Six medals for Clare at National Indoor Championships

THE National juvenile U-12 to U-19 National Indoor Track and Field Championships were held over two days in Magherafelt, County Derry and six Clare athletes made the five-hour journey.
Derbhile Ryan (Clonlara and Nenagh AC) won silver medals in the girls’ U-15 shot putt and high jump, Eoin Looney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) won a silver medal in the boys’ U-13 600m, Paraic McNamara (Marian) won silver in the boys’ U-15 long jump while Harriett Flynn (Shannon), in the girls’ U-19 1,500m, won a bronze medal as did her brother, William, in the boys’ U-18 400m.
On the first day in the girls’ U-13 600m, Elaine Shannon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) had to settle for eighth position in 1. 53:99.
In the boys’ U-13 600m, Munster champion, Eoin Looney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) went out hard from the start and after 300m, he was in front. At the finish, he was pipped on the line with gold going to Luke Fitzgerald (Kilkenny City Harriers) in 1.42 :55. Looney won silver in a time of 1.42:86 setting a personal best by three seconds
William Flynn (Shannon), running in the boys’ U-18 400m heats finished second (51:27). Two hours later, he ran in the final and did superbly to win the bronze medal in 52:19.
Munster U-19 1,500m champion, Harriett Flynn (Shannon) went into this race having been battling ’flu all week. She did very well to win the bronze medal in 5.05:03.
Paraic McNamara (Marian AC) had two busy days in the boys’ U-15 section. In the 60m heats, he had to be content with a fifth-place finish. On day two, over six rounds of jumping, he produced 5.31m to win the silver medal in the long jump before finishing fourth in the high jump.
In the girls’ U-15, Derbhile Ryan, competing in the shot putt, produced a throw of 11.80m to take the silver medal before also finishing second in the high jump.

Results
Girls
U-13 600m
8. Elaine Shannon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (1.54:26).
U-15 high jump
2. Derbhile Ryan (Clonlara and Nenagh) (1.50m).
Shot putt
2. Derbhile Ryan (Nenagh) (11.80m).
U-19
1,500m
3. Harriett Flynn (Shannon) (5.05:03).

Boys
U-13 600m
2. Eoin Looney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (1.42:86).
U-15 long jump
2. Paraic McNamara (Marian) (5.31m).
U-18 400m
3. William Flynn (Shannon) (52.19).

Munster masters in Carrick-on-Suir

THE Munster Athletics Association’s Masters Road Championships will take place this Sunday in Ballyneale, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary where the first race will be the masters’ ladies’ two miles at 1pm followed by the masters’ men’s four miles at 1.30pm.
Clare will be fielding teams in all grades. Munster Masters Cross Country silver medal winners, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, will start as favourites to take this Munster title in the O-50s with Ennis Track Club also contesting the O-40s.
Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) will be in the masters’ ladies’ O-40 with Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) contesting the O-45s along with Michelle O Mahoney, Sue Garrahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), with Cushla Murphy-Hehir (Marian) looking to a very big performance in the masters’ ladies’ O-50s along with Maura Falsey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) and Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick) in the O-55s.
The following Clare teams have been selected:
Masters’ men’s O-40
Jim Carrigan, Pat Hogan, Brian Spring, Michael McBride, Frank Landy (Ennis Track); John Galvin (St John’s), Terry Hennessy, Trevor White (St Cronan’s); Tom Geraghty (Marian).
Masters’ men O-50
Eugene Moynihan, Tommy Madden, Marian, Tom Mackey, James Kenny, James Sexton, Michael Harvey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare); Denis Meaney, Dermot Moran (St Mary’s); Michael Quinlivan (Tulla); Sean Whelan (Ennis Track).
Masters’ ladies O-35
Marian Burke, Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s); Lorna O’Neill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare); Veronica Colleran, Ida Hanrahan, Aishling, Power, Deirdre Daly, Hilda O’Connor, Siobhán Gallagher (Ennis Track).
Masters’ ladies O-45
Michelle O’Mahoney, Sue Garrihy, Christina Organ, Maura Falsey, Marie Fennessy (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare); Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy); Cushla Murphy Hehir (Marian); Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick).

Fixtures:
March 2011:
25. Clare Community Games relays in Cooraclare Football Field starting at 6pm.
26. Pakie Ryan Memorial 10k Road Race and 5k fun walk in aid of Milford Hospice, Mid-West Cancer Care Centre and Clare Crusaders starting at the soccer pitch in Newmarket-on-Fergus at 11am (contact Flan Sheedy at 086 8662920).
27. Munster AAI Masters’ Men’s 4-mile and Masters’ Ladies’ 2-mile Road Championship in Ballyneale Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary at 1pm.
April 2011
2 and 3. Athletics Ireland Juvenile Track and Field Championships in Nenagh at 10am.
3. Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare and the 41st annual Michael Egan Memorial 4-mile road race and 4-mile fun walk Plus the Clare AAI 4-mile Road Championships at Quilty at 1.30pm.
10. The 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.
10. National 10k Road Championships in Phoenix Park, Dublin.