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.

MARK English returned to action in fine fashion, winning the men’s 800m at the Sollentuna Grand Prix in Sweden.

GAVIN McLaughlin put two metres onto the Donegal discus record yesterday - and is already aiming to take down his next barrier.

BRENDAN Boyce was the silver medalist at the Irish Life Health National 20km race walk championships today.

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.

AS THE clock ticks towards the Olympic Games, Mark English will return to the track on Sunday.

English will compete in the Sollentuna Grand Prix in Sweden.

Events for children born from 2011-2014, included runs, throws and jump competitions.

THERE was a one-two for Finn Valley AC duo James Kelly and Gavin McLaughlin in Liverpool at the weekend.

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.

Last weekend we had a welcome return to competition and over 200 athletes turned out in sun-drenched Aghyaran for the first of the Finn Valley Golden Jubilee events on Sunday. 

BLE CONGRESS

Fr John O’ Donnell, a native of Kilmacrennan was elected as the fifth President of BLE at the Congress in Sligo. He defeated Bill Coughlan the sitting President by 94 votes to 50. Fr John had previously served as President of the Ulster Sports Council and at the time of the Congress he held the position of BLE Vice President.

The good news this week is that Sport Ireland have given the green light to the resumption of athletic competition from Monday June 7^th. However, as with everything else in the modern world there are conditions. The first is that there is a limit of 100 people, these include the athletes, officials and parent/guardian for all athletes under 18. Covid regulations will apply regarding, masks, social distancing and sanitisation.

The first Donegal Competition of the year will be the County Pentathlon championship for U/14, U/15, U/16, U/17, U/18, senior and master male and female athletes.  The event will take place in the Finn Valley complex and pre-entry is essential, so clubs must send their entries to the County Director of Competition Patrick Galvin before Monday May 31^st    no entries can be accepted after this date because the number of competitors must be strictly adhered to and if entries are very large then arrangements will have to be made to organise two or more sessions. The Government have said that the limit on the numbers taking part in competition will be reviewed in July but for now we must adhere to the guidelines.

1979 was a momentous year for Donegal and Irish athletics with Ireland hosting both the World Cross-Country Championships in Limerick and the World Military (CISM) Cross-Country Championships in Fermoy. It was a year in which John Treacy retained the World Cross-Country title and Ireland won silver medals in both global championships with Danny Mc Daid playing a captain’s role in Limerick. 

The adjourned congress of AAI took place on Saturday and the delegates voted on a total of 81 motions, some were of a housekeeping nature reflecting new realities by changing IAAF and Olympic Council of Ireland to their new title of World Athletics and Olympic Federation of Ireland.

Please click on the link inside register ……………… Date for the theory online is Wednesday June 2^nd  at 7pm followed by the practical on Saturday June 5^th 9.30am @ Finn Valley AC Centre

Mark English confirmed among Irish interest in 'Golden Spike' meet

Finn Valley AC have announced a Jubilee Race Series to include 5k, 10k and 10 mile road races  The first in the series is a 5k on May 30 (Entry link below)

BRENDAN Boyce finished ninth in the men’s 50k at the European Race Walking Cup this morning in Podebrady, Czech Republic.

A look back to 1978 and the events and races tht made it such a memorable year...

The Finn Valley AC representative reached out to a best of 67.43m.

Maguire, a native of Strabane, will begin in the role from next weekend, Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub can confirm.

The Finn Valley AC man will compete in the men's 50k walk in Podebrady, Czech Republic on May 16

Finn Valley AC have announced a Jubilee Race Series to include 5k, 10k and 10 mile road races

The AAI Congress took place at the weekend with mixed results for Donegal Athletes.

In 1974 Donegal athletes continued to make their presence felt at national level...

McGinley has been appointed as Senior Athletic Performance Coach.

Compiled by Bernie O'Callaghan; Ulster Records Officer

An insight into Marks life on the run..

Since the lockdown began Donegal County Board has grown by two clubs, there is a welcome return to the fold by Killybegs AC.

Donegal Athletics Board will induct four former athletes from the county posthumously into the Hall of Fame. All four were born in the county and lived here for a large part of their lives but were forced to leave in search of employment. As there was no athletic club in the county they competed with clubs where they lived.  All four won National Senior Championship titles.

A look back at some of the events that were held in 1970, the first full year of the County Board.

AS THE European Indoor Championships come in to focus, Mark English broke his own Irish indoor 800m record this afternoon.

DANIELLA Jansen of Finn Valley AC has been confirmed as part of the Ireland under-20 squad for 2021.

Top performances on annual  AAI  best  list 20 20 John Kelly  18.62 Sommer Lecky 1.85  and Ann Marie Mc Glynn Barcelona 1.11.40

Women’s County Records @ 17th October 2020

THE 2020 Remembrance 10k will be held on the weekend of November 21/22 - but with a distinct and distanced difference.

Read full article ...

MOLLIE Gribbin has put her cruciate nightmare behind her - and is gearing up for a big 2021 in Finn Valley AC’s colours.

ATHLETES in Donegal can compete under a unique new format rolled out this weekend.

THE Donegal discus record had stood for 41 years - but has now been broken twice in a week.

FINN Valley AC’s John Kelly shattered his latest Donegal record this afternoon.

Exclusive interview:  Irish athletics legend Sonia O’Sullivan believes that Athletics Ireland erred in their decision to preclude Mark English from competing in the 2020 National Senior Championships.

THE surprise presence of Ireland’s greatest athlete, Sonia O’Sullivan, added to the occasion and then some as Finn Valley AC hosted their second graded meet of the autumn last night. 

The 2020 Ulster Winter Throws Festival took place on Saturday last and attracted eighty eight athletes from thirty one clubs in fifteen counties to a sunny, calm Finn Valley Centre.  For some it was their first visit to Donegal and everyone seems to have enjoyed the experience. Many athletes achieved personal best performances in their chosen event and the stand out performance from a Donegal point of view was the new County Senior Discus Record of 44.36m by Finn Valley’s Gavin Mc Loughlin beating the old figure of 42.62m set by Sean Carlin also of Finn Valley in the 1970’s. And the more recent mark from his clubmate John Kelly 43.50 in Sweden

Donegal Development Day 1

Details for our first Cross country development day  

Day 1

 Finn Valley Ac Centre  

           12pm start  

Joseph grabs a national silver in triple today 13.24m An interesting aside isthathe eligible for this age group for another 3 years