Jack comes up trumps
IT was a Sunday to remember for Dunleer AC’s Jack Boylan as he medalled at the National Indoor Under-23 Championships in Athlone.
He clocked 3:57.19 to finish third, just a fraction of a second behind the runner-up, and Ciara Reilly also did well for the club, finishing sixth in her Junior 400m heat in a time of 1:04.37.
Meanwhile, preparations for the 50th running of the Ras na hEireann at Oldbridge have been hotting up over the past week as more sponsors and athletes from the USA are confirmed.
Dunleer AC organise the renowned cross-country event and this year’s event on Sunday February 17th is possible thanks to Kingspan - the Rás title sponsor - and also to Mace Ireland, Haughton & Young Limited and Anord Mardx who all came on board last week.
Other sponsors include Coca-Cola, Burex, Paddy Darby, Glen Dimplex and Shay Sheridan and any other potential sponsors are invited to get in touch by email at tydunleer04@gmail.com.
Club Chairwoman Jacqueline Matthews is delighted that athletes from the USA will be competing, as well as Ethiopia’s Hiko Tonosa who has a PB of 13:31 for 5km, so he will be definitely one to watch!
The USA men’s team has been confirmed for the Rás thanks to Charlie Breagy, the club’s élite athlete co-ordinator in the US - and they are Matt Mc Clintock, Ben Groleau, Aaron Dinenzeo, Matt Drummond and Dan Smith, while the USA ladies will be represented by Joanna Thompson.
The Rás is part of a Sports and Culture Week through Dunleer AC’s link with Armagh Athletic Club and the International Road Race in Armagh on Thursday February 14th.
The historic event has a historic venue also, thanks to the great work of the OPW who have provided the public with an amazing outdoor space at Oldbridge, scene of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The grounds are a fantastic amenity for walks as well as running, and the tea rooms, museum and gardens provide something for everyone.
Dunleer say great credit goes to Dolores Mc Govern who manages the site for the OPW, and her staff who provide a warm welcome to all outdoor life and history fans who visit.
The Rás incorporates the Noel Mc Guill/Sandra Floyd event also and cups are presented to the men’s winning team by the Mc Guill family in memory of Noel Mc Guill. The winning ladies team receive the Sandra Floyd Cup. The Larry Mc Guill cup is presented to the first man over the line in the senior race and the Louis Duffin Cup to the first Dunleer AC man home. In 2018, a cup was also introduced by Dunleer AC for the first woman home - it went to Karen Costello.
Meanwhile, on Saturday February 16th a tree will be planted at Shamrock Hill at 3pm in memory of Larry Mc Guill who was the father of athletics in Dunleer and Louth for many, many years. This will be followed by a photo exhibition of the Rás in the Dunleer AC clubrooms and all supporters of athletics and the Rás are invited to attend.
Over the years the Rás has produced many great champions. Probably the two most famous were Catherina Mc Kiernan and Sydney Olympics 5,000m gold medallist Million Wolde.
For more info about this year’s Ràs see www.dunleerac.net, www. rasnaheireann.com and the Dunleer Athletic Club Facebook page.