Woodie's DIY AA Inter Club Cross Country Championships

Ward wins bronze medal and gains world championships selction

Talent obvious from the start

Ian Ward from Liscooley came on the athletics scene some ten years ago competing for Donaghmore N.S. Anyone present that day will long remember his obvious talent as he raced to victory. Now many years later with many exciting victories under his belt he arrived in Belfast at the grounds of Queens University on Saturday cleary targetting the top four spot and his passport to compete on the world stage in the World cross-country championships in Edinburgh later this month. He knew the nature of the challenge and indeed his training group all of whom turned out to support him know the challenge and in giving a year away to his challengers the target was clear.

Drama on the last lap

Ian raced sensibly and did everything correctly and on that last lap stood at 4th and then got up to 3rd, fell, recovered, composed himself, and chased down a gap of 60m once again.

His support base did not let him off the hook. Time to move and move he did to take the bronze 14 seconds down on outright victory.

This was an exciting, gutsy and determined performance. An hour later we had the information that yes an Irish team will line up against 78 other countries in the world challenge with the Royal and Prior student on board.

Valley coaches are of the opinion that he needs this experience as he plans to compete at European level in 2009.

His coach Peader Mc Granaghan was delighted, but it was back to training Sunday morning with the group.

Another statistic: Ian is the only Ulster athlete in the four Irish squads. He will train in Portugal over Easter and this quiet young man will simply take it all in his stride. And yes, the Valley lads, some 27 of them, are all set to travel to lend support to him in Edinburgh. What will the Kenyans and Ethiopians make of these wild Donegal men?

Junior women beaten on countback

Valley's junior women were beaten on countback: 91 pts for both themselves and Raheny for the bronze team medals. Again it was a case of introducing them to a 6k challenge as the plan is for bigger things next year.

Breda Mc Ginty, despite injury, 10th was best with Shauna Guthrie, Ailish Patton and Maeve Culhane in support. Mark Connolly has done a good job with these girls.

Clare Scanlon

Well done to Clare Scanlon winner of the world masters ice skating championship over the weekend an excellent return for the former club athlete.

World indoors

A Finn Valley group heads to Valencia this week to take in the World indoors with Patsy Mc Gonagle as Irish team manager and many of the Kenyan and other East Africans under the control of Richard Simms.