Sligo AC News: Athletics update

National Cross Country Championships. Despite the Arctic conditions Sligo Athletics were well represented in the various under age, Junior and Senior Races on Sunday. First into action at under 12 level was Leo Doherty, Connacht under 11 Champion , who acquitted himself well to finish in 26th place in a field of over 100 runners. From this achievement he will look forward to the under 11 Nationals in Tullamore where a top 10 place would be a realistic target. The girls under 14 race saw Caeloinn Mc Gonigle and Laura Joyce fly the flag as they finished in the top half of a quality field. Claire Conlon and Orla Mulvihill represented the club at under 16 level and again did well in the difficult underfoot conditions. Ashan Patil in 47th place was closely followed by Gavin Foyle in the under 16 boys race and while Shane Kilcawley was 4oth in the boys under 18 event. Sharon Hodgins in 12th showed huge improvement in the girls under 18 race while in the the Junior events for under 20s Anna Reddin in 9th and Tommy Casey in 11th produced the best performances of the day. Seamus Somers and Tommy Carroll were the County representatives in the Senior Mens race (won by Dublin's Joe Sweeney - pictured) and Somers did well in his first Seniors to finish 87th while Carroll had to pull out with injury. Well done to all who competed from all at the club!
National Novice Cross Country will be on the 19th December in Tullamore, Co.Offaly. Sligo AC women and mens teams athletes for the above please contact Terry Hayes in the next few days for confirmation of entry. Closing date 2nd December 2010.
‘Do a LAP for the Outdoor Gym’ at the Mitchell Curley Park, Kevinsfort on Sunday December 5th.The fundraising project committee are asking the local community to take part in walking or jogging around the park on December 5th and over the months of December and January and to pledge €1 or raise sponsorship of €1 per 1km lap. The community fundraising target is €12,000 or 12,000km.We would be delighted if you could attend on the day. The launch begins at 2.30pm with speeches and the completion of laps. Santa will be there to meet the children and complete the first lap! Local celebrities have been invited too. Pledge cards are available now from any of the committee members and at the launch on Sunday December 5th.
Regional Development Squads. Please see details at this link for upcoming Regional Development Squads - http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=16037 . Please encourage athletes in your club named on the squad list and their coaches to attend. Full details in the enclosed link.
The Connacht branch/IRFU are delighted to inform you that there will be a fitness workshop for all coaches in Sligo, Monday the 29th of November. The workshop will focus on fitness and conditioning for young players to adult beginners at strength training . This workshop will be based on the newly updated fitness and conditioning content in the Mini and foundation coaching courses. The focus of this workshop is physical activity and movement skill development. The evening will concentrate on stages 1 and 2 of the Long Term Development Pathway, Title - “Fitness for young players and adults beginners at strength training” Presenter - Antoine Mobian ( Connacht academy fitness coach) & Des Ryan (I.R.F.U. Fitness Education manager) Date – 29/11/10 Time – 7.30pm to 9pm Venue – Sligo Grammar school , Sligo Cost - €5 Registration - Coaches must register with Eamonn Molloy or Jimmy Duffy on 091 561 568

Sligo AC News: Running Shoes

The first and probably the most important cross country race of the winter will take place in Derry on Sunday next. It’s the AAI inter county National Championships for senior men and women and the juvenile championships are also held in conjunction. The road to Derry from Sligo will be busy on Sunday morning as we have athletes competing in all grades. Few will forget 2009 when our senior mens team brought home bronze medals for the first time in the history of the event. The chance to equal that or even build on it probably is beyond the team this year. The absence of David Kelly unavailable due to work commitments, Emmett Dunleavy injured, Martin Conroy who is in Australia and Paddy Brennan who has flown the nest to Donegal is a huge blow. However the addition of Thomas McBride, Seamus Somers and new recruit John Hennigan is positive for the team. Tommy Carroll is a much stronger athlete than last year so it’s not all doom and gloom around our senior mens team. Last year we also celebrated a stunning victory by Mary Cullen in the senior women’s race and unfortunately injury has ruled her out of this years race but Sligo AC athlete Eimear O’Brien makes her debut in this race and does hold an outside chance of making the team for the European cross country. Another man with serious ambitions of making that team is Tommy Casey who lines out in the junior mens race with high hopes. Anna Reddin is a starter in the ladies equivalent and will harbour similar ambitions to Tommy. Sligo juvenile athletes have been in flying form in the Connaught championships and travel to Derry in confident form. The North Sligo duo of William Crowe and Cian McBride always seem to peek in All Ireland championships and I expect it will be no different on Sunday next. Sligo AC athletes Leo Doherty, Caolinn McGonagle and Sarah McGeogh are class athletes and are expected to run well. Both Sligo clubs will also have teams in some of the age groups while a number of county teams will also declare in the juvenile section. So a fascinating day lies in store on Sunday next where teams for the European championships will be announced after the event. Let’s hope that we have a Sligo representative on one team at least.
Two interesting road races with a distinctly Christmas flavour should now go into all readers diaries. The first is the Calry Athletic club “Turkey Trot” which will take place in Calry on Saturday December 18th starting from the Marian Hall Calry. The second is “The great Sligo Santa dash” which will start from Sligo southern hotel on Wednesday December 22nd at 7pm. This promises to be a great occasion with a massive Christmas party taking place after the race with music, food and craic.

Open letter from Sligo AC's Secretary to Sligo Champion

Dear Editor,
Next Sunday the National Inter Counties Cross Country takes place in Derry ,one of the biggest events on the Athletics Calendar and won last year by Sligo native Mary Cullen. I understand Michael Carney (Nth Sligo AC) sent in information about this event but whether he did or not i would have assumed the event would have received some coverage. As such I looked forward to reading my Champion this week.
Page 91 recorded Junior Soccer victory v Roscommon and contract talks with Richie Ryan reported by M.Moran. Page 92 Article by Tommy Brehony re burnout and GAA Minor Board appointment reported by Leo Gray. Pages 93 and 94 GAA Notes. Page 95 Swimming, Boxing and Martial Arts. Page 96 Badminton, Handball and Gymnastics. Page 97 Rugby. Page 98 Golf. Page 99 and 100 Soccer and Junior/ Youth Soccer. Page 101 Article re Bit O Red by M.Moran. Page 102 Match Gavin Dykes selection v Sligo Rovers reported by M.Moran. Page 103 Sligo Rovers Triumph reported by Jim Gray. Page 104 Sligo Rovers sign new players reported by M.Moran.
It gives me no pleasure to keep highlighting your poor coverage of Athletics but i feel you have a responsibility to give equal coverage to all Sports. This email is going to almost 300 Athletics associates and let them decide if they wish to read the Champion. Yours in sport, Secretary Sligo AC.

Sligo AC News Update: Fit4Life League

Four highly competitive races gone and two to go in this years Autumn Fit4Life League and Corina Clarke continues to hold a commanding lead from Hubert Beatty who is just ahead of Janyst Pawel and Tony Parkinson. From previous years we all know that the final shakeup can change totally even over a single race! The final two races are over two miles in Hazelwood Forest, Calry, on Saturday 4th and 11th December starting at 12 noon.
On December 11th at 7pm the presentation of prizes to the top fifteen in the League will take place in the Southern Hotel at 7pm with some finger food and an opportunity for all club members to have a Christmas drink. Top ten athletes so far as follows;
clarke, corina 10pts
beatty, hubert 64pts
janyst, pawel 66pts
parkinson, tony 70pts
teape, bernadine 87pts
sweeney, trevor 96pts
whelan, john 102pts
hosey, lorraine 105pts
sullivan, james 109pts
martin, louise 133pts

Sligo AC News: Athletics update

Sligo AC Mini League
Sligo AC 9 to 12 got under way on Monday night at Sligo IT. Four teams in this category were the Rovers, Ozzies, Flyers and Gladiators. The first competition was the hurdle shuttle run with a tie at top place between the Rovers and the Ozzies with the Gladiators coming a close second.
Rovers 10 pts
Ozzies 10 pts
Gladiators 8pts
Flyers 6 pts
Next week sees the league take on speed bounce and standing long jump and this could see the tables change.
Fit4Life News
Race number 4 of this Autumns Fit4Life Series is a 2.5k race next tuesday 16th November at the same venue as last week (Cleveragh). All participating athletes have been sent an email with position and instructions by Club Secretary Terry Hayes. The time is the gap you start behind the first runner eg 5.40 means you start 5mins and 40 secs behind the first runner / walker.
The group letter is to indicate when you start. A followed by B,C etc and makes it easy to get people off at the correct time. All you need to remember is your number and group. On the right is an alphabetical list of your name , number and group to make it easy to find. At registration next tuesday just call out your number and group and pay 2 euro. please ensure that you doublecheck your number as we had to change a couple from last week due to duplications
Inter County Cross Country Championships 2010
The cross country season is now in full swing and on Sunday Nov. 28th we have the National Inter County senior championship in Derry. Few will forget that in 2009 the Sligo County team won bronze medals in the senior men's race for the first time ever. The following team has been selected for the 2010 renewal.
SEAMUS SOMERS
EMMETT DUNLEAVEY
TOMMIE KELLY
ULTAN MC NASSER
TOMMIE CARROLL
TRISTEN DRUIT
JOHN HENNIGAN
THOMAS MC BRIDE
DERMOT MC DERMOTT

Sligo AC News Update: Hollymount 10k & Fit4Life

The Hollymount International Road Races took place today, November 7th, in the village of Hollymount, Co. Mayo. Hollymount is situated west of Claremorris and these races have been running continously since 1967. Its always been highly recommended for both the serious and fun runner in the West of Ireland and beyond. Due to the untimely death of a respected athletics figure in the area, Mayo AC Secretary Padraic Cullina, the 8k Fit4Life was postponed but the other three events took place as planned. Sligo AC once again had a sizable contingent present & would untertake to retain the senior team trophy narrowly won from Mayo AC and GCH in 2009. The 3k Junior Boys'/Girls' Race took place at 1pm with the 3k Senior Ladies Race following soon after at 1.30pm. At 2pm the 10k Senior Men's International Race kicked off with Sligo athletes such as Emmett Dunleavy (pictured), Danny Hannon, Seamus Somers, Michael Clancy, Vincent Flannery, Paul Deering, Enda Whelan, Declan Byrne and Fintan Whelan toeing the line. Some high calibre athletes worked hard at the top with Sean Connolly finishing in 30.36 closely followed by Brian maher (30.39), with evergreen Gerry Ryan coming home third in 31.40. 4th place went to Sligoman, Emmett Dunleavy, who on his return to competition after a long injury layoff finished in a time of 32.50. A special mention goes to Fintan Whelan who recorded a personal best of 41.49 whilst Sligo AC Team A came 2nd overall with the club's Team B coming 8th out of 15 teams. Well done to all who competed. Full results to follow...

Meanwhile the 3rd race in this seasons Autumn Fit4Life took place on Tuesday 2nd November. Over 130 athletes showed up in blustery conditions to participate in the 2.5k course along Sligo's riverside. Some impressive times were recorded on this undulating course especially considering the wintery conditions. The next Fit4Life race will be vital for the competitors at the top end of the table as they try to stretch their lead from their nearest rivals. Top ten athletes in the 3rd race are as follows;

1st: hardiman, james 9.55

2nd: clarke, corina 11.58

3rd: gallagher, philip 9.03

4th: teape, bernadine 12.42

5th: mcglone, kevin 9.07

6th: hayes, aideen 14.17

7th: whelan, john 9.01

8th: curran, barbara 13.18

9th: kelly, greg 10.02

10th: pintha, cathenide 13.19

Sligo AC News update: Cross Country & Fit4Life

The 3rd race (2k) in the autumn Fit4Life series takes place this evening, Tuesday 2nd November. Athletes are to meet at the green area (playground) across from Smyths Toys. Start is scheduled for 6.30pm but please register at 6pm to avoid delays. As it is a short race we will run letters A to Z as one race and then from letters AA when the first group finishes.
The second race should start at 6.45 approx so plenty of time for a good warm up. The course will start at the beginning of the walking / cycling track at Doorly Park and head in the direction of the Sports Complex for 1k, staying on the cycling path. The turn around point is 100ms past the boat house ,(where club members usually start our hill sessions/runs) and turn and come back to the start. Good luck to all who take part tonight!
The conditions last weekend in Ballina for the Connacht Cross Country under 12 to under 18, Masters and Intermediate were ideal but a stiff hill and an increase in distances meant that there was a premium on stamina for the hardy participants. As with many Sligo AC teams , the absence of some key runners deprived teams of medal chances but all who did compete qualified for the Nationals in Derry at the end of November.
Girls under 12 were first up and Ellen Mc Geough with a top 12 finish led the team to a close fourth. Leo Doherty at under 12 lifted a bronze medal and here the team exceeded all expectations to finish fourth as they were badly weakened by absentees. Caeloinn Mc Gonigle in 8th place led the under 14 girls home while Philip Hunter and Keenan Deering won team gold for the County. The under 16 girls led by Sara Mc Geough who was just edged out of bronze medal position won team gold while Gavin Foye and Thomas Delahunt at under 16 and Shane Kilcawley under 18 were the clubs top finishers. The Intermediate for women was won by Eimear O Brien while John and Fintan Whelan were well up in the mens race. The Ladies Masters led by Roseanne Mitchell and supported by Cindy Mc Carthy, Aisling Cawley and Deirdre Deering took silver medals. Rory Connor led Trevor Hunter ,Eamon Reddan, Declan Byrne, Paul Deering , Enda Whelan and Terry Hayes to a close fourth in the Masters Men. Well done to all who competed from all at the club.