National masters honours for Leahy and Courtney

CLARE athletes produced outstanding individual performances at the Athletics Association of Ireland Masters Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.

In damp conditions, John Leahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) produced great performances in the O-35 discus, javelin and 56lbs for distance, with his biggest performance of the day in the shot putt.

He delivered a huge throw in round four to take the gold medal with 12.10m. In the discus he captured a silver with a throw of 32.54m. He was very unlucky with his final throw, which went further than any competitor but went outside the arena.

In the javelin he secured a bronze medal with a throw of 29.19m, while he had to settle for the silver medal in his final event on the evening, the 56lbs for distance, with 6.36m.

David Courtney (Ennis Track) went into these championships with a knee injury but he produced a massive throw in the O-50 javelin with 44.53m. He was just a margin outside the national record.

David also competed in the discus and produced outstanding throws over four rounds. This time he had to settle for the silver, however, with a throw of 34.75m.

Martin Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s) in O-50 competed in a very competitive 35lbs for distance. He captured the gold medal with a throw of 7.19m. In the shot putt he had to settle for sixth place.

In the Masters O-60, Tom Jones (Ennis Track) competed in the 35lbs for distance and captured a silver medal over four great rounds.

In the Masters O-70, Peader Nugent, who hails from Clare but competes in the Athenry colours, came away with a double silver medal in the 200m and 400m and bronze in the 100m.

Results:
Ladies O-45
800m: 4 Helen O’Hanlon, Ennis Track (2.44:65); 1,500m: 4 Helen O’Hanlon.
Men O-35: Shot Putt: 1 John Leahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (12.10m); Javelin: 3 John Leahy (29.19m); Discus: 2. John Leahy (32.54m); 56lbs for distance: 2 John Leahy (6.36m).
O-45: Javelin: 1 David Courtney (Ennis Track) (44.53m); Discus: 2 David Courtney (34.75m); Shot Putt: 5 David Courtney (9.55m).
O-50: Shot Putt: 6 Martin Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s) (9.18m); 35lbs for distance: 1 Martin Fitzpatrick (7.19m).
O-60: 35lbs for Distance: 2 Tom Jones (Ennis Track) (6.18m).
O-70: 100m: 3. Peader Nugent (Clare and Athenry); 200m: 2. Peader Nugent; 400m: 2.Peader Nugent.