. These boys held their composure well over this first loop of the course.

Aoife and Orlagh Cleary lined up for this under 9 race the girls ran 600m around the undulating track at Finn valley both these girls enjoyed their first experience of the cross country track.

The under 9 boys Bobby Brown 7th , Cody Boyce 10th both ran well today with Cody just missing out on a medal.

Fiadh McGinley fresh from her impressive win at the schools cross country earned herself 4th place, Sarah Coyle ran a great race to finish strongly in the U10 girls event.

U10boys ran a storming race over 800m of the Finn valley track and this strong team was led home by Charlie rodgers in a bronze medal position, Faolan Caldwell 11th , Oisin Giles 12th and Ronan Cleary 14th great running by this team today. This team then earned the team 2nd place and silver medals for all.

Cranfords strong under 11 boys had a challenging race over 800m all these boys placed highly today which earned them the team Gold. Oisin Mc Hugh had a strong run and led the team home in 1st place, Roan Ladley 9th, Matthew Giles 3rd , Rory Boyce 13th, Edward Boyce 12th , great running from this strong team today.

In the U12 boys event Oisin Mc bride showed his experience by sitting comfortably in the lead pack waiting to make his move, earning himself a well deserved gold medal today. Lorcan Boyce ran a great race today and finished strongly in this event.

Lilla Gerwatowska had a fabulous run over 1200m and two laps of this track finishing a respectable 7th place in the under 13 girls event today.

Cranford u13 boys had depleted numbers today but these boys did us proud Jerry Coyle( 7)brought this team home with Odhran Mc Groddy (9) and Dylan Finnegan (15) completing this team today.

Karen Neely ran well in her challenging run around this 1400m in the U14 event finishing in 8th place.

Darragh Mc Hugh ran an impressive 1600m race today, settling in well at the front of this pack of U14 boys. The final 500m saw The Rosses runner breaking away but Daragh fought hard and had a great race finishing with a silver medal today.

The final races of the day saw Cranford three U17s race together around this 2k winding course. Caolan Mc Fadden led the boys pack from the whistle and his gold medal position was never in doubt. Miah Fletcher held on well and finished strongly with a sprint finish to capture a bronze medal and Clodagh Neely returning from injury was finding her racing legs again today, good performances by everyone today.

Cranford AC would like to thank all the parents coaches and supporters who help out and encourage our athletes. Donegal Championships next weekend in Carndonagh. If any parent can’t travel please contact us as athletes are always welcome to travel with other parents.