For more photos of the event click here
The annual Fermanagh post-primary schools cross-country provided some very good racing in what were mercifully dry and mild conditions on what is a very demanding course at the Necarne equestrian centre outside Irvinestown on Wednesday last The feature events, the under 17 boys and girls events were won by defending boys champion Kevin McDonnell of St Michael's who lead home his team mates Dennis Green and Paul Foy to a clean sweep of the medals and by Katie Cromie of Devenish College who's team-mate Lisa Johnson took bronze, the two Devenish girls being seperated by maura McDonnell of St Comghall's Lisnaskea.
Not suprisingly the team titles went to St Michael's and Devenish College with a good Lisnasea High school team, most of whom will contest the upcoming McKee cup football final, taking a very good silver medal on the boys In the younger age groups there were impressive wins for Carl Johnson (Devenish College),
Stefan Allen (St Michael's) and Oisin Jensen(Portora) who broke a six year St Michael's strangelhold on the Year 8 boys title, while in the girls, Natasha Doonan and Sarah Jane Flanagan of Mount Lourdes and Kelsey McManus of St Comghall's took gold.
The team events were, not suprisingly, dominated by the grammar schools with their large numbers, with St Michael's taking three boys titles and Mount Lourdes doing the same in the girls.Devenish College and St Joseph's siezed the opportunity provided by the absence of the two 'big' schools to claim the senior girls and year ten boys title respectively.
Overall it is fair to say that these championships, in common with many youth and schools sporting events, reflect the growing societal issue of declining youth fitness, and it is concerning that, in an era of GCSE Physical Education, with it's growing emphasis on cardi-respiratory fitness, that the standards outside the leading few in the
older age groups are well short of what they were twenty or even ten years ago.
None of this should however deflect from the success of those who took medals on Wednesday as they are clearly in the sort of shape to cope admirably with the rigorous demands that these well run championships placed on them. Many of these young athletes will be competing next at the district schools championships in Dungannon in just under two weeks from now when places in the Ulster finals will be up for grabs.