Ardee club get year off to a flyer

THERE was joy for Abbie Sheridan as well as the U-11 Boys team as Ardee & District athletes made an impressive start to the year at Blackrock AC’s cross-country meeting in Haggardstown on Sunday.

In cold but dry and sunny conditions, this was a friendly and well organised event and the effort of the Ardee team was summed up by Alfie O’Sullivan, who took a nasty fall early in the Under-9 Boys 500m but jumped right back up and ran bravely to the end.

He was joined by Frank Sands who placed 10th overall in the Under-8/9 event, plus Sean Mc

Cormack and newcomer Aodhan Kellett, who just missed out on a team medal.

However, even better was still to come as Ardee’s Under-11 Boys team of TomJoe McCormack, Max O’Sullivan, Alex Callan and newcomers Oisin Kellett and Max Sweeney proved fantastic. They won the first-place team medal and it was double success for Alex who also placed fifth to win a medal in the individual event.

Three young ladies from Ardee & District ran the Under-13 Girls 1500m, with newcomer EllenRose Sweeney showing exceptional promise and finishing with a smile like her teammates Molly Keenan and Emma Boyle.

Arthur Sands and Evan Waters represented Ardee & District in the Under-13 Boys 1500m and Arthur fought his way through the field to placve ninth overall, with newcomer Evan making a great effort also in his first ever competitive race.

In the Under-15 Boys 2,000m race Jack McCarron finished 12th in a tough field and Charlie Sands. running out of age, produced an exceptional sprint finish to place 14th overall.

Finishing the day on a high was the fantastic Abbie Sheridan who won the Under-19 Ladies race.