Main pic: Ben Robinson, Deacon Parker and Ruben Ward at the Rosses AC Primary School event.
Race season is truly in full flow and it was a busy week on a number of fronts for Rosses AC athletes.
In adventure racing, there was the Sliabh Liag mountain race over 25k and 13k. Club legend Declan “the goat” Gallagher won the 25km event and a big well done to him. Ken Bates has been working back from injuries and took on this tough challenge also, finishing in a brilliant 3rd place. Eoin Boyle took 5th place with experienced campaigner Malachy Doyle in 48th place. In the 13k race, Emer Magee was making her trail running debut and finished inside the top 20 ladies.
In the Beyond Adventure race in Creeslough, David McKelvey and Noel O’Donnell went a bit further taking on the 50km “Super” Race along with James McGeehan, Neil McBride and Hugh Bonner. David McKelvey finished a close second to winner Shaun Stewart with Noel O Donnell finding good form finishing 7th, Neil McBride 13th, Hugh Bonner 23rd and James McGeehan in a strong 27th place. It was a big win for Sarah Doherty finishing 1st lady in the sprint race where Paddy Solan also had strong performance finishing 8th overall.
David McKelvey and Noel O’Donnell at the Beyond Adventure Race
At the same time on the track in Finn Valley, three of our seniors took part in the Track and Field Love event. First up was Bernie Boyle who ran a fine time of 11:16 in the 3000m. Martina Mulhern did the 1500m clocking a nice time of 06:08 and Lorraine Doherty had a blast over 400m running a good time of 1:22.
On Friday last the annual Rosses AC Primary Schools Track and Field Finals Day took place at Carrickfinn and it was a super morning of athletics. There were great numbers of athletes from all schools and it was obvious to see the work being put in at schools with the high calibre of competition and performances. Big thanks to all the coaches, teachers and parents who all pulled together in true community spirit to set up and run so efficiently. The kids today will all leave with great memories and stories of the day. Well done to the winning schools on the day who were Dungloe, Annagry and Belcruit.
On the local road circuit last week the Letterkenny Educate Together NS 5k saw new recruit PJ Doogan run a super time 15:09, Charlie O Donnell 2nd 16:11, Mark Ward 17:08, Patrick Trimble 17:24, Eamonn O Donnell 19:53 and Niall Shiels 23:15. The Ladies saw Claire O Donnell clock a time of 19:07 to take the win with Kevea Gallagher 2nd.
Rosses AC athletes at the Letterkenny Educate Together 5k
At the Ayr Hill national school 5k Declan Ferry matched new team mate Pj’s time from Tuesday winning in the exact time of 15:09, Paul McKelvey 3rd in 17:26 and Noel Ferry 20:10. Bernie Boyle won the ladies in 18:56 with Cathy Breslin 2nd in 21:37. And the last race of the week was the Bob Heffernan 5k where Noel O Donnell ran a PB of 19:22. This weekend sees the first day of the juvenile Ulster Track and Field Championships for the u9 to u13 ages in Finn Valley on Sunday and good luck also to Caoimhe McGonigle (shot), Aileen Logue (High Jump), Amber Gallagher (Shot Putt) and Eva Logue (High Jump) at the All Ireland Schools finals in Tullamore this weekend.
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