Boyne clean up at awards

THE Athletics Louth Annual Star Awards took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk before Christmas, with over 500 athletes and their coaches and parents in attendance for this auspicious occasion.

Olympic finalist, Thomas Barr, was the star attraction on the night, as all the young promising athletes listened intently to his words of advice and encouragement. Following a hearty meal, the awards got underway, with Barr presenting certificates of achievement to all those who had won a national medal throughout the year, with no fewer than 12 Boyne athletes taking to the stage, including, Lorcan Forde Dunne, Oliver Carolan, Pelumi Fanifosi, Paddy Price, Killian Ekhator, Aaron Fennell, Harry Carolan, Tara Meier, Emer Doyle, Neil Culhane, Cathal Monaghan and Ruarcan O’Gibne.

The athlete of the year awards were then presented, with a male and female category in four age groups, in both Track & Field and Cross Country. Nominations across all categories went to Boyne A.C athletes Shola Lawrence, Saran Meite, Neil Culhane, Tadgh Everitt Thompson, Ruarcan O’Gibne, Tara Meier and Niamh Kelly, while individual awards were won by Oliver Carolan, who scooped a rarely seen two awards for u9-u11 boy in both Track & Field and in Cross Country, and by Euan Canniffe who won in u12-u14 Track & Field. The icing on the cake however, was the presentation of the prestigious Club of the year trophies, with Boyne awarded best club in Louth in both Track & Field and, for the first time in many years, also best club in Cross Country.

Training for all age groups resumes on Tuesday 10th January and Boyne A.C wish all their members a very happy and prosperous new year.