Thanks

We end the track season with some very impressive times and 2 Ulster Champions in our club. We have progressed from last year and impressed many with our performances, conduct, friendliness and good humour. Well done to each and every one of you, I'm sure all off your parents are as proud of you as I am. Now our attention turns to the Autumn and Winter, circuit training and mud baths................BRING IT ON!!

End of season track meet

Last night at a damp and cool MP track 7 of our athletes lined up in various events at the last under age meeting of the season. First up was Lucy Quinn in the 100 mts and despite having only one other in her heat took 1st place overall from an entry of 26 athletes. Sarah Creegan was next up in the 96/97 100. This was Sarah's first track race and she came an excellent 12th. It's always encouraging seeing young athletes facing their fears, pinning on a number and having a go, well done Sarah! Helen McParland found time in her hectic schedule to run the 94/95 100 and didn' t she run well, when they put a race with sailing, dancing, gymnastics and music in the meetings I suspect we'll have an Irish Champion!! Lucy went to the line in the 600 with the coach's words ringing in her ears "if I see you leading this race through the first lap I'll take my umbrella and................" it worked and Lucy sensed the slowing of the group after 300 mts and quickly opened a gap which she extended to over 4 seconds at the tape, great pb too, going under 2 mins for the first time with a 1'56.5", really impressive run! Charlotte Rea and Jennifer Heaney went in the 96/97 800 and both girls also had a pb! Charlotte jumped off very fast with the older Ciara Grimley from Banbridge AC and got to the bell in 76", just inside her 400 pb! With Ciara stretching on Charlotte had a lonely second lap and tired a bit to finish in 2'41". A bit of company may well have had her inside 2' 40", excellent 2nd place from 17 entries. Jennifer took 3 seconds of her previous time in 2'54.4" for a fine 7th place and is still improving each race, good dance moves as well :-) Due to low numbers the 94/95, 92/93 and senior girls and ladies were sent off together, this proving a good thing for Aislinn Crossey who followed a senior through the bell in 68" and finishing in a pb of 2'24". Ais needs to be running 68" for the first lap and this was a good workout for her obviously winning her age group. Also in the same race we had fell runner and track debutant Daisy Murray. Now Daisy was a bit unsure about this track malarky but kept the faith, borrowed Helen's spikes, and tore round for a very impressive 2'42.5". Brilliant for a mountain goat and we can now see the first green shoots of a bit of speed in Miss Murray! Thanks to the Quinn family for transport and support.

Monkey Madness

Tollymore mountain center's recently opened high ropes course provided a great mornings entertainment for 8 of our young athletes this week. Three and a half hours of scary monkey madness with a lot of squealing, mostly from Niall, left everyone buzzing and me with a sore neck from looking up and sore ribs from laughing! If you weren't there make it the next time 'cos its great fun and dead scary. Thanks to Peter Creegan and Marion Crossey for transport.

Ardee Sports Day

Another low key meeting in Ardee last Sunday and we had only 2 individual entries from Katie O'Hare and Jennifer Heaney, both running well and still improving. We also entered a team in the girls u15 relay with Jennifer and Charlotte Rea running up a few years to join Helen McParland and Aislinn Crossey. Despite a few ropey changes the girls stormed home to a fine win with Aislinn on the anchor leg . Niall Conlon also joined a trio from 3 Ways AC to win the boys u13 relay. Thanks to everyone who bought me chocolate on the way home. :-)

Drogheda Sports Day

At a low key sports day in Drogheda yesterday some of our regular competitors took the opportunity to miss a days training and opted for a race. Wins for Charlotte Rea, Aislinn Crossey, Niall Conlon and Katie O'Hare seemed to suggest it was a good idea!! What do I know.........as you can see Niall's race was won in the last stride but it was a bit easier for the rest. Lucy Quinn had a fine 2nd and Jennifer Heaney is still in good form and came home third in her 600 mts. Jude Campbell finished second in both the 100 and 200 mts and will improve. We ended the day winning most of thre relays after mixing with 3 Ways AC and for that joint effort we are well pleased. Thanks to the Campbell family for support, it always helps.

Carlingford RR

Friday was the Glenmore AC Carlingford road races. Jude Campbell was first up in the boys u11 and although running up a year Jude came home in a fine 5th place. Excellent first race. In the girls u13 Charlotte Rea messed up her start but ran strongly to lead early on in a 600 mts race. She led until the sprint where she was pipped by Lauren Hutchinson form 3 Ways AC, reversing the previous Tuesday positions. Lucy Quinn in 5th and Jennifer Heaney in 6th rounded off our athletes. Niall Conlon ran strongly again to finish 3rd in his race. Katie O'Hare was a fine 4th in the girls u11.
Daisy Murray lined up for her second 5 km this week and took nearly a minute and a half off Tuesdays time to finish in 21'10", a really great effort and for sure Daisy can look foward to more PBs after this winter's work.

Race Update

It's been a busy week for some off our athletes and some great results as well. Bangor was the venue for the North Down AC promotion last Tuesday night and in the girls u13 800mts Charlotte Rea, who was making her return to the track after a long injury lay off, was joined by Jennifer Heaney and Lucy Quinn. All the girls followed the pace and went through the bell in 84". The gaps started to open down the back straight until with 150 to go Charlotte accelerated to a 10mt lead which she held to the tape in a 78" lap and a 2'41" run. Lucy held on for 4th and Jennifer 5th. In the boys u13 Niall Conlon was in a class off his own and won easily in a 2'43". Meanwhile in Warrenpoint Daisy Murray ran a fine 22'33" for the Newry Lions 5kms also on Tuesday evening.
This was good enough for 2nd place and was Daisy's second 2nd place in as many weeks having finished in the same place the week before in the race to Sl Martin during the Rostrevor festival.