Ian Ward records a personal best on international debut.

Ian Ward stepped out in the Irish Schools colours at Falkirk, Scotland
over the weekend in the 1500m and the Royal and Prior Student performed
admirably.

Ian recorded 4.01.62 to finish 3rd behind Peters and Millington both of
England on 4.00.46 and 4.00.50 respectively.

It's been a long and rewarding season for the valley club athlete
National Indoor 800m Champion, Celtic cross-country Champion and
National 1500m Outdoor Champion.

He is coached by Peadar McGranaghan of Castlefin who has done an
excellent job for many years with underage athletes.

Ian will now recover for a number of weeks and return for training with
the remainder of the youth athletes on August 15th.

In Cork over the weekend a small number of athletes made the journey
with their parents for u-13 age group nationals.

Ryan Kelly a student at Sessiaghoneill N.S. who was discovered at the
local area Primary School Sports got two silvers in the ball throw and
Javelin.

Ryan's father John from Cappry was an excellent triple jumper as a
young lad some years ago. Ryan is also a 1.35m high jumper.

Others to impress were Ciera McGarvey and Justin Browne.

A huge thank you to the parents who travelled.

The national league and Valleys participation was enthusiastic under
the leadership of Seamus McGranaghan and Bernie Alcorn.

Navan was the venue, the target was to make the 1st division final.

The outcome is healthy and positive.

The following is the listing for the 1st six teams nationwide after day one.

Men: City of Derry 124pts, Shercock 118pts, Leevale 109pts, Strabane 109pts,
Finn Valley 107pts, Tallaght 101pts.

Women: Lisburn 122, Meath 103, Finn Valley 100, Wexford 99, City of Derry
94, Borrisokane 93.

It's close and clearly the pressure and focus needs to be maintained if both
teams are to make it to the final outright.

This weekend we have the National Seniors with Brian O'Domhnaill,
Nicola Alcorn and Fionnula Bruton involved.