Bree club continues its bright relationship with Leinster Pairs

THE LEINSTER Juvenile Pairs, which took place in Tullamore, is a much-anticipated event on the annual athletics calendar, especially for those clubs strong in the younger ages.

From Under-9 to Under-11, athletes pair up to compete in one or more of a number of events: long jump, turbo javelin, 60-80m sprints, and middle distance (300-600m). Their times, and/or best distances, are totted up to give their overall placing.

While it is an unfortunate reality that a win-at-allcosts sense of competitiveness is as present in the younger groups as it is further up the line, events such as this help children appreciate that there is another side to athletics.

This other side concerns itself with teamwork, loyalty and, regardless of whether one is leading or is down the field, never giving up.

Bree has a habit of doing well at the Leinster pairs and, on the evidence of this event, it is a habit they have no intention of breaking.

Leah Bolger and Ava Doyle placed third in the Under-10 long jump pairs and seventh, on aggregate time, in the 60m pairs. In the latter event, Ava was third in heat one while Leah was third in heat seven.

The club’s Under-11 pairing of Kiera Wilson and Ciara Laffan placed a very close second in long jump and fourth in the sprint, just 0.05 off bronze.

Ciara won her heat in impressive style, running the joint second fastest time of the day. Rachel Doyle, competing without a partner, was fourth in her heat of the Under-9 60m.

The Bree boys were up for the challenge as well, with P.J. Breen and Jayden Kenny winning the Under-10 long jump pairs and taking bronze in the 60m sprint, Jayden winning his heat in the latter.

Competing in the Under-9 category, Shane Laffan and Billy Doyle were third in the long jump pairs and fourth in the 300m.

Menapians duo Cian Donovan and Alfie Whelan were sixth overall in the 60m pairs, Cian having won his heat with the third fastest time of the day.

The boys also competed in the 600m, with Cian placing second in his heat and Alfie fourth in his. Their combined time left them just a second off bronze in fourth place.

Artem Kelly and Elijah Page-Redmond of St. Paul’s were second in the Under-10 turbo javelin and sixth overall in the sprint.

The Taghmon duo of Kayleigh Butler and Emma Creane were fourth in the Under-9 turbo javelin pairs and eleventh in the 60m pairs.

The programme also included a number of Under-12 and Under-13 events. Kevin O’Mahony (D.M.P.), following up on a very successful county championships, took the win in the Under-12 60m.

He went on to place joint seventh in the high jump behind clubmate Michael Kent in fourth. Michael also placed fourth in the shot putt.

Shannon Codd (D.M.P.) was second in the Under-12 girls’ shot putt (2kg).

In the Under-13 80m final, the judges spent some time poring over the images on the photo-finish screen before announcing that Bree’s Abbie Doyle was third, just 0.01 behind second.

Kara Morrissey (St. Killian’s) was sixth in the final of the Under-12 60m. Ava Byrne (Enniscorthy) placed ninth in the Under-13 600m, while Katie Foley (Kilmore) ran 2.18 in her 600m.

There was success for the county teams in the inter-county 4 x 100m relays, with Wexford’s Under-11 and Under-13 boys winning silver medals.

The Wexford Under-11 girls’ team, made up entirely of Bree clubmates Leah Bolger, Kiera Wilson, Ava Doyle and Ciara Laffan, finished in the bronze medal position.

Fixtures: June 22 (Friday), Mr Oil Wexford Juvenile ‘B’ championships, Enniscorthy; June 23, Irish Life Health Tailteann Games track and field championships, Santry; June 24, Irish Life Health National League round one, Templemore and Mary Peters Track, Belfast; July 1, Irish Life Health Juvenile games (Under-9 to Under-11) and Under-12/Under-13 field events, Tullamore; July 4, Mr Oil Wexford Senior track and field championships (day one), Enniscorthy.