Finn Valley Women's Team Compete in European Champions Cup

Our senior women's team travelled to Mantova in Northern Italy last weekend to compete in the European Champions Cup Cross Country. The conditions although cold and frosty were good for the 5K race. Our lead runner was Noeleen Porter who finished in 36th place in a time of 17.51minutes with Catriona McGranaghan in 42nd (18.06), Clodagh McCool 44th (18.25) and Kay Byrne who was suffering from a bad stomach bug turning out for her team and finishing 48th (18.50). The team finished in 12th place which was a good result as the standard in Cross Country running in Europe is so high. The individual race was won by former Olympic Champion Fernando Ribero running for a Spanish club, with Anilia Rosa from Portugal 2nd and a Kenyan runner, running for an Italian club, was 3rd. Coach Neil Martin, who travelled with the team, was happy with this result.

Scottish Indoor Championships

Our juvenile athletes travelled to the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow last weekend and enjoyed the experience very much. Brendan Alexander was our top performer winning a Bronze medal in the U20 men's pole vault. This is a new event for Brendan, who is one of the most dedicated athletes in the club and is a fitting reward for his perseverance. There was great exitement as Brendan set two new p.b.'s in the competition. This was a great performance by Brendan, who is a Science Student at Letterkenny I.T., and will give him plenty of motivation to keep improving at this event.

The U13 & U15 athletes competed on Saturday with Christopher O'Leary unlucky to miss out on a final qualification by a mere one tenth of a second in the U15 400m. Cormac Gallen was one of our top placings with an excellent shot putt (7.66m) competition finishing unfortunately just out of the medals in 4th position but should be delighted with such an excellent result. Aileen Brennan, Jodie Stewart, Siobhan Gallagher and Paula Friel all competed in the U15 High Jump with Aileen very happy at equalling her p.b. of 1.50m in 6th place, Jodie (1.35m), Siobhan had a new p.b. of 1.30m and Paula (1.20m). Aoife Whelan (2.44.1) and Ciara Hegarty (3.01.27) competed well in the U15 800m as did Mark Bonner (2.38.79), Ryan McNulty (2.41.02) and Gerry Boyle (2.43.12) in the U13 800m.

Laura Feely, competing a year out of her age group, was very close to a medal in the U15 Shot finishing 5th just 50cm out of the medals. Next up were Gavin Carlin (1.55m), Lorcan McMenamin(1.50m) and Aaron McMenamin(1.40m) in the U15 boys high jump all competing well with Gavin setting a new p.b. Lorcan just 1cm off his p.b. and Aaron equalling his p.b. Gavin also set a new p.b.of 5.07m in the Long Jump where he finished 6th and just failed to qualify for the final of the 60m Hurdles. Lorcan also competed well in the 200m (28.93) and the hurdles and Aaron, who is also out of his age group this year competed well in the long jump 4.19m.

Jodie Stewart and Aileen Brennan were back on track again for the 60m Hurdles with both girls hurdling well. Jodie just failed to make the final. Jodie also competed well in the Long jump. Ailish Patton, Niamh Doherty, Tara Hegarty and Emily Murphy all ran very well in their respective heats of the 1500m but unfortunately did not make the final.

Shane Bonner showed his famous true grit and determination in his heat of the 1500m U15 sprinting to the line neck and neck with another athlete providing great excitement for his supporters and was rewarded with a new p.b. of 4.40.1 and a place in the final.

Ciaran Brennan competed in theU13 200m and ran well to record a time of 31.21. Donna McBride finished 3rd in her heat (30.91) and Christine O'Neill 4th (31.18). Matthew Kelly competed well in the U15 Shot Putt although also out of his age group this year. Matthew had won the silver medal last year in the U13 Shot.

The U17 and U20 athletes competed on Sunday with the aforementioned Brendan Alexander getting the day off to a great start with his Bronze medal in the Pole Vault. Laura Friel finished in 9th place in the U17 High Jump equalling her p.b. of 1.50m and very narrowly missing 1.55m. Kieran O'Grady was very close to a medal in the U17 Shot Putt (11.69m) lying in bronze medal position after the first 3 rounds but unfortunately went back to 5th in the final three throws just missing the bronze by 15cm. However, this is a good indication of Kieran's ability and hopefully he will win a medal at the Irish National Indoors in March. Paul Doherty ran into trouble in the U17 60m Hurdles having a problem with the first hurdle stumbled but got himself back on track to finish very strongly and should have a good run next weekend in the Ulster Championships were he will be competing in the U16s and the hurdles will be a bit lower.

Laura Reid put in a fine run in the U17 300m (45.78) and will be targeting the 300m Hurdles this season. Nikki Alcorn was next on track competing very well in the final of the U20 1500m where she finished in 4th place in a time of 5.43.28. Gemma Vance competed very well in the U17 1500m in a time of 5.57.43. Next up were the U17 boys in the heats of the 1500m where we had 3 contestants from the club, Ian Ward who just failed by one place to make the final running an excellent 4.32.92, Enda Doherty who put in a great effort in his heat but was disappointed with his run in 4.39.19 and Brian Patton who took on his heat from the start 4.41.53.

Next on track were Stewart McClean and Brendan Alexander competing in the 400m with Stewart just failing to make the final in 54.44 finishing in 2nd place in his heat. Stewart also competed in the triple jump just after the 400m and did very well to jump 11.12m in his first every triple jump competition. Denise Beirne was our last track athlete in the U17 200m and competed very well but did not make the semi-final.

Thanks to the club coaches who travelled with the athletes for this very enjoyable weekend, Patsy McGonagle, Christine Feely, Bernie Alcorn, Brid McMenamin, Brendan Patton, Sean Carlin, Maureen Doherty, Celine Friel and club athletes and parents Joe Brennan and Noreen Bonner who were a great help over the weekend.

Next weekend the Ulster Juvenile Indoor Championships will be held on Satuday and Sunday in Antrim and Sean Carlin will travel back to the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow for the Scottish Juvenile Combined events with Gavin and Loran McMenamin. Good luck to all.

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