'Sports do not build character, they reveal it', Harvard Brown.


A mere two weeks ago, Sean Daly achieved what seemed to be impossible and set a new world record of two hours and six minutes for the blindfold two ball bounce. His time decimated the old record of 35 minutes.
Shortly after this remarkable feat, Sean told me he had set his sights on two other records he felt would suit him. The first was the one minute two basketball bounce which stood at 656. On Saturday evening a new video arrived on my Teams screen. The video portrayed our amazing sixth year in a performance so devastating, the old time barely registered and Sean's new record stands at 800.


The thrill of sporting participation may be cancelled at the moment but the hopes and aspirations of our students are very much alive. My understanding of heroism has shifted from watching professional sporting athletes on television to the wonderful students of our school and their sporting accomplishments. SCS students are doing extraordinary things, setting new world records and pushing themselves to the limit in challenges or just participating for the sheer joy of involvement. The real stars are those who are getting on with the action.


The 16th Challenge.

Caoimhe Flannery's solo and circle challenge attracted our biggest number of participants to date and we welcome all new members. Students' speed, agility and co-ordination were tested to the limit in this competition and second year rugby and gaelic star Matthew Benn shows he has these fitness traits in abundance. His astonishing 125 in two minutes gave him his first victory to date and is testament to the great work being done by the O'Donovan Rossa club.


Another star emerging from the Skibbereen club and a new name on the top of the leader board is Megan FitzGerald, who produced her highest finish to date with 113, putting 1E on the map and a second place finish.


Third to seventh positions are all familiar names in all our challenges, students who have one thing in common, an insatiable desire to achieve higher levels of performance and the ability to find ways of achieving it. Our overall leader Katie Kingston stretched her lead at the top with a third place finish here and a score of 108. She was followed closely by her near rival Caoimhe who scored 104.


Daniel Nzunu's 97 gave him fifth.

Two Castlehaven stars Hannah Sheehy and newcomer Kate O'Connell shared 6th position with 86. The athletic Gavin Sweetnam was just two points behind with 84. Joining the action for the first time and going into the top ten with 81 came Eoin O'Sullivan. I expect to see a lot more from Eoin in the weeks ahead and indeed all the new members who have joined us.


A number of students were knotted together between 60 and the high 70s. 1E's Rachel Connolly was 9th with 76. Second years William O'Donovan and Tara O'Regan shared tenth with 71. 1Ds Ella Hayes scored 70 in 11th , Abaigh Buckley 65 in twelfth and Frank Hurley 60 in thirteenth.

14th to 18th were as follows, Kate O'Donovan, Orla Seymour, Cathal McCarthy, Daisy Griffiths and Michael O'Leary.


Challenges 17 and 18 have been sent to your teams app. .

Test number 17:

Place a starting marker on the ground and then a second marker 5 steps away. Each time you dribble the soccer ball around the marker and back you score one point. This is a one minute challenge.

Test number 18:

This is especially for you Abigail and Ronan but of course all are welcome. Get someone to shuffle a pack of cards and then lay them randomly on the ground with the card numbers concealed. Then turn 2 cards. If they match, take them up. If not keep going until every card is turned. You have to take note of the number of times you turn two cards. This is quite a tough challenge and will test your memory skills. To spice things up, I will buy the winner of this challenge some delicious chocolate and leave it in Fields for you. Good luck everyone.

If anyone wants to join the action and did not get the details, please let me know.

Ms O'Mahony.