Winter league very popular with the clubs

THE WEXFORD winter league is very popular with local clubs as it affords younger athletes an opportunity to race on the track in a low-key and relaxed environment.

There is, of course, a competitive side to it with athletes who win all three of their races getting a coveted star award.

The winter league is as much about turning up, taking part and representing one’s club as it is about individual glory.

Athletes who have a one hundred per cent participation record earn a commemorative medal.

And, with trophies for the best boys’ club, best girls’ club and best overall club, each and every athlete can also secure valuable points for their club.

When the points were totted up after the first leg, United Striders were top boys’ club with 178 points, followed by Enniscorthy (201) and St. Paul’s (225).

With the second round results added in, U.S. were on 319.5 points, ahead of Enniscorthy on 407.5 and St. Paul’s on 457.

Bree were one point behind St. Paul’s, with Menapians, D.M.P. and Adamstown not too far adrift.

The young ladies of Menapians extended the lead they had over Striders following round one with a total, after two rounds, of 398 points. Striders had 419, with Enniscorthy next on 434.

United Striders looked to be well on the way to securing another best overall club title following a brilliant second round (accumulated total 738.5).

Enniscorthy lat second on 841.5 points, while Menapians were clinging on to third place on 869, just ahead of Bree (887).

Striders looked to be home and dry for the overall title, but when it comes to the minor placings it was still all to play for!