Finn Valley Masters Take Silver Medals in National 10K

Finn Valley Masters Men's team was 2nd in the National 10K Road Championships last weekend. There was a great battle for the team medals with Civil Service taking 1st place in a cumulative time of 100 minutes 26 seconds with Finn Valley 2nd on 101 minutes 22 seconds and Tullamore in 3rd position. James McMahon finished in 6th place in a time of 33.13 minutes, Dominic Bonner 7th in 33.33 minutes and Pat Hegarty 3rd in 34.40 minutes.

Many congratulation to Jim Hynes who won the V6 category in this race, a well deserved victory to this very committed athlete.

Brendan Alexander continues to improve at the Pole Vault finishing 6th with a new p.b.in the National Universities Championships in Dublin on Saturday. The new runway has now been completed at the club and it is hoped that more athletes will follow Brendan’s example and take up this challenging event.

The Donegal Schools Track and Field was held in Buncrana last Friday where Finn Valley athletes, representing their various schools, made their presence felt. Our athletes completely dominated the throwing events winning all Javelin titles and also scoring highly in the Shot Putt. Our high and long jumpers were in great form also with many new p.b.s as were our sprinters and middle distance athletes who put in many outstanding performances. This is good preparation for the Ulster District Schools which will be held on 11th/12th of May in Antrim.

On Saturday next there will be a Donegal v Connaught match in Sligo with events for under 16, under 17 and over 17. All track & field athletes are encouraged to attend, guest competitors will be allowed.

The North West 10K will be held in Letterkenny on Sunday next starting at 3 p.m. It is hoped that there will be a big turnout for this event which raises thousands for charity every year.

On the coaching front our young athletes have been busy with many of our top juveniles attending the Irish Academy of Athletics in Dublin on the 16th April. The coaching academy has proved a terrific success with our athletes mixing with the other top juveniles in the Country and being coached by Irelands International coaches. Eamon Coghlan gave a very inspiring talk before the training sessions began and surprise guest was non other than David Gillick, European Indoor 400m Champion.

Last Sunday a North West Coaching Course was held at the Finn Valley Centre with a very large group of athletes from most clubs in the North West in attendance with all events covered including the Pole Vault. Coaching at the course was National Director of Coaching Stephen Maguire, Eamon Harvey, Patsy McGonagle, Mary Kearns, Joe English, Bernie Alcorn, Brendan Patton, Christine Feely, Patsy Doherty, George Gallen, Bosco Reid, Sean Carlin, Anthony Ward and Damien Crawford. This was a very worthwhile course which will be repeated again next Sunday also at the Finn Valley Centre. Registration will be at 10.15 a.m. cost of course 2 Euro per athlete and all events will be covered again.

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