Friday 26th of September will be remembered by many as a glorious autumnal morning with warm sunshine and blue skies as far as the eye could see. However, for the current Year 8 cohort it was their day of reckoning, a Malachian rite of passage so to speak – the annual Martin McMullan Memorial Cross Country Race.

Fortune definitely favoured the first years as Mr Fulton, Head of P.E, observed that conditions were ‘almost perfect’. That said - a 1.5k run at the City of Belfast playing fields at Mallusk is certainly no walk in the park!

After some inspired words from Mr McKillop (father and coach of Ireland’s double gold-winning Paralypmian Michael McKillop) the enthusiastic Year 8s set off with gusto and maintained a blistering pace throughout.

149 boys participated in the event this year, including Caolan McBrien in a wheelchair (due to injury) pushed by classmate Brendan Keenan.

Ruairi Gallagher (8E) was the eventual winner, followed by Daniel McComiskey (8D). Jack Maguire (8A) secured third place. The winners of the team competition (of which the top six times for each class count) were: 8D (59 points), followed by 8E (64 points) and 8C (115 points) in second and third places respectively.

Medals will be awarded at a special assembly next week.

Well done to all the staff and pupils involved in making this year’s event such a success.