St Abban’s AC Club Notes

Day’s 2 and 3 of the Leinster Indoor Championships provided a rich haul of medals for St Abban’s AC once again securing 9 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze as well a few minor finishes. Anna Daly was 8^th in the high jump with 1.25m while Kelsey Warburton was 4^th in the hurdles. Nicole Kehoe/Dowling was in excellent throwing form when she set three championship best performances by easily winning the G.U13 shot with 10.40 metres. Alanah Rowan repeated the performance taking the G.U14 shot with a putt of 10.78 metres. It was a third gold in the shot when Ger Curran took the U16 title with an excellent putt of 12.68 metres. Emma Daly set a new P.B. when taking the silver with a putt of 9.88 metres. Siobhan Nash displayed brilliant technique winning the G.U17 walk in a time of 8:20:19 Saragh Buggy set a new C.B.P. winning the G.U18 triple jump with 11.19 metres was 2^nd in the 200m in 27:77 seconds and 3^rd in the L.J. with 4.95 metres.

Denis Brophy was in great form also finishing 6^th in the 200m and taking silver in the U18 L.J. with a new P.B. of 5.94 metres. Craig Coffey had to settle for the silver medal in the U17 H.J. with a clearance of 1.65 metres. James Moore won his 1^st individual indoor medal when he finished 2^nd in the U16 1500m in 4:46:75 while Roisin Lacey took the bronze in the G.U18 1500m in 5:33:53. Christopher Buggy was another to enter new territory taking the silver in both the 800m and triple jump B U18 with 2:16:21 and 11.78 performances respectively.

As usual Conor Daly and Nessa Millet came up trumps taking 2 gold and a silver each. For Conor it was gold in the high jump and triple jump and silver in the hurdles, while Nessa struck gold in the hurdles with a new P.B. of 9.60 seconds, gold in the 300 metres and silver in the long jump. Many congratulations to all and special congratulations to the coaches.

Brian Pips Colin

The Ben Brennan sponsored Laois Novice Road Championships were decided over the Turra triangle on Sunday with the club turning in some brilliant performances. In the ladies event newcomer Elaine Williams displayed a nice turn of foot to pip Olivia Sheerin, St. Michaels on the line and thus securing her 1^st Laois title. The Brian Oxley based Elaine led the club to victory with Patricia Ramsbottom making a welcome return to the sport after 10 years finishing in 5^th place, Mairead O’Kane 6^th and Mairead Moore 8^th The ladies ‘B’ team took bronze with Paula Guinan 10^th, Lisa Gorman 13^th, Ann Nicholl 14^th and Clare Walsh 15^th. Maura Fleming 17^th and Pauline Doyle 18^th completed our squad.

The men’s event was a cracker with the club supplying the 1^st three across the line. The battle for gold saw Colin Coyne and Brian Kelly lead at different times and by varying distances, with Brian coming out on top on the decent from Haughney’s on the last lap. With James Nolan isolated in 3^rd place the team title was wrapped up with Mark Murray having a welcome return to past days finishing 5^th. Our ‘B’ squad did the same as the ladies and swooped to take bronze scoring as follows Niall English 9^th, Dorel Picovici 10^th, Stephen Lawlor (the 2^nd) 12^th and Francis Fleming (snr) 13^th. Matt Moore 16^th, Mark Wogan 22^nd and Finian Guinan 26^th completed our excellent performances. Many thanks to all that turned out and those who officiated and provided the refreshments afterwards. Special thanks to An Garda for traffic control and to Ben for sponsoring the event.

McDonalds Little Athletics

Tuesday evening next 22^nd February is a special evening for anyone in the 9 to 12 age group to have an enjoyable time exploring the sport of athletics. All are welcome to come along to St Abban’s Sports Complex and give it a go commencing at 7.30pm.

Stephen Leads Knockbeg to History

At long last Knockbeg college reached the summit of Leinster athletics when they won the senior boys event for the 1^st time in Santry on Wednesday. With all the team members turning in excellent performances it was the one and only Stephen Lawlor leading them to the title when finishing in 7^th place. With 4 in the top 19 it turned out to be an easy win. James Griffin, Jonathon Fitzpatrick, Shawn McCormack, Dan Aylsbury, Cormac Kelly, Jamie Malone and Fergal Delaney were the boys to make history.

The intermediate squad delivered also taking the silver medals led home by Kevin Brennan supported by James Moore, James Delaney, Ethan O’Neill, Joseph Barry and Fiachra Byrne.  The minor and junior boys turned in good performances but failed to qualify for the Nationals on the 12^th March.