Jeff Cassin Wins Nations 50K Title

Congratulations to Jeff Cassin who won the National 50k Walk Title at the Phoenix Park last weekend. Jeff battled hard throughout the race as he had only seven weeks training before it but was determined to hold on for the Gold. Jeff’s time was an excellent 4 hours 23 minutes and was watched and supported on the day by his wife Ivonne and new baby son.

Ann McGill also put up a great battle in the Senior Women's 20K race fighting all the way with Anna Boyle for the silver medal. The race was won by Olive Loughnane with Anna Boyle just pulling away from Ann over the last 1000m to take the silver in 2.03.47 with Ann winning the Bronze in an excellent time of 2.04.09.

The Penrose family also made the journey to compete in the juvenile races in the Grand Prix of Race Walking. Madeline finished 5th in 6.23 and sister Melanie 7th in 7.37 over the 1K course. The two girls combined places put them in the silver medal position in the Club team result. Brother Michael was also in action over the 2K distance and finished an excellent 5th. Well done to all.

National Championships

Preparation and training are in full swing now for the National Championships which will be held in Tullamore for the U14 to U19 age groups on the 9th and 10th July and the National Inter Club Relays U9 to U19 which will be held in Sligo on the 16th July with the juvenile games (U9 and U10) and the U11, U12 and U13 Championships on the 17th July also in Sligo.

Ulster-N.I. Championships

We had many excellent performances at the Antrim Forum recently at the Ulster/N.I. U14 to U19 Championships where the top four qualified for Tullamore.

Double Gold for Laura Feely in the Shot and Hammer, Double Gold also for Laura Reid in the 300m and Javelin and bronze in the 300m Hurdles. Gold also for Laura Friel in the High Jump – must be something about the name Laura!

Gold in the Javelin for Matthew Kelly, Aoife Whelan in the U15 2000m Walk, Shauna Guthrie in the U16 Walk and Fionnuala Bruton in the 3000m Walk. Shane Bonner tackled this very technical event for the first time and was rewarded with the Gold in the U16 Walk. Breda McGinty continues her winning ways taking gold in the 1500m U16 as did Alan Cavanagh in the U18 3000m. Brendan Alexander won the U20 Pole Vault. Shareen McCrudden won the Javelin. Ciara Gallen bravely tackled the Pole Vault and won the Gold and also won bronze in the Javelin.

Silver medals for Stewart McClean in both the 200m and 400m U19, Paul Doherty in the 100mH, Paul also qualified for the 250mH. Silver for Gavin McCrudden in the javelin, Ciara Hegarty in the 300m, Clara Dunnion in the walk, Aaron McMenamin and Aileen Brennan in the High Jump.

Bronze medals for Clive Heaps in both the Shot and Javelin, Cormac Gallen in both Hammer and Discus and Cormac also qualified for the Javelin, Paula Friel in the walk, Maeve Culhane in the U17 3000mW, Kieran O’Grady in the Discus and also qualified in the Shot.

Other athletes who qualified in 4th place were Lorcan McMenamin 250mH, Matthew Barron Hammer, Karen Ferguson 800m, Darren McGlinchey 3000m, Jodie Stewart Long Jump, Denise Beirne 100m and Geraldine Kelly Triple Jump.

Lifford 5K

Frank Chaney was 3rd Senior Man in the Lifford 5k, Gerard Bogle was 1st in the Veteran Men’s race. Other good performances were from Conal McBride, Ian Ward, Darren McGlinchey, Michael Penrose, Pat McCrudden and Evelyn Crampsie.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Gary Murray on breaking the Donegal Senior 5K record in Birmingham last weekend.

Congratulations to Catriona McGranaghan and Thomas Devine on their marriage last Friday.

Newsletters by Bernie Alcorn, Club P.R.