Celtic Champion Ian Ward

Ian Ward from Liscooly, a student at Royal and Prior, Raphoe recorded one of the most impressive performances ever by a young Donegal athlete by winning the Celtic U-17 title from a Scottish opponent in Dublin on Sunday.

Always in the lead bunch he trailed in second with 500 meters to go but then the chase began as he dug in returning a performance that all associated with him knew he had but until now rarely was it seen. This victory will give him a great deal of confidence.

Incidentally, Ian Ward's older brother Simon, now a corporal in the Irish Army was on Finn Valley's winning national junior, novice and intermediate teams formally while younger sister Rebecca is national U-11 champion.

Scotland defeated Ireland for the international team award but Ward's club team were in the medals with Aidan Connolly from Aghyaran, who was a Tyrone inter-county player at U-16 level in 2005 and Convoy's Shane Bonner.

Valley had a U-17 girls team led by Breda McGinty and supported by Shauna Guthrie, Clara Dunnion and Ailish Patton, who also collected medals, but it was evident that they just are not fit enough so hopefully they themselves will have been aware of that fact post race.

A good learning experience.

This weekend 10 athletes participate in the Scottish Indoors accompanied by club secretary Noreen Bonner, coaches Christine Feely and Brid McMenamin.

All younger athletes 6-9 years have returned to training.

Newsletters by Niall McGonagle, Club P.R.O.