Cross country schedule

Some parents have been asking for a schedule of XC races this autumn so here is what we know so far, two races in September, on the 21st in Belfast and the 28th in Stamullen. The Ulster champs are on 25th of October for even age groups i.e. under 10/12/14 etc in the UUJ Jordanstown and the un-even is in Ballybofey on November 9th. It is very important to let us know if you intend competing as we have scheduled a program to lead into the championship races and it starts next week!!  Parents are reminded that due to transport considerations it may be required that they chip as chauffeur's from time to get all the kids to events.   

Track Meet

First meet and first success for our new club! On a calm and balmy late summers evening at the Mary Peters track in Belfast we took 8 athletes to the last round of the young athletes league. First up were 11 year olds  Gary Crummy & Luc Hanna in the 600 mts. Now, Gary listens to the coach, ignores all he's told, and does his own thing! And no bad thing too as Gary stormed to the lead on the first bend and held on to win by the width of his tee shirt....show's how much I know! A great time as well. Luc had a great race winning a three man sprint for a fine 8th place and in the process showing a determination he had kept hidden in previous races, keep it up. In the girls 600 we had 4 athletes, Charlotte Rea had trained hard all summer for this race in the hope of beating 2 minutes for the distance and she got a reward for all her work finishing in a new PB by over 6 seconds with a time of 1'59.5", her efforts got her into a great 3rd place. Newcomer Lucy Quinn adopted the Gary Crummy method of ignoring the instructions and going at it like a dog at a bone! This proved a hit for the second time......go figure. Lucy ran a smashing 2'05"  and came home in 6th place. Jennifer Heaney, despite missing most of the summer still ran an excellent 2''10" and also in her first 600 race Olivia Gibbons ran a very good 2'36". Charlotte also found time to enter the javelin competition and threw 10.40 mts missing 3rd place by just one centimetre. In the '95 girls 800mts Aislinn Crossey followed the sluggish pace for 250 mts before she decided enough was enough and cut loose. Over the next 400 she wound up the pace and reduced the field to three contenders. With 150 to go she kicked again and the race was over! 2'38" doesn't go close to describing how emphatic this win was, Aislinn ran the last 200 in under 33 seconds! "It's easier when I run faster" says Ais, obviously not using the script the rest of us have! Jennifer Heslip ran a PB by over 15 seconds despite not liking longer races. This was good enough for 8th place. Also good enough for me, well done. Thanks to all who came down and thanks to Rory Quinn for transport and help.