April 10, 2018 
A great day for our four Kilkenny athletes in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, England, when all four gilrs were part of the Ireland teams that secured bronze medals. Hannah Kehoe (Gowran), Elenore Godden (KCH), Hannah O’Keeffe (Thomastown) and Tara Ramasawmy (St Senans) all representing their respective schools, were competing on the Irish team.
The race was held over a tough, hilly cross country course – where could you get tougher than in Robin Hood country! The distances were slightly longer than the girls were used to, and the opposition was very different too. With the exception of Hannah O’Keeffe who made her International Debut in January of this year, the other girls were experiencing running against Scottish, English and Welsh athletes for the first time.
With the splendid backdrop of the Elizabethan mansion “Walton Hall” set on the hill, dominating the parkland below and the Spring sun high in the sky, the four Kilkenny girls embarked on a new step in their athletic careers. The parkland had some tough challenges, climbs, wooded area’s and a bit of mud here and there. Nothing our girls could not manage. After all one must remember the conditions in Carriagnore for the All Irelands!!!!!
In the Junior girls Hannah Kehoe finished 19th and Elenore Godden 31st. Both girls are Loreto, Kilkenny educated. The race was won by Bea Wood of England, with England also taking the team victory.
In the Inter girls, Hannah O’Keeffe was 21st and the 4th Irish girl home, with Tara Ramasawmy finishing 28th and moving up one place on the Irish results. Hannah’s school is Loreto Kilkenny whereas Tara’s school is the Presentation Waterford. The Inter race was won by Ella McNivern of England, with the team victory also going to England.
In the Inter Boys Ireland were 2nd and in the Junior Boys Ireland were 4th. The highest placed Irish person on the day was Thomas Connolly in 10th place in the Inter Boys. Oh, and England won that team victory as well.
Well done to all the girls – this is a big experience for them. And it is a credit to all the girls hard training and the coaches dedication. May this be the first of many international experiences. Now let the fun begin….. enjoy your post race fun and finally hang up those cross country spikes and dust off the track ones.
Athletics Kilkenny 
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