Some sporting events are sacred! The FA Cup Final in football, the Ryder Cup in golf, Wimbledon in tennis, the Olympic Games, the Tour De France in cycling, the Six Nations in rugby are examples! And you can add the Waterhouse Byrne Baird (W-B-B) Shield in club cross-country running.

The Shield is the oldest and longest consecutively run club cross-country event in the world, dating back to 1896. The race has been held every year since then, except for 1916 – when it is said that many members of the club were fighting in the trenches in the Great War. The other factor was the proximity of the Magazine Fort to the course, which was then an ammunitions depot and the scene of one of the first casualties in the 1916 Easter Rebellion.

The W-B-B was held during the most part of the Great War, and continued during the Spanish Flu, the Civil War, the 2^nd World War, the Tuberculosis Epidemic, 3 outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease and severe weather conditions in 1962 and 2010. History will show that the 2020 version survived the coronavirus pandemic thanks to the diplomatic intervention of Club President Charlie O’Neill to convince the Office of Public Works (OPW) of the historical importance of the W-B-B Shield and we are very grateful to the OPW for permission to hold the Shield.

Thus the 124^th edition of the ‘Shield’ took place as a ‘time-trial’ on the 26^th December 2020 under strict protocols agreed between the club and the OPW to restrict the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. On a cold morning with the barometer reading 8° and gusts up to 50km per hour a total of 40 athletes toed the line with great expectations, this making it be best attended WBB since the centenary race in 1996.

As the clock reached 11am the starters duo of Club President Charlie O’Neill and former club president Iain Morrison signalled for Deirdre Brennan and Dana Mackey to set off. A rollcall of athletes, coming from different coaching groups within the club, followed… Indeed, many were still to start when the early race leader Deirdre Brennan had completed the first of her 5 two-mile laps in 17.07. Ava Clarke was next, with Cliodhna Carthy – having made up ground on Dana Mackey and Michelle Dawson – setting her stall as a serious contender in 3^rd place.

Deirdre Brennan (35.03) had just completed her 2^nd lap as ‘scratch’ runner Eric Keogh heard the starters whistle. Behind her Cliodhna Carthy was making up group and Ava Clarke had slipped one place to 3^rd.

Deirdre (53.54) still held pole position after 3 laps, with Cliodhna (54.10) gaining – and Ava Clarke (56.46) maintaining the numbr 3 spot. Behind, most of the field were gaining ground, and as a handicapper’s dream – it was still too early on who to predict would win. There were, of course, predictions! Cliodhna, Audrey (Gahan), Barbara (Cleary), Donal (Iremonger) and James (Bolton).

By the end of lap 4 Cliodhna (71.17) was at the front, with Deirdre now one minute behind in 2^nd. The field were closing fast! Donal (72.32) gained to 3^rd, with the youngest athlete in the field James Bolton (73.14) hot on his heels. Craig Scott (73.40), Peter Nugent (74.02), David McConn (74.24) followed, with the big hitters Eric Keogh (77.21) in 22^nd, Louis O’Loughlin (77.35) in 23^rd, with Robert Murphy (78.59) even further back.

The 5^th and final lap in the W-B-B is the crescendo! Its where hopes are dashed, and dream are made! James Bolton (85.39- real-time 62.09) increased his tempo and overtook Donal Iremonger (85.59 – 66.59) with about a mile to go, to become the 2^nd youngest winner of the Shield at aged 16 years and 53 days. Willie Smith was aged 15 when he won the event in 1958, with Joe Dunne (brother of Willie) aged 16 years and 77 days in the previous year. It was a very fine effort by runner-up Donal, who was 3 and a-half minutes faster (in real time) than in 2019.

Craig Scott claimed 3^rd in 86.47 – 66.47 in actual time. Gavin Curtin (87.42 – 61.42), the recent winner of the inaugural Maurice B Ahern Cup for junior and Under 23 athletes, gained from 12^th to 4^th on the last lap. His lap times of 12.18, 12.24, 12.24, 12.21 and 12.15 made him the most consistent-paced runner on the day. Scratch athlete Eric Keogh ran laps between 10.19 and 10.47, gained 17 places on the last lap to place 5^th. His time of 53.00 won him the ‘fastest time’ medal and puts him as one of the fastest to cover the W-B-B course. Club historian Willie Smith claims it’s the fastest time since Donal O’Sullivan ran 52.56 in 1995. Remember that Eric had to contend with 50km gusts!

Louis O’Loughlin (88.54 – 60.24) won the fastest junior athlete medal. His fast last lap of 11.19 saw him gain from 23^rd to 8^th position. Barbara Cleary’s actual time of 63.07 apparently puts her as the 2^nd fastest ever woman for the WBB behind former Irish international Valerie McGovern, who won the Shield in 1985 and 1988. Barbara placed 12^th overall with a handicap time of 89.37. Cliodhna Carthy (89.01 – 83.01), who put in such a spirited performance, had to finally settle for 9^th place. Ava Clarke (93.03 – 89.03) finally placed 30^th overall, beating her father James in a dash to the line.

Among the restricted number of spectators were members of the Baird family. They attended as a mark of respect to the late Davie Baird, who won the W-B-B first the first time in 1920 (100 years ago), and again in 1921 and 1937. As a 3-times winner his name is the middle part of W-B-B.

A special gratitude from all the members/participants to the handicappers and race officials who made it another great occasion. So, a big thanks to Charlie O’Neill, Willie Smith, Iain Morrison, Florence Curley, Craig Scott and others.

A video of the even tis available here. Full results below with time splits available here. The flier for the Shield with full entry list is available here