Arthur earns a place on podium

AFTER nearly a fortnight glued to the TV watching the world’s best athletes compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics, it was time for juvenile athletes to show off their skills at the 2016 National Community Games Finals.

And having progressed from their area and achieved first place in their events at county level, Ardee & District athletes Arthur Sands, Tadhg Caffery, Jack Dowdall, Tom Maguire, James Maguire, Hallie Sands, Paulina Kelly, Sarah Lynch, Rob Kelly, Joe Murphy, Jack McCarron, Ruth Gillespie, Samantha McCarron, Ava McNally, Abbie Sheridan, Tara McGuinness and Niamh McGuinness all wore the red and white singlets as they represented Louth in the finals in the AIT stadium in Athlone.

Arthur Sands received his first medal in the Under-8 80 metres where all the young athletes were rewarded with a medal for their achievement in reaching the finals.

However, on Sunday morning Arthur took to the track once more for the B final and received his just rewards as he stormed down the track and finished in third position to take a place on the podium and be part of the medal ceremonies.

Running well in the heats of the relays were the Under-10 mixed team Tadhg Caffery, Jack Dowdall, Paulina Kelly and Sarah Lynch, together with the Boys Under-12 team of James Maguire, Rob Kelly, Joe Murphy and Jack McCarron. The Girls Under-12 team of Hallie Sands, Ruth Gillespie, Samantha McCarron and Ava McNally also ran well.

Ava then made a quick dash to the ball throw completion in the centre of the field where her best throw saw her finish sixth.

Tadhg Caffery (U-10 200m), Jack Dowdall (U-10 100m) and Tom Maguire (U-10 hurdles) all competed well in their heats on Saturday despite the heavy downpours and being led away from the track during a thunder and lightning storm.

There was joy for James Maguire in the Under-12 100m when he secured a place in Sunday morning’s semi-finals where he ran the race of his life and in a very tight finish just missed out on a place in the final.

Hallie Sands did earn a place in Sunday’s Under-12 600m final and finished a creditable sixth.

Last to compete for Ardee & District AC were the so-called marathon runners, with Abbie Sheridan, Niamh McGuinness and Tara McGuinness part of the Louth team.

Coming in off the road for the final 400m of the 7k race was Abbie in 11th, Tara in 15th and sister Niamh just a few paces behind.