After a tough winter of rain, rain, and even more rain, it was a welcome change for the Irish Schools cross country team to compete under sunny skies this weekend. However, neither the unseasonably warm temperatures nor the rolling hills of the Faenol Estate in Wales – host of this year’s SIAB Cross Country Championships – were enough to ease the relentless pace across all six races. Underfoot conditions proved equally demanding, with patches of marshy ground and uneven terrain testing every athlete.
Despite these challenges, Ireland’s youthful international squad rose to the occasion, securing one individual medal and five team podium finishes over an exciting afternoon of racing.
Junior Girls
Over the two-mile course, Scotland’s Monroe McBreatry and Millie Glass Park set a commanding pace from the outset. Their confidence proved justified as they broke clear to take gold and silver.
Ireland’s Roxanne Sands (St. Joseph’s, Castlebar) showed tremendous grit to finish fourth in 11:14. With six Irish athletes placing in the top twenty, the team earned a well-deserved bronze medal.
Team Result – Bronze (77 points)
4th Roxanne Sands
9th Ailbhe Finucane
13th Sinead Fitzpatrick
14th Robyn Kennedy
18th Lydia Jordan
19th Naomi McClelland
24th Anna Kelly
29th Sophie Rankin
Junior Boys
The Junior Boys tackled a 4000m course comprising one small lap and two larger loops. The Irish squad held a strong midfield position early on. As the race developed, Donal Coyle pushed into the top ten, with Glen Hughes close behind and Conor Martin and Antonio Bertolo within striking distance.
Despite a determined team effort, Ireland narrowly missed out on bronze, finishing just behind a strong Welsh side.
Team Result – 4th (107 points)
10th Donal Coyle
13th Glen Hughes
19th Conor Martin
20th Antonio Bertolo
22nd Ciaran Smyth
23rd Donncha Walsh
28th Lucas Ballantine
DNF Patrick Lee
Intermediate Girls
Freya Renton’s aggressive start came as no surprise to Irish supporters. Her early pace quickly stretched the field, forming a leading trio within the first kilometre. England’s Sonny Allen made a decisive move after 3000m to take control, but Freya held on bravely to secure an individual bronze medal.
Ava Colreavy produced an excellent race, moving steadily through the field before finishing a superb fourth. With four athletes in the top thirteen, Ireland claimed team silver.
Team Result – Silver (49 points)
3rd Freya Renton
4th Ava Colreavy
8th Madison Welby
9th Holly Renton
12th Ally Duffy
13th Elizabeth Reamsbottom
17th Lucie Cawley
23rd Aoife Murphy
Intermediate Boys
A leading trio set the tone early in the Intermediate Boys race, with Ireland’s Darragh Whelan joined by England’s Jake Ireland and Finn MacLennan. The three athletes battled intensely at the front. Unfortunately, the demanding heat took its toll on Whelan, who was forced to withdraw with just 500m remaining.
Nevertheless, the Irish team showed excellent depth, placing two athletes in the top ten and four more inside the top twenty to secure silver medals.
Team Result – Silver (71 points)
5th Ruby Devereaux
7th Adam Noone
12th Thomas Coy
14th Owen Acheson
15th Samuel Redmond
18th Cormac Leheny
25th Charles Taggart
DNF Darragh Whelan
Junior Mixed Relay
The Junior Mixed Relay, run over 6000m with four 1500m legs, saw a composed and disciplined Irish performance. Niamh McNamara delivered a superb opening leg, handing over in second place.
Jayden Murphy, Neasa Moloney, and Emmet Coyle each maintained strong, controlled efforts, running largely in isolation but executing their race plans perfectly. Their consistency secured a well-earned silver medal.
Team Result – Silver
Niamh McNamara, Neasa Moloney, Jayden Murphy, Emmet Coyle
Intermediate Mixed Relay
Lily Walsh set the tone in the Intermediate Mixed Relay, pushing hard from the gun and breaking clear in the closing stages of her leg to hand over with a strong lead.
Conor Abbott faced intense pressure on the second leg, with Ireland slipping to third before Ruby Farrelly produced a determined comeback, reclaiming the lead with a powerful run. By the final exchange, Ireland held a commanding advantage.
Greg Lyons ran a composed anchor leg to secure another silver medal for the team.
Team Result – Silver
Ruby Farrelly, Lily Walsh, Greg Lyons, Conor Abbott
Congratulations to all who represented us in Wales.
Full results:https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/siabxc/event/
