Valley's Carlin and Bonner take Donegal Grand Prix Series Titles

The Donegal 5k road championships were held in Lifford last Sunday and this also was the final event in the Donegal Grand Prix series. The course was held over a reasonable flat surface with three laps of 1500m loop.

Valley's Kieran Carlin who has ran consistently all summer finished 2nd with a time of 15.13. All the Valley boys packed well together with Kevin Holian 3rd 15.15 and Charlie Gallagher 5th 15.46, Dominick Bonner 6th in a time of 15.48 and he was also the first in the Masters category. Barry Harron 10th 16.07, Simon Ward 11th 16.10, Frank Chaney 12 in 16.11. Valley finished 2nd team behind Letterkenny losing by 3 seconds. Teams are now calculated on individual times rather than placings. Joe Brennan who has been out of the athlete scene over the past number of years returned today and had a great performance to finish 2nd Master in a time of 17.07 with Bernard McCabe 3rd in a time of 17.11. Mark Connolly just returning from injury and sickness also competed and finished in a time of 19.09 and Pat McCrudden 19.30 also finishing 2nd in the over 50 category. Jim Hynes who also battles hard was 3rd in the over 50 category in a time of 19.56. Valley Master men took first team prize.

In the ladies second Clodagh McCool was Valley's first finisher in 2nd spot in a time of 17.36. Clodagh just returned from a world tour now gets back into the competitive competition. Noeleen Porter continues her good form finishing 3rd lady in a time of 17.40. Catriona McGranaghan and Kay Byrne finishing in 18.37 both suffering from the flu. Kay was 3rd in the Master ladies category. Valley's ladies won the team event.

Maeve McElroy was 5th in Masters category with a time of 20.18 and Laura Crampsie was 2nd in the Junior ladies in 20.28.

Grand Prix Series

This was also the final race in the Donegal Grand prix series and overall winners were decided.

Kieran Carlin was the overall winner in the Senior Men's section while Dominick Bonner took the Master award. Anthony Murray was 2nd in the Master men and Maeve McElroy took third spot in the Master ladies.

This now marks an end to the road season and the start of the cross-country season. The County Board will be holding their meeting on Wednesday night and fixtures for upcoming competitions will be set.

Juveniles Cross-Country

Our juveniles will have their first competition of the season on Thursday when County Primary Schools will be held at the Finn Valley Centre. On Wednesday 1st October County Secondary Schools championships will be held also at the Valley center.

Donegal Charity Hospice 3k Ladies Road Race

Valley's Grace Boyle is organising a ladies only 3k road race in Letterkenny on Sunday 5th October. All process of this race goes to Donegal Hospice. All ladies are asked to come and support this cause no matter what level of fitness.

Annual General Meeting

The club's AGM will be held on Monday 29th September at 8pm. All parents and members and anyone interested in the club are asked to attend. New members are welcome.

Training

Finn Valley training continues every Tuesday and Thursday night at 7.30pm and Sunday morning at 10.30am. It is important that all attend training. If you need any information about Finn Valley you can get this information by looking up Finn Valley web site at FinnValleyac.com.