Hundreds of participants turned out for the annual primary schools cross country event at Finn Valley AC this morning.
Around 700 children took part in an exciting day of action to formally open the cross country season in Donegal with over 20 schools represented on the day.
Schools from Donegal and Tyrone were in attendance for the 2026 version of the popular annual event as the cross country term opened in fine fashion.
Muireann Burke from St Mary’s in Stranorlar was an impressive winner of the U13 girls race.
Burke looked in command much of the way and took an excellent victory from fellow St Mary’s pupil and fellow Finn Valley AC athlete Caitlin Gillespie.
Molly McCrossan of Ballylast NS edged out Ellen Rose Carlin from Dromore NS in a battle for third while Eimear Ni Mhuigh (SN Taobhoige) and Hannah May Browne (Sessiaghoneill) were fifth and sixth.
Shay McHugh landed the gold in the U13 boys race, the Scoil Bhride, Convoy scholar out-running Darragyh Coyle from St Patrick’s NS, Drumkeen, who took silver ahead of Harry Houston (Sessiaghoneill).
Ruairi Moss (Dooish), William McGlinchey (St Mary’s, Stranorlar) and Dillon Colhoun (Murlog) placed fourth, fifth and sixth.
On the home stretch of the U11 girls race, Rhea Ni Mhuigh of SN Taobhoige inched away from Dearbhla Mullan (Drumquin National School) to take a super win.
They were followed in third by Ailbhe Coyle from St Patrick’s NS Drumkeen, while Malea Griffin (St Mary’s, Stranorlar), Enya Gallagher (Dromore) and Tamara Kelly (St Eunan’s, Raphoe) made up the first six.
St Patrick’s Primary School, Castlederg pupil Blake Keenan finished strongly to see off a strong, stern challenge from Caolan Agnew (Drumquin) in the U11 boys race.
They were just ahead of Dooish NS’s Jude Martin.
Eoin Cunningham (St Mary’s, Stranorlar), Daithin Bonner (St Caireall’s, Aghyaran) and Cooper Stewart (St Catherine’s, Strabane) were also in the top six.
The U9 boys race was a tense affair all the way to the finish line, where Shay Agnew, in the colours of Drumquin National School, pipping Senan Healy from Sessiaghoneill NS to claim victory.
It was neck-and-neck as they turned the corner for home, with Agnew just getting his nose in front.
Donagh Cunningham (St Mary’s, Stranorlar), was third with Matthew O’Neill (Drumquin), Calvin Laird (St Mary’s, Castlefin) and Adam O’Mahony (St Mary’s, Stranorlar) in the top six.
Caragh McGinty of Dooish NS won the U9 girls race, taking victory from Amber Stewart of St Catherine’s PS in Strabane and Eve O’Donnell, representing Naomh Colmcille NS in Drumoghill.
Murlog duo Lucy Rooney and Calista Bogle completed the top five with Elena Collery of Dooish sixth.
