Triple gold for Finn Valley athletes at National Juvenile Championships

Finn Valley juvenile athletes did extremely well at the National Juvenile Championships in Tullamore last weekend winning 10 individual medals in the U14 to U19 age group.

Aoife Whelan, just recovered from injury, was our first Gold medallist winning the U16 2000m Walk to add to her Indoor title. Clara Dunnion finished 4th with Paula Friel also putting in a very good performance in this race.

Shauna Guthrie was just pipped at the post in the U17 girls 3000m walk but had an excellent race recording a new p.b. winning the silver medal.

Fionnuala Bruton and Maeve Culhane contested the U18 3000M walk but unfortunately finished out of the medals.

Paul Doherty was next on track and was determined to win the U17 100m Hurdles to add to his indoor 60m Hurdles Title. Paul put in a terrific finish to win the Gold medal and record a new p.b. of 14.41.

Matthew Kelly meanwhile was competing in the U15 shot putt and his 12.81m throw was equal 2nd but on countback he was awarded the Bronze medal. Clive Heapes also won a bronze medal on Saturday in the U16 Javelin.

Ian Ward was our final medallist on Saturday winning the 1500m U17 with ease in terrible weather conditions. Ian will compete in this event on Saturday in Grangemouth, Scotland as part of the Irish Schools International team. We wish him well.

Other excellent performances on Saturday came from Laura Friel 4th U17 High Jump, 1.50m in torrential rain. Kieran O’Grady 4th in U18 Shot, Laura Feely 6th U16 Hammer, Madeline Penrose in U14 Walk and Jodie Stewart in the U14 Long Jump 4.67m.

On Sunday morning with the conditions still wet and windy Michael Penrose and Shane Bonner competed in the U16 and U17 walks. Michael and Shane both won bronze medals over the 3000m distance.

Matthew Kelly won the silver medal in the Javelin on Sunday with a new p.b. of 36.76m. to add to his bronze in the shot putt.

Clive Heapes who had one bronze in the Javelin on Saturday went one better on Sunday winning the silver medal in the Hammer with an excellent 44.40m, a new p.b.

Laura Feely was very unlucky in the U16 shot as she was in bronze medal position for the first 5 rounds and was just overtaken in the final round finishing 5th. Sharieen McCrudden was also very close in the U15 javelin finishing 4th as did Christopher Gallagher who improved his p.b. by no less than seven metres!

Aileen Brennan also did well in the U15 High Jump 1.45m in windy conditions. Donna McBride put in a great performance at her first national championships in the 250m Hurdles as did Darren McNulty in the U16 Triple Jump finishing 7th in the final. Nicole O’Leary, Cormac and Ciara Gallen also put in great performances in the javelin but unfortunately finished out of the medals. Denise Beirne competed well in the U17 Triple jump and although she only got in one valid jump will have gained a lot from the experience.

The Ulster team for the Celtic Games International will be picked this week and hopefully quite a few of our athletes will gain selection on the back of their excellent performances in Tullamore.

We have fewer athletes than normal competing in the U9 to U13 National Championships this year as the venue is in Cork but the club sends best wishes to Ciara McGarvey, Ryan Kelly, Rosin Ni Chuireann, Ryan Kelly, Justin Browne and Shannon Heapes who will travel with their families.

Sympathy is extended to Hugh Ward and the extended family on the death of his wife over last weekend . THe Ward family were for many years closely involved with the club and of course Anthony is a key member of Letterkenny AC. May she rest in peace.

Best wishes is extended to Ian Ward who competes for Irish schools in Glasgow this weekend over 1500m.

A final thank you to the club officials who travelled with the athletes to Tullamore over weekend including Bernie Alcorn, Christine Feeley, George Gallen, Peader Mc Granaghan, Michael Kelly.