XC round up

Dont know too much about this one apart from the fact that Lucy Quinn had a comfortable win in the Armagh/Monaghan schools xc on Thursday. Her school, St Pauls, also won the team prize thanks in no small measure to our club's latest recruit, and a contender for the "smallest feet in the world" title, Rebecca Gamble, who stormed home in 6th place. This off course puts them on a collision course with the chuckle sisters in the Ulsters on the 24th of Feb!!! Place your bets.......

The Chuckle Sisters

The last two athletes we had running on Tuesday were the club comedians, Charlotte Rea and Jennifer Heaney. Both bluffers were running for the Sacred Heart which isn't unusual saying that they are in the same class! Charlotte has had a winter full of niggling injuries and has spent a lot of track time sitting on the fence as a spectator, and this lack of work left Charlotte exposed over the last quater of the race. She had been holding a good second place behind her excellent school mate Emma Laverty, but she was caught on the run in by another class mate Lauren Hutchinson and finished 3rd in a huge field of 140 athletes. This put Sacred Heart in an uncatchable position and leaves them strong favourites for the up coming Ulster finals. Jennifer also missed a lot of running over the winter but looked strong finishing in 17th place. Both girls head to the Oddyssey this weekend. If they stop laughing long enough we might even get them to run!!

Daisy

Our most senior athlete, if we don't count Rory Quinn (and who does), is Daisy Murray from Warrenpoint. Daisy is from a dubious athletic background, namely fell running! This branch of athletics is more commonly the home to old gimmers who usually have beards and always have a dreadful dress code, and that's the women! People indeed like our esteemed head coach and Daisy's dad, Jimmy. Ah but, it makes you strong and hard! Unfortunately it also makes you more donkey derby than Epsom derby in the speed department! This though is where the aforementioned Miss Murray bucks the trend, this and of course the fact that she doesn't have a beard, as she has been showing quite a bit of speed and has been noticed by the power makers in the fell running community. Daisy has had a good winter and before Christmas finished 12th in the Ulster Champs to qualify for the Irish champs where in a field of 80 starters she took a brilliant 21st place. She too was recruited by her school, Sacred Heart, to run at Delamont this week in the senior race. Daisy ran another class race to finish 3rd behind international runner Ciara Mageean. Top class performance.

Normal service is resumed

Also running in Mairead's junior girls race were Aislinn Crossey, Hollie Halpin and Sarah Creegan. Neither Hollie nor Sarah would claim to be, how can I put it, let's say, fans of cross country but both stuck to the task and finished strongly in the fast run race. Both girls will be better suited by the track during the warmer days. Aislinn also claims to dislike xc and even though this may indeed be the truth she still seems to be quite good at it!! The race settled into a fox and hound sort of contest with the early leader from Strathearn College opening a 30 mts lead by the halfway mark and was running strongly enough to suggest she was going to take a bit of catching. Aislinn slowly reeled her in though and on the big hill smoothly accelerated away for a comfortable win. This was a race Aislinn has twice finished 3rd in so to finally win was a good result, though Ais will know there will be harder days ahead when the track season comes round, starting in the Oddyssey this coming weekend.

A star is born!

Wow Wee!! How does our 60 mts sprint expert turn into a 1600 mts muddy xc star!! With a lot of determination, hard work, belief and a competitive streak that can't be coached would seem to be the answer. At the Ulster School's A district xc in Delamont Park on Tuesday and running for Our Ladys, Mairead Grant turned in a sparkling performance which left this coach and the school's PE teacher smiling from ear to ear!!! Mairead actually led the early stages on the very tough course and wasn't for quitting when passed by the race favourites. She dug deep and clung on to the chasing group until the final long climb when she accelerated to split the group. Into the home straight in 5th place but within striking distance Mairead did what she does best and as the picture shows sprinted for a brilliant 4th place. And this in a field of 130 athletes! Mairead was like a wee dog with 2 tails after the finish and rightly so. She finished 2nd scorer for Our Ladys finishing in front of her much more experienced team-mates and earning her place for the Ulster schools champs. A huge WELL DONE!! Shame about the socks....................

Is there a track here somewhere??

The answer would appear to be "sometimes" at least if this winter was anything to go by!!!

Is hibernation time over yet??

Will someone look out the window and see if it's safe to come out yet!! Is all the snow gone? Is it warmer? Not yet, but its time for your correspondent to start reporting on what's been happening. And the answer is not much!! At least not until this week when we all awoke from slumber to test how the winter training went. The answer appears to be "very well". Reports on schools district xc above would seem to indicate that. Despite the poor weather and huge lack of running by almost everyone the hard work done on our strength and conditioning seems to be working. Nobody has any great speed but everyone is stronger and fresher than before so the prospects for the track season would appear to be good. First we're off to the Oddyssey this weekend for the indoor champs. Should be a good weekends craic. In the meantime here's a few pics of a couple of dedicated athletes and new club mascot Bob the snowman. Funny, he's disappeared..........

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.

Gold Medal for Aislinn

After a few near misses, and a lot of hard work , Aislinn Crossey got her hands on an Ulster Championship gold medal! At the Antrim Forum yesterday she stormed home a comfortable winner of the 800mts. It was a performance full of confidence and maturity as Aislinn pinned a fast start, tucked in and followed the race leaders, moved into a challenging position after 400mts and when she accelerated with 250 to go made it so decisive that the race was over in a matter of strides! There are no easy races at this level but Ais made this loook routine and although her time of 2' 25" was a massive PB it is still a long way from what she is capable of. Also running was Rachael Quinn in the 200 mts. With a target of qualifying for the final Rachael finished fourth in her heat and comfortably made it. Rachael ran the exact same time 4 hours later in the final and came home sixth. A great effort in her first year on a sprint program and again great potential. Well done to our star performers.