Get Active with St Cualan’s – A Huge Success for Borrisoleigh Track Attack
An atmosphere filled with warmth and enthusiasm thawed the chill wind that swept across the track on Friday night last in Borrisoleigh when a huge crowd turned out to help the students of Scoil Naomh Cualan achieve their activity flag.
Kindly sponsored by Shanahan’s Centra, the 3km run and walk was an “Integration of the Generations” and the simplicity of the idea proved to be an outstanding success. On a night when the simple thing to do was to sit watching Coronation Street on the TV, many decided to do the opposite. Kids from an age as young as 5 embraced the initiative and gave it their absolute all over the 3km course.
The St. Cualan’s kids were selected into 16 teams and from the minute the siren echoed across the track, every one of them gave it their absolute best to earn points for their teams.
Once the mass of participants converged in the Parish Centre, the scores were amassed and the victors were announced. The first winners of the Scoil Naomh Cualan – Get Active Cup are Team Poland who were captained by Eamon Groome. The other victorious winners were Lisa Carr, Tara Fitzgerald, Conor Browne, Ava Fanning, Ralfs Vilande, Jack Ryan and Avril Bourke.
The second place team on the night were Team France whose medal winning participants were Will Cooney, Niamh Ryan, Charlie Fitzgerald, Grace Stapleton, Shay Quigley, Jim Browne, Oisin Ryan and Joanne Groome.
The third team to climb the winners’ podium was Team Spain. Their team members were Patrick Brett, Therese Groome, Ava Marie Rabbitte, Edgar Reijers, Aoife Ryan, James Maher, Emily Healy and Thomas Stapleton.
Track-Attack would like to express our thanks to Sean and Marie Shanahan for their extremely kind sponsorship for the event. Thanks to Kay Ryan and all the staff of Scoil Naomh Cualan for all their help and cooperation to make the event the success that it was. Thanks to Tom Mason and his reliable team of stewards for their constant support and help, thanks to Teresa Murray and the catering crew who again left no stone unturned in their department. Thanks to John F Kennedy for providing us with his photography skills on the night. Thanks to Christina O’Dwyer for her help with First Aid and thanks again to our brilliant registration team.
We would also like to thank our 2 Track-Attack special guests on the night namely Seamie Callinan and Mickey Mouse. The presence of both added greatly to the overall event. A special work of thanks must go to Joan Cummins who was the link between the school and Track-Attack and worked tirelessly in the days leading up to the event to guarantee that the whole event went off without a hitch.
Zenga’s Podium Finish in Templemore
16 Track-Attackers travelled to Templemore for the Fit4Life Track & Trail 4 mile race on Sunday morning. It was a brilliant event and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Cream of the crop on the day was John Vahey who came home in a brilliant third place to reconfirm the outstanding progress that he has made in the sport of running. We also had some other outstanding performances with a hugely noteworthy performance from Paddy Ryan worth a very credible mention.
The 16 Track-Attackers on Tour were Paddy Ryan, Helena Kennedy Doyle, Mark Fahey, Caroline Hassett, John Vahey, JP McSherry, John Cummins, Donal Ryan, Mary Treacy-Ryan, Pat Keane, Fiona Looby, Trish Ryan, Teresa Murray, Phil Mason and Ger Bourke.
