Ardee & District feature strongly at annual awards

A BUSY weekend for Ardee & District AC athletes began on Friday night with the County Awards and continued into Saturday and Sunday with National and Leinster championships.

Athletes, coaches and parents took the opportunity to dig out the glad rags and dress up for the highly anticipated awards in Dundalk’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, where guests were greeted at the door by Irish Olympic 400m hurdler Thomas Barr.

Proceedings got under way with a fabulous meal served by the hotel’s efficient staff. The Athletic Association of Ireland president, local woman Georgina Drumm, then said a few words before introducing Thomas Barr who made an inspirational speech about his time in juvenile athletics and the road to his Olympic dream. Barr received a standing ovation from the 270-plus guests before the all-important awards began.

First on stage were athletes who received certificates for ‘exceptional performances and medal success at AAI National championships’ and Ardee’s Jonathan Commins, Hallie Sands, Ruth Gillespie, Ava McNally and Orlaith Carolan duly collected their certificates.

Next were the track and field awards where Caoimhe Carolan and Tom Maguire (U-9 to U-11), Hallie Sands and James Maguire (U-12 to U-14), Abbie Sheridan and Jonathan Commins (U-15/U-16), Tara McGuinnes and Conor McMahon (U-17 to U-19) received certificates for their club nomination - before the big reveal of Athlete of the Year.

Conor McMahon won his category for the fourth year in a row, receiving his star award from Thomas Barr. Also winning a star award was Abbie Sheridan who scooped the track and field category for the first time in the female U-15/16 category.

Back on stage was Hallie Sands as she collected her nomination for the U-12 to U-14 cross-country and Tara McGuinness in the U-15 to 19 female category. With the pair having equal points, Tara was thrilled when told there would be joint winners and she stepped forward to receive her star award.

After official proceedings came to an end, Thomas Barr spent plenty of time posing for photos and signing certificates.

On Saturday Jonathan Commins travelled to Athlone with Ardee CS for the National Schools Indoor Combined Events.

Jonathan got his day off to a great start by throwing 12.98m in the shot and running 9.40sec in the 60m hurdles and 25.49 in the 200m. However, he then suffered a hamstring injury and finished the day seventh overall.

On Sunday Tara McGuinness and Abbie Sheridan competed in the Leinster Cross-Country Championships. Abbie ran in the U-15 3,500m and Tara in the U-17 4,000m and both girls ran superbly and finished in the top 20 in their events.