What a weekend it was for the Rosses AC as our next generation juveniles showed what they can do.
This dedicated group have trained together and stuck together since the Sportshall in the Winter through to the Track and Field and the rewards were had last weekend in Tullamore on Saturday at the Irish Life Health juvenile B championships and Sunday for the Irish Life Health juvenile A championships.
The highlight was a gold for Fodhla Nic Phaidin in the u19 Triple Jump. Saturday saw an early start for a large group and another successful meet for our young athletes here at Irish Life Health Juvenile B championships. On the track, Tiarnan mac Ruairí went in the u12 80m and later in the day the long jump and 600m. Aine Bonner showed her talent in bagging a bronze in the u15 shot putt and later competed in the long jump and 100m. Conor Mangan was determined to add to his season’s medal haul and ran a very strong 80m to take Gold. Amber Gallagher got herself back to winning ways with a new Pb of 8.61m to take Gold in the u13 shot putt.
Jordan Gallagher added to the club’s strong showing in u14 shot putt and came away with silver. Kevea Gallagher got back into her first competition in a long time and performed very well in the long jump, 80m and 600m.
Mia Baikie was a late entry and it was worth the journey- she ran a hard 100m to win her heat and was just outside the medals in the final however with her very last jump of the day she catapulted herself on to the podium in bronze position in the u15 long jump.
John Gallagher in the u14 long jump took gold with a fine jump of 4.67m. Amy Greene ran well in the u14 800m. Pat Bonner battled hard in the u14 long jump, 600m and shot putt. Dylan Duffy competed well in the u14 80m and long jump. Aoife McGee completed Saturdaysecured a bronze in the u13 80m.
Sunday saw the final day of the Irish Life Juvenile Championships Day 3 in Tullamore, Co Offaly and in glorious conditions the Rosses AC athletes put on some exciting performances. John Gallagher in the u14 200m was 5th place with a time of 26.46. Emma Brown in the u16 200m had a pb of 27.90. Johnson Bangora ran in the u-16 200m finishing 5th with an impressive time of 24.37.
The Marry brothers – Thomas and Patrick – both competed strongly with Patrick returning from a long absence due to injury jumped a superb 1.50m in the u15 high jump while Thomas threw 26.11m in the u18 discus. Last up for Rosses AC was the amazingly talented Fodhla Nic Phaidin in the u19 Triple Jump. This was a hard fought competition and the lead changed a number of times but on the last jump Fodhla dug deep to pull off a tremendous jump of 11.30m to take Gold.
This was a fitting end to what has been a fantastic Track and Field season for all age groups, a huge thanks to the coaches who worked tirelessly and gave up so much of their own time to impart their knowledge and skills on the athletes. Many thanks to the parents who travelled the length and breadth of the country to support our athletes and finally a huge thanks to the athletes of all ages, without you there is no Rosses AC and you all done yourselves, the club and your families proud this season.
On the local scene in the Sean O’Hare 5k Finlay Marshall stormed to victory finishing in a time of 17.25 with Niall Gallagher finishing 3rd, Manus Mc Hugh for 5th, Paul Mc Kelvey 6th, Patrick Trimble 8th and Declan Gallagher 11th. In the Lifford 5k Owen Coyle ran a superb time of 19.58. In Annagry, Edward Harkin won the Aonach Jack 5k with Noel Diver 2nd and Paul Mc Gee 3rd. Kathleen Rodgers was the first lady home.
Training continues in Dungloe on Monday and Wednesdays at 8:15pm and in Gweedore on Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm – all welcome. Most people are focused on 5k training with local races in Burtonport and Dungloe coming up which will be followed by the Danny McDaid 15k and Donegal half marathon. Good luck for the upcoming weekend where many club athletes are entered for the MAD race in Milford. Reminder to all of our club social night this Saturday night in the Casadh tSugain on Saturday night for the adult athletes, coaches and committee members gathering for 9pm.
