Schools from Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Antrim descended on the Millbrae as the event made its post-Covid return.  Every bit as encouraging as the participation numbers was the performance levels from the lead protagonists.

Just north of 300 children participated in an exciting morning’s action with 15 schools represented.

There were some impressive winners on the day, including Aileen Logue of Annagry National School, who coasted to a fine triumph in the under-11 girls race.

It was a day of delighted for west Donegal schools with Eavan Ward of Belcruit winning the under-11 boys race, Faela Houston of Acres NS taking victory in the under-13 girls race and Annagry’s Odhrán Rodgers claiming the gold in the under-13 boys race.

The last of the schools cross country events at Finn Valley AC was in 2019 with 2020’s versions falling due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The big winners were the children who participated in schools sports for the first time in 18 months.

This is an open cross-country event, over shortened distances with the top club awarded the McGonagle Cup.

The top eight in each race and the trop three teams in each race will receive medals.

There are races at U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U15 and U17 age groups.

On the same day, there will be beginners cross-country races for men (4k) and women (3k).

The action gets underway at 12.30pm with entry €3 per athlete. 

Any enquiries to finnvalley1@gmail.com

Finn Valley AC’s jubilee year school’s programme was launched this week by three-time Olympian Brendan Boyce.

THE cross country season is about to swing firmly back into action at Finn Valley AC.

The club will be a hive of cross country action in September with a big week later this month.

Two days of primary schools cross country will be followed by the secondary schools equivalent and the McGonagle Champions Cup.

Devine delivered a masterful last 150m to win the W45 800m gold.

Finn Valley AC’s Noreen Bonner also took a pair of golds, winning the W65 800m and 1500m races.

Bose was the bronze medalist in the under-20 girls race.

At the UK School Games, Finn Valley AC’s Blaine Lynch set a new PB in the men’s javelin.

Competing at Loughborough University, Lynch reached out to 54.09m. 

The gold was taken by Aryan Padaruth (66.68m) with Lynch finishing in sixth place.

At the 57th staging of the Palio Citta' Della Quercia in Rovereto, Roisin Flanagan finished 11th in 8:57.79.

Twin sister Eilish Flanagan finished 12th in 8:58.46.

The Convoy man captured the discus title as he launched out to 46.96m, improving on the 46.53m he recorded in June at the Antrim Forum.

Donegal athletes were back in action in Tullamore at the weekend in Part 3 of the National Juvenile Championships and once again brought glory back to the county and to their clubs, bringing six titles five silvers and on bronze.

EILISH Flanagan competes for the first time since the Olympic Games when she goes at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Tuesday.

SOMMER Lecky won gold and Cara Laverty took bronze at the Manchester International this evening.

SEAN McGinley was the star of the show as Finn Valley AC were in seventh heaven at the Irish Life Health National Juvenile Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Tullamore.

Finn Valley AC collected seven medals at the weekend to take the club’s overall tally for these Championships to 16.

...there were plenty of reasons for Finn Valley AC to cheer over the weekend.

The Finn Valley AC man finished in 3:53:40, making up two places over the final 5k of a gruelling, punishing event to finish inside the top ten.

Carr is off to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville while Kelly will join Union University in Jackson.

As well as their academic advancement, the talented athletes will aim to progress in the sport too.

The games and championships were held in Derry’s Templemore Complex on Saturday last and as has been the pattern since the return to competition the Donegal clubs dominated results in the glorious sunshine. So dominant were the Donegal Athletes that 33 of the 50 titles on offer came back to the county.  RESULTS....

Sometimes you have to delve a little deeper to go higher.

The new Finn Valley AC recruit shaved six seconds off her previous best, clocking 9:34.86 in her women’s 3,000m steeplechase heat.

English was fourth in his men’s 800m heat at the Olympic Games, but his 1:46.75 wasn’t enough to book a place among the semi-finalists.

With Just days to go to the start of the Athletic programme we should have a look at the Donegal athletes and officials on duty in Japan...           

Competing in fierce eat in Ambleside, England, Bradley finished sixth and Bose came home in eighth place.  Those finishes helped the Northern Ireland & Ulster team to bronze.

Bradley and Bose are coached by John Rogan at Finn Valley.

Eimear McCarroll was fourth and Ciara Savage 15th. The boys team also took bronze through Tom Crudgington (5th), Ryan Smith (10th), Michael Houston (13th) and Ethan McMullan (15th).

In searing temperatures, some impressive displays caught the eye.

Picture: Finn Valley AC’s Oisin Thompson compete in the long jump. Picture by Ciara Kearns

Sean McGinley (pictured above) won the under-19 3000m steeplechase.

Sean McGinley (pictured above) won the under-19 3000m steeplechase.

This last week saw the last two rounds of the County Juvenile Track and Field Championships with the U/9 and U/10 Championships in Finn Valley on Wednesday evening and the U/12 and U/13 Championships in Lifford on Sunday and attention now turns to the Ulster Championships.

GAVIN McLaughlin broke his own shot put personal best twice at a throws meeting hosted by Finn Valley AC.

McAlary wins Glenmore 10 Mile

McGonagle's delight as Eilish Flanagan secures Olympic place

MARK English achieved his two big career goals all in the space of one minutes and 45.71 seconds tonight.

English breaks Irish 800m record to nail Olympic spot

Finn Valley AC’s Gavin McLaughlin won the Irish senior shot put gold in Santry.

It was a Finn Valley one-two in the shot put with James Kelly winning the silver.

Convoy man McLaughlin took the gold with a fine 16.51m effort. This was McLaughlin’s first senior title, continuing his fine showings in a month when he added two metres to the Donegal discus record.

Kelly reached out to 16.42 for silver while former champion Sean Breathnach took the bronze medal.

MARK English came third in the men's 800m at the True Athletes Classic in Germany today.

In spite of adverse weather conditions, a series of events took place.

Young athletes competed on the track in sprints and middle distance races.

The youngsters also got a taste of javelin, high jump and long jump events.

The event was held with Donegal and Ulster Championships looming on the horizon.

Mark English takes victory in 800m in Sweden

English ran a superb 1:45.22 at Meeting Madrid.

McGuigan set a new best of 72.32m to win gold at the Scottish Athletics Invitational Hammer.

Big evening ahead at Finn Valley AC as we prepare for a pre-Olympic press conference..

RESULTS.....

The National Senior 20k Walk in Tuam on Saturday, the AAI Games in Santry on Saturday and Sunday and open meets in Antrim Forum

FRESH from a winning performance in Sweden on Sunday evening, Mark English will race in Madrid this weekend.

BRENDAN Boyce has had his place at the Olympic Games officially confirmed.

MARK English has had to pull out of today’s FBK Games in Hengelo, but is expected back on track in the next two weeks.