There was standing room only in the old schoolhouse in Vicarstown on Monday night this week as the local Oughaval Athletics Club gathered to acknowledge a considerable recent success.
The club hosted the Leinster juvenile Grade B championships in Stradbally Hall, a major undertaking in its own right, and this year they also won the Paddy Ward trophy, awarded to the overall top club award for the performances of their athletes across the various age groups.
In total there were athletes from 50 different clubs from across the province. Dublin clubs compete in their own championship while athletes from Longford run in Connacht.
Oughaval have hosted this Leinster competition every year since its inception in 2023 which is based on the well-established All Ireland Juvenile Grade B competition.
Girls and boys compete at U-11, U-13, U-15 and U-17 with athletes who don’t win individual or team medals at the two days of Leinster cross country competition (even ages and uneven ages), eligible to participate in this Leinster Grade B event.
There were over 400 competitors in this year’s event, compared to 230 in the first year.
An indicator of the popularity of the event is that it has grown from 230 athletes year one to over 400 this year, and there is every indication that it will continue to grow.
As with all Leinster Juvenile Cross Country events, the top 12 athletes win individual medals and will be on the podium.
In addition the top three club teams and top three county teams also win medals.
As well as club officials, parents and athletes, also in attendance in Vicarstown on Monday was Leinster Athletics chairperson Catherine Duffy and Thomas Cosby, who facilitates the hosting of the event on his land and also the summer time training sessions in the new Laois Cricket grounds in Stradbally.
SEE ALSO – Science and innovation the winners as Colaiste Iosagain host annual Sci-Fest event
