FARRANFORE MAINE VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB

COUNTY AWARDS BANQUET

The County Awards Banquet was held in Kenmare Bay Hotel on Friday 12th April. In was a very entertaining night with thanks to the county board and Kenmare AC for a well organised event. We had a lovely attendance from our club who came out to congratulate our athletes in their successful 2018 season. Our club juvenile awardees were Malachy Kirwan & Eabha McCarthy. Malachy is a fine young athlete who has been competing with the club for many years. He is an all-rounder with county medals in Track, sprints, middle distance, and Cross Country. He is coming through to be a very talented middle-distance athlete securing individual & team medals at the County Cross Country Championships and been well placed at the Munster XC. Eabha has been a member of our club since the age of six.

Her main involvement is in Cross Country and Track events. Winning individual medals at County XC, Munster XC and County Team Nationals. But her love has always been Track racing. Since a very young age she has been on the podium at all track events and representing Kerry at the National Community Games on four occasions. Eabha is now focusing her time to Hurdles and short distance.

David Kenny was awarded Junior Track & Field: David is one of Kerry’s most talented Race Walkers. He has broken all his personal best times, second in the National Indoors Junior 3K & senior 2K. National Outdoors T&F he was First in the Universities IUAA 3K, First in Junior 3K & third in the Senior 10K.

The highlight of his season was made at the National 20km Outdoor Race Walking C’ships event in Raheny where his performance has placed him third in the all-time list for an U20 athlete in a time of 1hr 29mins.

Shauna McCarthy received a special International award for her part in the Junior Girls Irish Team to compete in the SIAB Schools Cross Country, Nottingham, where she was a part of the team to win Bronze.Jim O’Shea was recognised for competing in the European Masters Indoors, Madrid, where he was first in the M75 Long Jump at a distance of 4 meters. An outstanding achievement for a great ambassador in the sport of athletics.

The Men’s League team was awarded for their excellent performance in the division one National league. Part of this team was Rossa Foley, Sean O’Shea, Dermot Dineen and David Kenny.The highlight of the night was when Michael (Mike) O’ Connor was awarded the Hall Of Fame. Mike has been a very regular and loyal club member for well over fifty years and still retains his love for the sport in athletics. He has competed for Ireland in three European Masters race walking Championships. (Madrid, AnCona and Seville) and no intentions on stopping. A true ambassador to the sport of athletics.

KINGDOM COME 10MILE & 5KM

The annual Kingdom Come 10Mile & 5K road race took place in Castleisland on Sunday 14th April. Organised by An Riocht AC, it was a very successful event with participants well up from previous years.

Our club members did extremely well making the podium in both distances. In the 10mile, Deirdre Nagle was first lady finisher with Caitriona Barry in third place. Well done to you both. In the 5K distance, Arthur Fitzgerald was 3rd in a time of 17mins. Aidan McCarthy did well to finish just over 18mins. In the Women’s, Niamh De Hora had a great race finishing in second place, with Mary Daly third and close behind in 4th was Maria McCarthy. Shauna McCarthy was first U16 girl in a time of 20:13. Well done to all.

CLUB AWARDS CELEBRATION NIGHT

The club will be hosting our own club awards on Bank Holiday Monday Night, 22nd April in Sherwoods Bar, Farranfore at 6pm. This is to award our Junior / Senior & Masters for their achievements in 2018. Everyone is welcome to join in this night of celebrations.Club Training:Tuesdays @ Farranfore GAA Grounds, €2, Juveniles U9 / U10 Outdoors 6 to 7pm (All events). Juveniles U11-U16 Outdoors 6 to 7:30pm (Sprints & Mid. Distance).Thursday @ An Riocht Track, Castleisland, €3 Club Member €5 other. Juveniles U11-U16 & Senior 7:45 to 9:15pm (All events). NOTE

Must be Athletic Ireland Registered to attend.We welcome new members to come along to training and try it out. If you are happy you can register after two sessions. See our website for full details.

Athletic’s Fixtures

Sun 5th May: County Juvenile T&F C’Ships Day 1, CastleislandMon 6th May: County Senior & Masters T&F C’Ships, CastleislandWed May 8th: South Munster Schools GIRLS T&F C’ships, CITFri May 10th: South Munster Schools BOYS T&F C’ships, CITSun May 12th: County Juvenile T&F C’Ships Day 2, Castleisland Please contact club secretary, Mary, 085-1909509 to register for competitions in advanceSee Kerry & Munster Athletics website for full fixture lists & timetable for events.