Munster Schools Cross Country

My boys are so enthusiastic about their cross country they couldn't wait for the weekend to start but as luck would have it the weekend started early with the East Munster Schools cross country championships in Waterford on Friday. The Schools competition can be tough as you can find yourself running against competitors one and even two yrs older and this was the situation on Friday.
Even so we were confident enough of a team victory despite not having our schools cross country international Tom Walshe who we were resting with a slight injury. In the end despite a very good showing we had to settle for second behind De La Salle Waterford. Cian Hodgins in 4th was our first man home. He was giving away two yrs to his competitors so should be well pleased. Luke Purcell in 7th and Jamie Moloney in 9th put in great performances and Sean Moylan and Sean Hayes completed the Nenagh CBS team and we are already looking forward to the Munsters in Clarecastle next Thursday week 13th Feb as we should have a full squad out.
Ben Walshe despite being only 13 has waited what seems like forever to get his chance to run in Post primary schools cross country but his day arrived on Friday and he took his chance with both hands winning the Minor boys race.
He dominated from the start and raced away to win by 100m and led his team to the silver medal position much to the delight of School coach Gary Scully. Gary has an exciting few years ahead going on the talent that's going to arrive in Nenagh CBS over the next two yrs.
So after two training sessions on Saturday it was back to Waterford Saturday evening for the Munster Star Awards in the Tower Hotel. Nenagh Olympic had two award winners on the night.
Cian Hodgins won the Tipperary cross country athlete of the year which after the difficulties Cian had the previous year due to reaching 5'11" at just14yrs yrs of age comes as a welcome respite.
Seán Carolan was our other award winner with Tipp Track and Field athlete of the year and Seán had a busy weekend with awards as the previous night he won an award from the Nenagh Guardian Sports Awards in The Abbey Court Hotel.
On Sunday Ben Connolly competing in Manchester at Vault Manchester was in great form and cleared a new PB of 3.71m to continue his early season fine form.
Next Saturday we are in Wicklow with our U12 boys for the national cross country relays and on Sunday some of our seniors are competing in the AAI Games in Abbottstown, Dublin.