Upcoming AGM

The St Senan’s AC AGM will now take place on Monday 22^th Jan in the Parish Hall starting at 8.30pm. All interested parties are invited to attend. The County Board AGM takes place in the Clubhouse Hotel in Kilkenny on Friday 26^th Jan at 7.30 pm, while the Leinster AGM takes place in Newbridge on Thursday Feb 1^st at 8.00am.

Leinster Star Awards
Athletics Leinster honoured Kilkenny’s top performers for 2006 at their recent awards ceremony in the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow. This annual event provides recognition for individual, club and county successes based on results during the previous year. Mr Nicky Cowman, Chairman of the Leinster Athletics Board, congratulated all the award winners and offered sincere thanks to all the officials and volunteers who looked after the athletes throughout the year. Mr Michael Heery, President of The Athletics Association of Ireland also spoke and in his address he appealed to parents to support the young athletes by becoming involved with their training and helping out through the club structure. He made the point that most of the athletes who have had successful athletic careers have had good parental support from their time as juvenile athletes.

You’re a Star
Damien Walsh of St Senans won the senior award for the second year running, following wins in Leinster U/23 200m, long jump, 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Damien is a valued member of the athletic squad at The Waterford Institute of Technology where he is currently completing a Batchelor of Business in Recreation and Leisure. He is a present working on a very interesting thesis, which examines the effect of asthma on athletic training.  Aoife Hickey, of Kilkenny City Harriers, took the juvenile award following gold medal performances in the shot and high jump at the Indoors, while she took first in shot, discus and hammer at the outdoor championships. As well as her Leinster club performances, she has set many new records, and has won All-Ireland medals with KCH and Loreto secondary School where she is a transition year student.  The third recipient was Ciaran Phelan of Aughavillar athletic club, who is a transition year student in Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale. Ciaran is a top quality mid-distance runner and has represented his club at county, provincial and national level in cross-country as well as on the track. Among his many achievements during 2006 was taking the 1500m title in the boys under 17 final in Tullamore in June.

Team Trophies for Kilkenny
As well as honouring individual success The Leinster Athletics Board also recognise team achievements. Kilkenny fared particularly well winning four awards out of the nine available. John Walsh, Chairman of County Kilkenny Athletics Board was presented with The Foley Cup for the best county in Juvenile cross-country competitions. KCH picked up three club trophies, the Leinster Shield: for the best club U/9 –U/11; the Mick Quinn Cup for the best club U/12 – U/15 and the Hehir Shield for the best club in Juvenile Relays. Club PRO Sean Lynch accepted the trophies on behalf of the club. KCH were runners up in The Byrne Cup for Indoor Track and Field and St Senan’s AC were runners up in the Drew Shield for Junior and Under 23 Track and Field. In the Eurotab Cup,   KCH finished third with Gowran AC in 4^th place.  

AAI Indoors Games
St Senans had three athletes in action at the AAI Indoor Games in Nenagh last Sunday. Colin Butler finished 3^rd in the heats of the 1000m, while Leanne Foskin was 6^th in the 1000m girls final. Janet Moore took part in the shot putt, where she placed 8^th overall. Good preparation for the upcoming Leinster Indoors on 28^th Jan.

Great Britton

Talented Sli Cualainn athlete Fionnula Britton had a splendid run at the Edinburgh cross country last weekend finishing a close 6^th behind the world’s leading female athletes. She was a popular selection for Wicklow at the recent Leinster Star Awards, where she received a standing ovation for her superb silver medal at the recent European cross country championships.
 

Leinster Senior Cross Country
On Sunday next 21^st Jan, Tinryland AC host the Leinster Senior and Junior cross-country championships. The race times are as follows:- Junior Ladies 1.15pm, Junior Men 1.30pm, Senior Ladies 1.45pm, followed by Senior Men. Leinster Juvenile relays are being held in conjunction with these championships starting at 12 noon sharp. St Senans will have Adele Walsh in action in the senior ladies, while Sean Caulfield and Aidan Lanigan compete in the men’s race. Leanne Foskin, Laura Fennelly, Sarah Dollard, Rosanne Kennedy and Claire Walsh will all be in action in the junior ladies race, while Colin Butler who won a silver medal with the Leinster team in Belfast recently will be in men’s junior race.
 

In Vest In Fun

Thursday night is viz vest night at the RSC as the athletes on the Winter League series light up the Cork Road. Life President Bobby Coady has a ‘meat and greet’ policy for all newcomers, so feel free to join in the fun. Registration is at 6.30pm and full details are at www.waterfordroadrunners.com
 

Well Said Eamonn

Very interesting article by Irish Independent journalist Eamonn Sweeney on the sparse or often negative coverage our athletes get at national level. Athletics has provided more international success than any other sport over the years including European, World and Olympic medalists, yet the level of space it receives the airwaves and the national press compared to other sports is negligible. In fact if it wasn’t for Sonia O’Sullivan’s dodgy hamstring, there wouldn’t be a word in Carrick about it. Fortunately the opposite can be said of most regional newspapers and radio stations, where the achievements of athletes of all ages are given the recognition they deserve. It’s important to remember that we’re a small island, competing against much larger nations, who have more money and better facilities and to date we haven’t done to bad. Hopefully the Indo will take Eamonn’s words to heart and set the trend for the future!!