The fifth annual Cumann na mBunscol Iarthar Cill Mhantáin Cross Country Championships took place in the grounds of Valleymount National School on Wednesday 26th October 2005. With a record entry of sixteen schools and five hundred young athletes this event is going from strength to strength. This year four new schools were welcomed into the competition, Scoil Naomh Brid of Knockananna, Rathmore N.S., Jonathan Swift N.S. from Dunlavin and Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa from Glendalough. Under Eights The girls' race was the event on the programme and Caoimhe Ni Mhaonaigh of Lacken N.S. celebrated her last day in the school, before moving to England, with a well deserved victory. Katie Miley of Glendalough was an impressive second winning a first medal for her school in these championships with Susie Osbourne of Rathmore in third. In the team event Rathmore with a total of 23 points took gold from the host school Valleymount in second with St. Mary's, Blessington third. Tom Harney from Rathmore won a hard fought battle from Mosope Adeybola of St. Patrick's N.S. with Rathcoyle N.S. picking up the bronze medal in the under eight boys' race. In what was the closest team event of the day St. Patrick's pipped Valleymount on countback to take gold with Lacken only three points behind in third. Under Tens The under ten girls' event saw Cliona Carthy lead from the start to record an excellent victory with Róisin Tisdall (Kilbride) an impressive second and the fast finishing Claire Schofield (St. Mary's) was third. St. Mary's won the team event with Lacken second and Rathmore third. The under ten boys' race was a battle between two pupils from Rathmore with Peter Tuohy pipping Adam Harney. Lacken's Caolán McGorman finished a very impressive third. In the team event Rathmore were clear winners with Scoil Nioclais, Dunlavin second and St. Mary's third. Under Twelves The under twelve girls’ winner was Siobhán McGinley (St. Mary's) continuing her recent impressive run of form with Grace Clifford (Rathmore) second and Claire Walsh (Kilbride) running well to finish third. Rathmore took the team award from St.Pat's with St. Mary's third. Eoin Taggart of Kilbride underlined his potential with a runaway vicory in the boys’ under twelve race. Sean Corrigan from Tynock N.S., the smallest school participating, took silver with Nicholas Skelly of Kilbride in third.Scoil Iosaf from Baltinglass won the team event from Donard with St. Pat's third. Under Thirteens In a very close finish Kelly Keane (Stratford) outsprinted Brigid Carthy (St. Mary's) in the under thirteen girls race with Niamh Bowdren of St. Pat's winning bronze. St Mary's won the team event from St. Pat's and Dunlavin were third. In the final event of the day Jamie Headon won a great battle with Dunlavin's Ritchie Harte in the boys under thirteen race. Shane Brady of Rathmore was a close third. Rathmore were clear winners of the team gold with Dunlavin second and Blessington third. In keeping with the Cumann na mBunscol emphasis on participation all the athletes received a certificate as a momento of their day. A big go raibh maith agat to all the helpers on the day who made the event possible and to Anne Halpin of the Irish Red Cross who provided first aid on the day.