Season beginning to wind down
After a long and busy season which started back in April things are beginning to wind down on the athletics season, however there are still a few events coming up over the next few weeks in which West Waterford athletes will compete.
International Events
The next event on the international programme is the Celtic International involving athletes from Ireland Scotland and Wales. This year the event will be held in Grangemouth in Scotland. We have three athletes on the Irish team. Thomas Houlihan will compete in the under 18 Pole Vault, on Sunday last at the senior championships Thomas vaulted a new personal best of 4m 05cms and he will hope to equal or even surpass this mark next weekend. Having finished 6th in the school international last week end he knows that both Scotland and Wales have strong contenders in the pole vault and he will have to be at his best to get among the medal winners. Kate Veale will compete in the under 16 walk. She has been setting the track alight all season with her record-breaking performances. This weekend she will compete a year out of age and the distance is also shorter that usual nonetheless expect to see Kate on the winning podium. The third member of the team is Zoë Scanlon who competes in the under 16 Discus. Last year in Antrim Zoë won this event and will look to retain her title. She is coming into top form over the last few weeks recording a personal best of 34m 75 at the national age group championships and coming close to it last weekend at the Schools international where a high gusting wind made throwing conditions very difficult. John Mc Grath in his role as Chairman of the National Juvenile Committee will travel with the team.
National B Championships
A very limited programme of events will be held at the National B Championships, which will take place in Santry on Sunday August 10th with the first event off at 10am. Four athletes are entered in this event Lucy O’ Brien in the under 14 800m, Lughaidh O’Mahoney and David Earley in the under 16 800m and Michael Tutty in the under 16 100m and Long Jump. Official in charge John Mc Grath.
Last Night Out in Araglin
We usually finish off our track season with a trip to Araglin Open Sports. This year the event will be held on Friday 25th of July and we look forward to a big turn out of athletes for this last event. There will be a bus travelling so check the notice board for details. Official in charge Antoinette O’Brien.
Training will finish on Wednesday 23rd of July. There will also be an open sports in Midleton on Sunday July 27th and even though this clashes with the hurling quarter final we hope that some of our athletes will make their own way there. If you compete make sure you let Mary Ashe know your results.
Credit Union Awards
Lisa, Laurence and Thomas Houlihan accompanied by older brother Liam Their mother and club officials Antoinette O’ Brien , Bro. Patrick Lennon and Mary Ashe travelled to Tramore Credit Union where they received the Credit Union Award for May for their achievements in winning three Irish Schools Pole Vault title on the one day.
To all our athletes coaches and officials well done on an excellent seasons work enjoy your break over the next few week and we look forward to seeing you back in action for the cross country season training for which will start on Wed 27th of August.
