Bronze for Gavin at Scottish Indoor Combined Events

Congratulations to Gavin Carlin who put in great performances throughout the day to win the Bronze medal in the U15 Scottish Combined Events. Gavin had four new p.b.'s, 60m Hurdles 9.69 seconds, Shot Putt 10.57, High Jump 1.62, 800m 2minutes 26 seconds and a below par long jump of 4.79m. Gavin is obviously taking after his dad and coach Sean who was a former National record holder in the Decathlon.

Lorcan McMenamin also had a great day with a new p.b. in the hurdles and almost equalling his p.b. in the high jump with 1.50m just 1 cm of his p.b. Lorcan finished in 7th place overall. Well done to both boys on their achievements.

Ulster Winter Track & Field Championships

Our juvenile athletes travelled to Antrim Stadium on Saturday and Sunday last to contest the Ulster Winter Track & Field Championships. Qualification for the National Indoor Juvenile Championships was at stake with the first three in each event qualifying for Nenagh on March 19th and 20th and April, 2nd and 3rd. Although the weather conditions were the worst most had ever seen with torrential rain and wind on Saturday and icy gale force winds on Sunday Finn Valley had thirteen new Ulster Champions at the end of the weekend.

On Saturday, we had Laura Feely retaining her Ulster Title winning the U15 shot, Jodie Stewart winning the U14 long jump with a new p.b. of 4.50m, Mark Bonner winning the U12 600m in excellent fashion from gun to tape, Breda McGinty winning the U15 1500m after an exciting race with Michelle English from Letterkenny A.C., and Stewart McClean winning the U19 400m in an impressive 53.20 a new p.b.

Silver medals were won by the very fast starting Paul Doherty in the U16 60m, Pauric Feely U19 Triple Jump, Stewart McClean U19 60m.

Bronze medals were won by Ryan McDaid who held on in a sprint finish for the line in the U16 1500m, Alan Cavanagh U18 1500m and Geraldine Kelly 60m and Triple Jump U19.

Our U19 boys also put in a great performance in the 4 x 200m relay winning in a time of 1.38.4 and will be looking forward to contesting the National finals in Nenagh.

On Sunday our athletes were also on great form with Gold medals for Paul Doherty in an excellent U16 60m Hurdles race, the fastest of the day in any age group, winning in 9.00 seconds from Jarleth Ruane and Christopher Britton. Gold also for Bronagh O'Doherty who recorded her first Ulster victory ever in the U16 200m running an excellent bend and using all her strength to hold on for gold. Aaron McMenamin who along with all the other high jumpers had a very difficult task jumping against a gale won gold in the U14 High Jump 1.30m, excellent in the conditions. Niamh Doherty showed great determination taking on the U14 800m from the start and had a well deserved victory. Our walkers had an excellent day with Aoife Whelan winning the U15 1000m easily, Shauna Guthrie likewise an easy winner in the U16 1500m race and Fionnuala Bruton having a great battle with Orla Smith of Innyvale but pulling away in the last 150m for victory.

Silver medals for Jodie Stewart in U14 High Jump 1.35m and Laura Friel 1.35m in U16 High Jump also excellent jumping in the conditions, Breda McGinty in the U16 800m and Matthew Kelly in the Shot U14 narrowly beaten for the gold.

Bronze medals for Karen Ferguson in the U14 800m, Nikki Alcorn U18 800m, Clara Dunnion in the U15 1000m Walk, Natasha Duffy U16 1500m Walk and Maeve Culhane U17 1500m Walk. Our 16 boys 4 x 200m relay also got Bronze medals, Ryan McDaid, Paul Doherty, Darren McGlinchey and Ian Ward.

Other athletes to perform well at the weekend were Cormac Gallen 4th in the U14 Shot Putt, Justine Duffy, Tori Laverty, Ciara McGarvey who made the 60m final and was just out of the medals, Mark Dorrian, Colm McLaughlin, Caroline Moss, Donna McBride, Denise Beirne, Ryan McNulty 5th in U13 600m, Kevin Smith, Aoife Gallagher, Rochelle Tourish, Darren McGlinchey 5th In U16 1500m, Brian Patton, Dean Bonner, Ciara Gallen, Ailish Patton, Gemma Vance, Pauric McLaughlin 4th in U15 800m, Jackie Gibson, Tara and Ciara Hegarty, Stefan Connolly and Christopher O'Leary.

National Senior Inter-Clubs Cross-Country Championships

Good luck to all our Senior athletes who will be competing in the National Championships at the weekend.

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