Boyne’s teams on top of their game in Blackrock
FIVE Boyne AC teams won medals and several individuals also finished on the podium in a hugely successful trip by Boyne AC to the Blackrock AC Cross-Country meeting in Haggardstown on Sunday.
This was the penultimate event of the local cross-country calendar and the dry, crisp weather conditions were ideally suited to the distance runner.
First up was the Under-7 race and here there was a fine run from Nathan Robertson, who took a nasty tumble but gallantly got back up and finished along with Cainneach Mac Ghabhann who ran a great race also.
The Under-9 girls had 500m to contend with, with Paige Gargan and Naiya Semple running well and in the equivalent boys race a fantastic run from Tadgh Forde Dunne was rewarded as he finished in second place. With Calum Byrne fourth and Cormac McEvoy fifth the boys took home the gold team medals, with clubmates Luca McLoughlin and Charlie Kingston not far behind in sixth and 12th places.
Another gold team medal went to the Girls Under-11 team, with a fine run from Emer Cooney to finish in second place. Shola Lawrence, out of age, took a superb fourth, with Isabella Garcia in 12th completing the team and Kate Culhane - out of age - running well also.
Not to be outdone, the Under-11 boys took home two team medals for their efforts, with the gold awarded to Shea O’Donnell (2nd), Lorcan Forde Dunne (3rd, out of age) and Alex Robertson (5th, out of age). The he silver team medal winners were Emmet McEvoy in sixth, Daragh Peters in seventh and Rhys Clarke who was 12th.
A fine run by Emer Doyle in the Girls Under-13 1500m race saw her just pipped at the post but finish in a super fourth place, with clubmate Ella McLoughlin - out of age - finishing well.
The final team medal of the day was a silver taken by the Under-13 boys, with Neil Culhane claiming victory by a huge winning margin, Paddy Price, out of age, finishing in a fine fifth, followed by Max Kingston in 12th. Competing in his first ever race for the club, Dominik Kopczak ran well also.
As the ages increased, so too did the distance and Killian McLoughlin ran superbly in the Under-15 2,000m, crossing the line in second place. Tadgh Everitt Thompson contested the Boys Under-17 2,500m, where a solid pace saw him also cross the line to finish in second place overall.
Also in action on Sunday, the unstoppable Amy McTeggart took home yet another gold medal, this time in the National Indoor Under-23 Women’s High Jump, with a jump of 1.68m. TOP-CLASS cross-country running returns to the famous Battle of the Boyne site of Oldbridge next Sunday with the latest running of the Ràs na hEireann.
The Larry Mc Guill Rás na hÉireann, as it has been affectionately renamed since 2011, following the sad passing of Larry Mc Guill who was the father of athletics in mid Louth and beyond, will no doubt be fiercely contested, but nothing resembling the bloody battles of 1690!
The first races of the day will be the Under-9 events at noon, followed by races for boys and girls Under 11, 13, 15, 17, Junior, Senior and Masters men’s and ladies’ races. Entry online is at https://athleticsireland.primo-events.com/ps/ event/LarryMcGuillRasnahireann and entries will be accepted on the day also.
Support for the event is pouring in, with members past and present offering to help out on the day. Glen Dimplex and Darby’s Service Station Dunleer are the latest firms to offer sponsorship of the event, and Dunleer AC is indebted to all those who provide support every year. The support of the Mc Guill, Floyd and Duffin families all adds to the occasion as the memorial cups are presented to the top teams and individuals.
On Sunday last Dunleer AC juveniles were in action at the annual Blackrock AC Cross-Country event, where Aisling Gormley and Lauren Egan ran very well in the Under 9 race and the former finished in second place. Conor Brennan was a superb first in the Under-9 Boys race.
Aibhe Reilly, Danielle Brennan and Sally Sheridan finished third team at Under-11 level and Lucy Sheridan won the Under-13 race. Tiernan Rowley was third at Under-15 level and others to do well were Sam O’Neill, Conor Doheny and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Congratulations have been extended to Micheál Mulligan, who was elected as chairman of Louth Athletics County Board at the recent agm. David Carrie, chairman of Dunleer AC, praised Micheál’s appointment, stating that he is held in high esteem at club, county and national level and is a true athletic and sporting ambassador. Everyone at Dunleer Athletic Club wishes Micheál the best of luck in his new role. •Dunleer AC would like to congratulate Jack McCullough and David Carrie on winning awards at last Saturday night’s Drogheda Independent Coca-Cola Sport Star awards. Jack won the Young Sport Star of the Year award for his achievements on the international stage at mountain running and sea swimming in 2016.
Club chairman David received the Hall of Fame award in recognition of his running and coaching career and his contribution to helping others achieve their own marathon running goals.