The boys in 5th and 6th class recently took part in a fantastic new initiative ran by Triathlon Ireland. The Splash and Dash was a great success and well done to everyone who represented the school so well.
Here is Oscar’s account of the day:
My teacher Mr Collins asked us if we wanted to do a competition called Splash and Dash. He gave me and some other people a note to get signed by our parents. I gave Mr Collins my note so I could go. When he called out the people who would go I was hoping that I got on the team and I did. A week or two before the competition we started to practice by running laps around the yard. The first time it was difficult but over time it became easier. Once the practice run finished I felt like I was ready to do the event but it wasn’t for another week so we did even more laps around the yard. The final practice run before the competition I felt confident I could do well in the competition. We were given another note that said what we needed to bring spare clothes and runners but at the end of the note it said we had to be in school at 8 40 am.
That morning there was heavy traffic so I decided to get out of the car and walk down the steepish hill. I was going as fast as I could and fortunately I managed to make it on time. I was on the yard talking to Jamie about the Splash and Dash. When we went inside everyone that was going to Splash and Dash was buzzing. When we got in we did a Brainteasers test. After that was done we went to the stairs to get the jerseys. I was given number twenty two.
For the bus ride to the pool I was sitting next to Ricco but I wasn’t really talking much. I was looking out the window most of the ride. I saw some really cool houses. When we got to the park that the run was held in a polite man showed us to the gallery where we had to put our school bags. There were three or four different schools there. My school got to watch two other schools swim but when it was our go to swim Jamie got in the pool first a bit after I went in. I was stuck behind Alex Rohu but I managed to get passed him but for most of the swim it felt like someone was pulling my feet trying to drown me. When I finished the swim, I had to go outside and dry off put my socks, jersey and runners. After I got changed I set off to the run. At every flag there were people cheering you on. It was a very exiting experience.
On the way back to school I was sitting next to Jamie. When we got back before getting off the bus we had to thank the guards that drove us back to school. When we got inside we went straight to the bathroom to get changed.
By Oscar Cronin, 5th Class
Togher Boys' National School 