Finn Valley Masters Retain National Title in Carlow

Congratulations, to our men's masters team who won the National Masters Cross Country Team Championships for the 4th year in a row in Carlow last weekend. Our men put in great performances led once again by Dominic Bonner who continues his great season finishing 7th fighting in the leading group all the way. James McMahon, put in a great run despite a terrible start working his way through the field to finish in 8th place with team captain, Pat Hegarty coming back into form at the right time in an excellent 14th with Gerard Bogle completing the scoring team in 35th place. This was Gerard's first time to make a Finn Valley scoring team at national level so many congratulations to him. Great back-up here also from Joe Brennan 47th, Mark Connolly 70th, Bernard McCabe 75th and Gerry O'Doherty who travelled from England in 134th (14th in his own V3 category). The team scores were Finn Valley 64 points, DSD, 118 points, and Rathfarnam 137 points. Donegal won the Silver medals in the Inter-County Championships behind Dublin with Dominic, James, Pat, Gerard and Joe Brennan making the scoring team.

Our women's club team also ran very well to finish in 4th position with Noeleen Porter having an excellent run in 3rd place overall and 2nd in her O/40 category. Kay Byrne ran strongly to finish 11th (5th in O/40), Rosemary Bogle also coming back to good form in 35th place with Nancy McNamee 44th and Gloria Donaghey 65th. Donegal won the Inter-County Championships with both Noeleen and Kay on the scoring team. Donegal won with 38 points, Cork 2nd 41 points and Mayo 3rd on 68 points. This is the 5th year that Donegal has won the Inter-County Women's Masters title.

Intermediate

Teresa McGloin had one of her best runs ever to finish in 24th place in the Intermediate women's race and Frank Chaney also ran very well in the men's Intermediate race in 65th place despite a back problem.

Many thanks to the supporters who travelled to Carlow, Conal McBride, the McGlinchey Family, the Brennan Family and Mary Martin and Coach Neil Martin.

European Champions Cup

Good luck from all at Finn Valley to our women's team and coach Neil Martin who are travelling to Mantova, Italy on Thursday to compete in the European Champions Cup on Saturday. Our club team, who are representing Ireland in this Championships, are Noeleen Porter, Kay Byrne, Catriona McGranaghan and Clodagh McCool.

National Combined Events at Nenagh

Finn Valley had 3 athletes competing in Nenagh at the National Juvenile Combined Events Championship and all competed very well.

Jodie Stewart (U14), unfortunately under par with a bad cold, fought bravely all day and finished 4th. Jodie had a reasonably good hurdles, excellent shot putt (9.08m), good long jump (4.17m), good high jump (1.36m) and went into the 800m with a fighting chance of a silver or bronze medal but despite a trojan effort just missed out on a medal.

Aileen Brennan competed very strongly all day and was particularly pleased with her new p.b. of 4.09m in the long jump, Aileen also had a good hurdles, shot and very good high jump (1.39m) and although very tired at the end of a long day gave it everything in the 800m to finish in 8th place overall.

Aaron McMenamin, also competing in the U/14 age group in his first Combined Events showed true grit throughout the day and put in great performances in the hurdles, long jump, shot and particularly in the high jump were he had a new p.b. of 1.40m and indeed finished off with an excellent 800m despite it being his least favourite event to finish 9th place overall. Congratulations to David Hegarty, Killybegs A.C., who won the U/14 boys Championship.

Scottish Indoor Championships

Our Juvenile athletes are heading to Scotland on Friday to compete in the Scottish Indoor Championships which will be held on Saturday (U13 & U15) and Sunday (U17 & U20). The bus will be leaving the FinnValley Centre at 9.00 a.m. sharp going via Letterkenny (Dry Arch) 9.20 a.m. and on through Bridgend. Good luck to all.

Newsletters by Bernie Alcorn, Club P.R.O.