National Novice Team Announced!

The following team will represent Sligo A.C. in the A.A.I. national novice mens championships in Colerane on Sunday December 6th 2009.
RAYMOND BYRNE
RICHARD GORMAN
SEAMUS SOMERS
ALAN KEARNS
DERMOT MC DERMOTT
ULTAN MC NASSER
NEAL HIGGINS
ROSS MC GLYNN

Team manager Ray Flynn says "With the inclusion of Raymond Byrne, Neal Higgins and Ross McGlynn the team this year is considerably strengthened and I would be confident we can win team medals."
Sligo AC head coach Tery Hayes says "Winning team bronze medals at the Senior Inter-County championships last week has given everyone a great boost and i would expect this well balanced team to challenge for medals".

Sligo Athletic Club AGM

Sligo AC held their AGM for 2009 in the Sligo City Hotel on Wednesday night last at 8.30pm. A sizable crowd of Athletes, Coaches and Parents attended the meeting. Issues discussed were Training venues, Coach availability, Club Finances, Juvenile and Junior safety, Juvenile, Junior, Senior and Masters Training. All athletes that competed in Cross Country Races in Kilbeggan were also congratulated. Club Officials decided to meet at one of the training venues in the next week to discuss possible catagorisation of Junior and Juvenile Athletes to a more workable level. Sligo AC will hold another AGM for 2010 on Wednesday 13th January 2010 at 8.30pm in the Sligo City Hotel to discuss how to implement new policies for the seasons ahead. All interested parties, athletes, coaches and parents, are urged to attend. (Picture attached is of Sligo Senior County Team that came third in the Inter-County Cross Country Championships in Kilbeggan)

Fit4Life: Overall standings after Race 6!

With two races to go in the fit4life league Caroline Carty leads from Fiona Mahon, Martina Conlon, Evan Regan, Patricia Anderson and Neil Smyth.Next tuesday the action switches to the Sligo IT for a 4k race around the College. Registration is in the Gym at 6.30pm and everybody is advised to be on time as the start is approx 5 minutes from registration on Ash Lane.The final race on Tuesday 15th December will be followed at 8.30 pm with presentation of awards in the Stables Bar in Wine Street where food will be provided. Top ten athletes overall are as follows;
carty, caroline 103pts
mahon, fiona 180pts
conlon, martina 180pts
regan, evan 181pts
anderson, patricia 195pts
smyth, neil 199pts
murphy, claire 215pts
eglington, mary 229pts
sheridan, liz 231pts
o'connor, vincent 253pts

Sligo Athletes win team bronze at Inter-County Cross Country Championships!

Athletes from Sligo AC and North Sligo combined to great effect during the Senior Inter-County Cross Country Championships to win bronze medals in the team event. Bolstered by earlier performances by various juniors, including Sligo AC's Anna Reddin (5th in the U-18 Girls race) Sarah McGeough (9th/U-14) and Caeloinn McGonigle (8th/U-12), athletes and supporters were then shown a stunning display of front running by North Sligo's Mary Cullen, who cruised to victory in the Senior Womens race. Cullen increased her lead with every lap and finished in victory with almost a minute between her and second place! It was then the turn of the Senior Men. Conditions were muddy and very windy but this didn't deter David Kelly who produced his trademark gutsy form to come home in 5th place. Next in was Emmet Dunleavy (30th) with Paddy Brennan (31st) hot on his heels. Martin Conroy came home in 45th position with Tommy Carroll crossing the line in 55th place. The last of the team to medal was Dermot McDermott who finished in 66th place. The first six athletes to finish culminated enough points to push Sligo well clear of Cork in the team event and claim 3rd place; a first for the County. Thomas Kelly (67th), Eoin Rowan (72nd) and Ultan McNasser (99th) were the remaining runners from Sligo. Well done to all who competed and also for all the travelling support that cheered on the Athletes.

Sligo Athletic Club Annual General Meeting

The Club urges all members to attend the Annual General Meeting of Sligo Athletic Club. This meeting is important to all members, athletes, coaches and parents. Topics to be discussed on the night will be training, times, coaching, club national and international competitions, along with various other topics. The meeting will be held in the Sligo City Hotel on Wednesday 25th November at 8.30 p.m.

Meehan's Masters' Irish team win Silver!

Congratulations to Sligo AC's Tom Meehan who placed fifth in the Irish Team during the recent Home Countries Masters Cross Country Championships held in Birmingham, UK. Tom was Sligo AC's first International Masters Competitor and had qualified as part of the Irish team in recent trials in Dublin. The Irish Team secured second place silver medals in the race which Meehan described as a "nice course but conditions were cold, wet and windy".Tom would be well used to such wintery conditions during his frequent training runs with Lucy Brennan and Damien McSharry on the race course in all types of weather! Well done also to Sligo AC Athletes Conal Sexton and Roy Kelly who partook in the Clarenbridge 10k on Sunday last and came in in 18th (41.05) and 21st (41.51) positions respectively. The race was won by Mayo AC's John Byrne in 33.23

Senior Inter County Cross Country Team announced!

The following team has been entered to represent Sligo in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Kilbeggan, Co.Westmeath on Sunday week, 22nd November.
DERMOT MC DERMOTT
EMMETT DUNLEAVY
OWEN ROWAN
PATRICK BRENNAN
DAVID KELLY
MARTIN CONROY
ULTAN MC NASSER
THOMAS KELLY
TOMMY CARROLL
Head Coach Terry Hayes says, "This is probably the strongest in depth team we have ever had going into an Inter Counties. I very much look forward to a great performance from the Lads." Team manager Ray Flynn adds, "Realistically we are probably not strong enough to beat Dublin but we should be fighting it out with counties such as Cork, Antrim, and Donegal for the Silver medals. Good Luck to all the Lads."

Connacht Cross Country & upcoming Races

Congrats to the large Sligo contingent, both from Sligo AC and North Sligo, that travelled to Tuam, Co. Galway last Sunday for the Connacht Uneven Ages Cross Country. All our athletes fared well with Team prizes for County Under 11 Girls (3rd), County Under 13 Girls (3rd) County under 13 Boys (3rd), County Under 15 Girls (3rd) & Sligo AC Under 15 Girls (2nd) and County Under 15 Boys (3rd). A special mention goes to Sligo AC's Killian O'Connor who came first in the U17 boys 4,000m cross country (see photo)

The 5k "Santa Run" will take place on Sunday 20th December 2009 starting at the Southern Hotel on the Strandhill Road. Proceeds go to the Special Olympics. More information to follow.
Finn Valley AC are running their annual St Stephens Day 5k run /walk/ jog in Ballybofey. This is the 39th annual organisation of the popular community event which in 2008 attracted close to 800 to the start line . More information to follow.

Fit4Life: Overall Standings after Race 5.

After five races so far; Caroline Carty has moved ahead of Evan Regan, Neil Smyth, Patricia Anderson, Fiona Mahon and Gwen Hunter in the overall standings in the fit4life Autumn League.The next leg over 2 miles will be at the same venue as the three miles, adjacent to Smyths Toys on Tuesday 24th November at 6.30pm. Top ten athletes overall are as follows

94 carty, caroline 89pts
165 regan, evan 140pts
198 smyth, neil 164pts
172 anderson, patricia 170pts
196 mahon, fiona 172pts
213 hunter, gwen 187pts
197 sheridan, liz 187pts
117 murphy, claire 189pts
204 o connor, vincent 192pts
80 prior, deirbhle 197pts

Sligo AC impress at Hollymount 10k

Sligo AC had a sizable contingent travel to Hollymount, Co. Mayo on Sunday last for the Hollymount 10k, part of the Mayo Race Series. First up was 16 year old Anna Reddin, running in the Senior Womens 3k, where she finished a creditable 7th place in a time of 11.30 secs. In the Senior Mens race; the club entered two teams, such was the turnout of athletes there on the day. Gary Crossan (GCH) came home in under 30 minutes (29.59) to win the race with clubmate Gerry Ryan taking second spot. Our own Emmet Dunleavy followed Ryan in hot pursuit to take third place in a time of 31.32. Next for Sligo AC was Dermot McDermott (6th/33.48) with Neil Higgins (9th/35.02) and Ultan McNasser (14th/35.34), Michael O'Connell was the 5th member of the team. The first four home would decide our standings in the team event and it was a very close call with both GCH and Sligo AC on 32 pts and Mayo AC on 33 pts. Sligo AC won the team event on countback and so got to bring the Hollymount perpetual trophy home to Sligo. The second Sligo team consisting of Tom Meehan, Raymond Byrne, Seamus Somers, Steve Finnegan and Conal Sexton packed close together and as a result came 5th in the overall team standings. For full results, please click here

Sligo AC News: Beginners Hammer Clinic

There will be a beginners hammer clinic in Sligo town, held in the Sligo Grammar School on Saturday 7th November from 11am until 1pm. Coaches and all interested athletes are welcome to attend. The session costs 5 euro.
To contact the organiser; ring 085-7268849 or email Ailish.obrien@itcarlow.ie

Connacht Cross Country: 1st November 2009

Sligo AC's Under age groups, Seniors and Veterans all turned out in good numbers for this seasons Connacht Cross Country held in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. Conditions could only be described as dire as all competitors took to the muddy, waterlogged course whilst being pelted intermittently with sheets of rain. However the mud definitely suited some more than others as Caelinn McGonigle, Sarah McGeough, Nicola Mc Goldrick and Anna Reddin all performed at a high level in their respective categories. James McGeough, Killian O'Connor, Neil Higgins, Ross McLynn & Michael O'Connell also fared well individually although it should be pointed out that all athletes, male & female, junior & senior, who took part should be commended on battling through the tough circuit. (Please click on Photo link for Cross Country Images). Next up on the racing calendar is the Hollymount 10k Road Race taking place next Sunday 8th November. For more information please click on the "fixtures/events list" link or email club officials on slyouthfootball@eircom.net