Ulster Schools' Track and Field Championships 2023

Congratulations to Grosvenor’s track and field athletes who represented the School impressively at the Ulster Schools’ Track and Field Championships 2023, held over Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May, returning home with an impressive medal haul of two gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

The event began on the Friday evening and it was during this session that the School secured both of its gold medals at the overall event. Firstly, it saw three Grosvenor pupils compete in the inaugural Ulster Schools’ Para 100m race, with Year 8 pupil Reuban Kingham producing a brilliant performance to secure gold. In addition, he was followed home by fellow GGS pupils Noah Pye and Matthew Kingham, who also performed commendably to secure silver and bronze, resulting in a clean sweep of medals for Grosvenor – a fantastic way to start the event.

Later in the evening, this opening success was emulated in the Senior Boys’ 4x400 metre relay, which concluded the action on the Friday night. In this race, Josh Ness ran an aggressive first leg to keep Grosvenor in contention at the first changeover, handing over to Thomas McAleer to run arguably the most impressive split of the championships before handing the baton to Karl Martin in second place and right on the shoulder of the leaders. Karl, who was also competing in the Long Jump and Triple Jump over the course of the weekend, got his busy weekend underway with a strong third leg to hand over to Finn Cross in the lead. From here, Finn paced his leg to perfection and crossed the line to win Gold in a time of 3 minutes 39seconds – an impressive result and time, a replication of which should see the boys contend strongly at the forthcoming Irish Championships.

Elsewhere silver medals were secured by Ben Sykes, Year 10, in the Junior Boys’ 100 metres (11.67s) as well as the aforementioned Karl Martin, in the Senior Boys’ Triple Jump (12.37m). Furthermore, bronze medals were attained by Grace Wallace, Year 10, in the Junior Girls Triple Jump (9.17m); the Senior Girls 4 x 300m relay team, comprising Ellie Burgess, Mia Ferguson, Amelie McCullough and Erin Cross (3m 12s); the Senior Girls 4 x 100m relay team, of Lucy Simpson, Amelie McCullough, Ellie Burgess and Erin Cross (54.14s); as well as the Senior Boys 4x100m team of Josh Ness, Karl Martin, David Foster and Omar Simones (48.55s).  

Well done to all of the GGS athletes who competed at the championships and, in particular, we wish the best of luck to our qualifiers for the Irish Schools’ Championships, due held on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June in Tullamore, County Offaly.