Clare athletes with the golden stride

The National Juvenile U-14 to U-19 National Indoor Track and Field Championships were held at the Nenagh Indoor Arena, where two Clare athletes won gold.

Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) in the U-17 800m and Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald AC) in the girls’ U-18 800m produced impressive displays to take the honours.
Two Clare athletes also captured silver medals, Claudia Loughnane (Marian) in the 1,500m walk and Harriett Flynn (Shannon) in the U-19 800m.
Six Clare athletes won bronze medals, Mark Fennell (St Mary’s) in the U-14 800m; Ian Slobody (Kilmihil) in the U-17 800m; Darragh Lynch (Ennis Track) in the U-19 800m; Seamus McMahon (Shannon) in the U-16 1,500m walk; Fergal Conlon (Tulla) in the U-17 1,500m walk and Suzanne Kelly (Kilnaboy) in the U-19 long jump.
The championships were hotly contested and the star performer was Niamh Markham (Ennis Track), who settled in well in her first-round heat of the girls’ U-17 800m and won comfortably. In the final, she took the field apart on the first lap and controlled the race from start to take the gold medal in 2mins.18.52secs.
Another Clare athlete running with Emerald AC, Amy O’Donoghue, was competing in the girls’ U-18 800m and she controlled the final over the four laps to add another national title to her collection.
In the girls’ U-18 1,500m walk Claudia Loughnane (Marian) was well in contention at the half-way point, only to be outsprinted over the final few metres and she had to settle for second in a time of 7mins.30.09secs.
In the 800m U-19, Harriett Flynn (Shannon) took the national silver with a time of 2mins.19.58secs and she also captured a bronze medal in the 1,500m in Magherafelt.
Suzanne Kelly (Kilnaboy) for the second year in a row, produced six great rounds in the girls’ U-19 long jump to come away with a bronze medal in 4.80m.
In the boys’ U-14 Mark Fennell (St Mary’s) finished second in his 800m heat on the morning and in the afternoon produced an outstanding performance in the final over four laps to win a bronze medal in 2mins.20.48secs.
Ian Slobody (Kilmihil), running in the boys U-17 800m, did very well to take a bronze medal with a time of 2mins.02.21secs. Darragh Lynch (Ennis Track) went to the start of the final of the boys’ U-19 800m and he came away with a bronze medal with a time of 2mins.01.92secs.
Clare walkers Seamus McMahon (Shannon) in the boys’ U-16 1,500m and Fergal Conlon (Tulla) in the boys’ U-17, both Munster champions, captured bronze medals.

Results
Girls
U-16 800m
4 Molly Lynch (Shannon) (2mins.25.26secs)
U-17 800m
1 Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) (2mins.18.52secs)
U-18 800m
1 Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald) (2mins.15.77secs)
1,500m walk
2 Claudia Loughnane (Marian) (7mins.30.09secs)
U-19 800m
2 Harriett Flynn (Shannon) (2mins.19.58secs)
Long jump
3 Suzanne Kelly (Kilnaboy) (4.80m)
Boys
U-14 800m
3 Mark Fennell (St Mary’s) (2mins.20.48secs)
U-16 800m
6 Stephan Rooney (Ennis Track) (2mins.14.06secs)
1,500m walk
3 Seamus McMahon (Shannon) (9mins.06.21secs)
U-17 800m
3 Ian Slobody (Kilmihil) (2mins.02.21secs)
1,500m walk
3 Fergal Conlon (Tulla) (7mins.59.30secs)
U-18 800m
4 William Flynn (Shannon) (2mins.05.80secs)
U-19 200m
4 Mark Boland (Marian) (24.03secs)
800m
3 Darragh Lynch
(Ennis Track) (2mins.01.91secs)

Michael (Sonny) Murphy Memorial meeting at Kilnaboy

The 27th annual Michael (Sonny) Murphy Memorial 10-mile open road race and 10k fun walk will take place in Kilnaboy this Sunday, with the 10k fun walk starting at 1.45pm and the road race at 2pm.
This is a very popular race in the North Clare area, organised by Kilnaboy Athletic Club. It attracts athletes from all parts of Ireland and, for the eighth year in row, it will be part of the Munster Ten Mile Spring Classics.
Also incorporated is the Clare Athletics Association 10-mile Road Championship and this year the 10k fun walk will have a new route around Mullaghmore, starting and finishing at Kilnaboy National School.
Among those expected to challenge strongly for the title are Seamus Power, (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), who holds the course record, which he set in 1999 with a time of 49mins.31secs; Sandas Bralitis and Philip Harty, (both West Waterford); Donal O’Callaghan (Riocht); George Waugh, a regular visitor to Kilnaboy; Gerry Ryan (Galway City Harriers), the 2006 title holder; the 2005 winner John Byrne (Mayo) and the title-holder Sean Hehir, who hails from O’Callaghan’s Mills and runs with Rathfarnham AC, Dublin.
In the ladies’ race, Ann Lennon (Mayo) will be among the favourites, along with Angela McCann (Clonmel); last year’s title-holder, Tracy Roche (Dooneen); Liz Hussey (West Limerick); Tracy Guilfoyle from host club Kilnaboy; Veronica Colleran, Marie Carey (both Ennis Track); Mary Sweeney (St Finbarr’s); Lucy Brennan (Sligo) and Loretta Duggan and Marian Burke (St Mary’s).

Fixtures
April
10 27th annual Michael Sonny Murphy Memorial 10-mile road race classic and 10k fun walk at 1.45pm and road race at 2pm in Kilnaboy.
12 Kilmurry Ibrickane Parish National School Sports Day at Mullagh, starting at starting at 11am.
14 Ennistymon /Liscannor Parish National School Sports Day at Lahinch Community Sports Field, starting at 11am.
15 Ennis Track 20th anniversary celebrations at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis.
16 The Johnny McMahon Healthy Heart 10k fun run and 3.5k walk in aid of Kilmaley Voluntary Housing and Uganda Rays of Hope Hospice, Jinya, starting at Kilmaley school at 12noon.
17 Marian AC and the Matt O’Connor Memorial Open Sports at the Lees Road, starting at 2pm.
17 National Road Relays Championships in Raheny, Dublin.
17 Coole Park, Gort, County Galway, 10k trail walk, jog, run, starting at 11am.