Avondale Forest Park Plays Host to Wicklow Community Games Cross Country
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Avondale Forest Park provided a scenic and energetic backdrop on Sunday as hundreds of young athletes from across County Wicklow competed in the Wicklow Community Games Cross Country Finals.
The event featured a full programme of races, with distances ranging from 150 metres for the youngest runners to 2,000 metres for the oldest competitors, showcasing both emerging talent and strong area performances from across the county.
Standout Individual Performances
In the youngest categories, Lakeside athletes made an immediate impact. Caoimhe Behan claimed victory in the Under 6 girls’ 150m race, while Tadgh Donoghue led a dominant Lakeside performance in the Under 6 boys’ event.
The Under 8 races saw Evie Kilroy of Arklow take first place in the girls’ 300m, while Tiernan Scholfield (Lakeside) secured gold in the boys’ race after a strong run in a competitive field.
Lakeside continued to impress in the Under 10 girls’ race, filling the top three positions through Maggie DeRoiste, Viola Kelly, and Sofia Garcia Puyo. Noah Eager added to the area’s success by winning the Under 10 boys’ race.
In the Under 12 category, Amy Sheridan of Westside produced a standout performance to win the girls’ 600m, while Fionn Redmond of Rathdrum took top honours in the boys’ race.
Louisa Martin (Ashford-Glenealy) and Devin Sheehan (Rathdrum) were victorious in the Under 13 races, while Liadh Fitzmaurice (Roundwood) and Domhnall Farrell (Shillelagh) claimed wins in the Under 14 competitions.
The longest races of the day—the Under 16 2,000m events—were won by Matilda Ayton (Westside) and Eoghan O’Reilly (Arklow), bringing an exciting day of racing to a close.
Team Success and Area Strength
Lakeside emerged as the dominant force in the team standings, securing first place finishes in several categories, including Under 6 boys, Under 8 girls and boys, and both Under 10 divisions.
Rathdrum delivered a strong performance in the Under 12 girls’ team event, narrowly edging both Lakeside and Westside, while Lakeside topped the Under 12 boys’ standings.
In the older age groups, Lakeside continued its strong showing, taking team honours in the Under 14 girls and Under 16 girls categories.
Community Spirit on Display
With participation from areas including Arklow, Aughrim-Annacurra, Baltinglass, Roundwood, Rathdrum, Westside, and Shillelagh, the event highlighted the depth of grassroots athletics in Wicklow.
Set against the natural beauty of Avondale Forest Park, the finals not only celebrated competition but also community spirit, with families, coaches, and supporters turning out in large numbers to cheer on the county’s young athletes.
As the cross country season concludes, many of these runners will now look ahead to further competition, building on the experience and success of a memorable day in Rathdrum.
