Valley Successes at Mullingar

Finn Valley athletes, Senior and Juvenile, travelled to Mullingar last weekend for the National Senior Inter-Country Championships and the juvenile uneven age groups Championships. Congratulations to the organisers Mullingar Harriers and Athletics Ireland for the great course and excellent organisation. The brilliant weather added to the enjoyment of the occasion.

Senior Inter-County Championships

In the Senior Inter County Championships Donegal won the silver medals in both the men's and women's Championships with many Finn Valley Athletes scoring on both teams. In the women's race, which was won very impressively by Rosemary Ryan, Finn Valley's Catriona McGranaghan 20th and Kay Byrne 22nd both ran very well scoring on the Donegal Silver medal winning team along with Margaret Synott, Letterkenny and Bridie Trearty, Cranford.

In the men's race Finn Valley's Jerome Brooks was Donegal's leading runner in 16th place with the ever improving Barry Harron 24th, Ciaran Carlin 25th and Charlie Gallagher, continuing his comeback in 30th all making the scoring team for Donegal along with Gary Crossan and Pauric McKinney from Letterkenny. Dominic Bonner also ran well in 36th position.

Juvenile Championships

The Juvenile Championships proved to be a bit of a roller-coaster experience with many ups and downs but that is the nature of the sport. Finn Valley athletes winning a total of 26 medals in the individual, Club, County/Inter-provincial categories.

The Under 11 boys got us of to a great start with Mark English from Letterkenny having a terrific win from gun to tape with Finn Valley's Ryan McNulty in hot pursuit taking the individual silver both boys clear of the chasing pack. This was a great run from Ryan whose only other experience at National level was in Tullamore in July where he had a very nasty fall at the start of the 600m; the race was stopped while he was given medical attention and then restarted but his injuries were too severe for him to give his best. Indeed Mark English won that 600m race as well. Ryan had great back up from Emmet Patterson 23rd, Colm McLaughlin 33rd, Andrew Gallagher 40th, Mark Bonner 48th and Ciaran Brennan 84th. Finn Valley won the silver medals in the team race on 98 points, just an agonising 1 point behind K.C.H. with Letterkenny A.C. 3rd on 123 points.

The under 13 girls had a bad day with one of our top athletes Gemma Vance falling at the start and getting spiked but bravely finishing the race. Fionnuala Lindsay was our first scorer 51st, Ailish Patton 78th, Aoife Whelan 93rd, Mairead McGill 105th, Karen 115th and Gemma Vance 121st. The team finished 11th but will no doubt be back to fight another day.

The under 13 boys team, were badly hampered by an injury to Pauric McLaughlin 29th, normally an individual medallist, just missed out on medals by 4 points, Philip Browne 43rd, Dermott Brennan 62nd, Gerry Boyle 64th, Christopher McBride 74th, Patrick Geary 80th. However, this is a very strong team and they will also no doubt be back in medal position again. Pauric McLaughlin had the consolation of winning a bronze medal as a scorer on the Ulster team in the inter-provincial Championships.

The under 15 girls saw Breda McGinty return to form with an excellent 10th position running a year out of her age group and should give her confidence for the under 14 race in Killybegs on the 14th December. Jackie Gibson another under 14 athlete also ran very well to finish 23rd with Tara Hegarty 55th, Bronagh 63rd, Shauna Guthrie 67th and Maeve Culhane 78th. The club team finished 5th with Breda and Jackie winning bronze medals as scoring members of the Ulster team.

The under 15 boys, although they felt they did not run as well as they could, won the silver medals in the team race which was good considering they are all under 14 and will be determined to go one better in Killybegs to defend their title from last year. Ian Ward was the lead scorer in 27th place, Kevin Mossey 38th, Ryan McDaid 46th, Shane Bonner 58th, Diarmuid 82nd and Kevin Gallagher 86th. Ian also won two bronze medals as a scoring member of both the Ulster and Donegal Teams and Kevin Mossey and Ryan McDaid won bronze medals as scorers on the Donegal team.

Finn Valley had only one athlete in the under 17 girls -- Nikki Alcorn -- who ran very well to win a bronze medal as a scoring member of the Donegal team. This county team did very well to finish 3rd despite the absence of their top runner Joanne English due flu.

The under 17 boys team finished 6th but every member of the team is under 16 so it was certainly a good enough performance. Alan Cavanagh ran very strongly to finish an excellent 17th with a very good run from Mark McGowan 35th, Stefan Connolly 60th, Enda Doherty 95th and Brian Patton 96th. Conor McConnell had to pull out of the race due to sickness.

Mark McGlinchey was our only competitor in the Under 19 6000m -- Mark ran very well over the very tough course and finished 66th scoring on the Donegal Team who finished 4th.

Even age group National Championships in Killybegs

The athletes will now look forward to the even age group National Championships in Killybegs on the 14th December when we will be in a much stronger position as most of our teams will be competing in their own age groups.

This weekend

Club captain Mark Connolly will be taking a team to compete in the Malcolm Cup in Ballyclare this weekend. Letterkenny A.C. will be running their Turkey Trot on Sunday; for those interested registration at 11.00 a.m.

Juvenile Christmas Party

The Juvenile Christmas Party is at Thursday 18th December, 7 p.m.

Boxing Day Race

Keep in mind to encourage your families and friends to take part in the clubs Boxing Day 5K Race, Run/Walk to raise money for charity, burn off the Christmas dinner and have a bit of fun as well.

Training

Training continues Tuesday and Thursday 7.30 p.m. and Sunday mornings 10.30 a.m.

Bernie Alcorn, P.R.O.