Bon Voyage Kate
The training is all done and preparations are well in hand and by the time you are reading this Kate will have arrived in Singapore and will be trying to adapt to the high temperatures and high humidity. The race will take place on Saturday 21st of August at 7pm local time which is midday Irish time. There is a possibility that Eurosport may cover the Youth Olympics so check your TV schedules to see if it will be shown. All in West Waterford wish Kate the very best of luck.
Four in a row for Zoe Scanlon at Celtic International
For the fourth year in arrow Zoe Scanlon won the Discus at the Celtic International, which was held this year in Athlone. This event brings together the best young athletes from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Zoe has represented Ireland four times at this event twice under 16 and twice under 18 on each of these occasions she has won the discus event and confirming her status as one of Irelands top competitors at this level. On Sat she threw the discus over 36m five times to record a winning throw of 36m 64. For good measure Zoe finished 3rd in the shot with a throw 0f 10m 59. This week Zoe will be presented with the Credit Union Athletics Award for May.
Silver for Lisa Houlihan at Celtic International
Lisa Houlihan was the only other West Waterford athlete to compete at the Celtic International. Lisa competed in the pole vault where she cleared a height of 3.10 to take the silver medal. In her last few competitions Lisa has been consistently clearing three mts and she ended her seasons with a personal best of 3m10. This performance along with Zoe’s in both the shot and discus helped Ireland to a comfortable win over Scotland, Wales and Ulster. Another member of the Houlihan family in the news this week is Thomas who travels to Waterford to receive the Credit Union Athletics Award for June.
Medals for Sean Curran, Cliona Ryan and Eoin Dwyer at All Ireland B Championships.
Tullamore was once again the venue for the All Ireland B Championships last weekend. Four athletes from West Waterford competed at this event. This is a great competition for introducing young athletes to national level competition and many of our most successful athletes won their first All Ireland medals at this competition. Sean Curran had a great run in the 800m under 14 and as the photo on the AAI website there was nothing in it as both dipped for the line with Sean winning the silver medal in a time 0f 2m 21.48. Garry O’Sullivan from West Muscarry won the race in a time of 2.21.37. Cliona Ryan won her first individual All Ireland medal when she finished second in the under 14 shot and earlier in the day she finished 4th in the 800m in a time of 2.44.58. Eoin Dwyer also made it on to the podium when he won a bronze medal in the under 14 boys high jump. Lucy O’ Brien was outside the when finishing 4th in the under 16 800m but will be happy with her time of 2m 37.91
