UNITED ST RIDER SA. C.

The Senior Striders were competing in the Leinster Masters indoor championships, and Gavin Kelly had an amazing day.

He won the long jump event, and won silver medals in both the 400m and the 800m.

John McGrath had a super day as well, winning his 1,500m race in the morning and then for good measure, he came second in the 3,000m in the afternoon.

Staying with the middle distance events, Aedan Rogers had a great run in his Junior 1,500m, coming fourth in a season’s best of 4:17.

Last but certainly not least, Alan O’Connor had a great run over 3,000m in a fine time of 9:45, for a fourth place finish in the ultra-competitive Over-40 category.

The Striders had their best-ever day at an under-age provincial indoor championships, with both the relay teams and the individual performers bringing home lots of medals at the Leinster indoor Juvenile championships at Abbotstown.

Ciara Kelly was our only under-age competitor on the Saturday and jumped her way to a bronze medal in the Junior high jump. Ciara was back in action the following day and improved to win gold in the Under-19 event.

Also jumping really well were Daniel Wickham and Conor Murphy who set a P.B. in picking up another Leinster bronze.

Also in the jumping discipline, Aoife Muldoon followed her long jump medal the previous week with a gold in the triple jump. In the same event, Patrick Doyle made an impressive debut in competition, to scoop silver.

The Leinster relays were incredibly exciting, with all eight Striders teams performing really well and all being in the mix for medals. The big winners were -

Under-19 girls, 4 x 200m relay (Rebecca Bawden, Alannah Byrne, Aoife Muldoon and Ciara Kelly), third; Under-17 boys, 4 x 200m relay (Aaron Browne, Cian Flanagan, Patrick Doyle and Adam O’Connor), third; Under-15 boys, 4 x 200m relay (Darragh Flannelly, Aidan Shannon, Oisín Mac Eochaidh and Owen Lennon (second); Under-18 boys, 4 x 200m relay (Nik Walkden, Joshua Hewlett, Daniel Wickham and Cian Flanagan), third.

Also running really well, and with most making their finals, were: Under-12 boys (Ronan Shannon, Olan Delaney, Owen Hannan and Sam Myers); Under-14 boys (Myles Hewlett, Cosmo Hewlett, Finn Kelly and Ben Myers); Under-16 girls (Eve Byrne, Erinn Shannon, Clodagh Foran and Louise Doyle); Under-18 girls (Claire Doyle, Aisling Power, Rebecca Bawden and Aoife Nic Eochaidh).

Well done to all competitors, the substitutes who turned up ready for action, and the parents, who all made it a fantastic day out.