Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Outdoor Athletics Cancelled tonight Tuesday 28th Jan

Due to the continuous heavy rain over the last 2 days the track is not ready yet for training tonight. If we look after it during these wet times it'll be in great condition as the year goes on as it is still very early in the athletics year. 

Little Athletics is still on tonight. 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Little Athletics registrations

Registrations for little athletics 6.15pm class for children born 2008 and 2009 is closed for new members due to high numbers and insufficient helpers.

Limited space for children born 2007 at the 7.15pm class, first come first served.

Special allowance given to children where parents are available to assist coaches or become coaches.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Alex wins West Leinster Schools Cross Country

Fresh from his winning run at the Leinster club juvenile cross country relay Championships last weekend, Alex Hunter dominated the intermediate boys race at today's West Leinster schools cross country championships. He went to the front almost from the gun and won by approximately 100m over the 4500m course. Speaking afterwards, Alex said the longer distance suited him and there was no way he was going to hang around & let himself  be out-sprinted. He now goes on to represent his school at the Leinster Championships in mid February.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Cushinstown Indoors 26-1-2014 from 11am need to be there early for field events.

Meet in Cushinstown at 10:45 or at Ratoath track at 10:15 to travel in convoy. Note this is a great event to have some competition practice without pressure. Note the high jump is only for those athletes who have practiced with Siobheal in Cushinstown between 5-6pm on Friday evenings (this is part of the clubs training sessions)

Be prepared for a bit of a long day depending on numbers, will start at 11 but may not end til 2pm or so.

Indoor Sports Competition Confined to County Meath Clubs   

Sunday 26th January 2014  

Start Times: 11am – Long jump, High Jump and Shot Putt Followed by Sprints 

U9's 2006 Long jump and 60m
U10's 2005 Long jump (u11event) and 60m
U11's 2004 long jump, high jump(U12 event) , Shotputt (U12 event), 60m
U12 2003 long jump (U13 event), high jump, Shotputt, 60m
U13 2002 long jump, high jump (U14 event), shot putt (U14 event), 60m
U14 2001 longjump (U15 event), high jump, shot putt, 60m
U15 2000, long jump, Highjump (U16 event), Shotputt (U16 event), 60m
U16 1999 Highjump, Shotputt, 60m

Clubs must ensure that competitors are technically competent in field events for which they are entered, as lack of technique constitutes a danger to the competitor or others.  

Starting blocks compulsory for U13 – U16  

A maximum of three trials for each field event allow. The best of three to count.  

For field events only, athletes may move up one age group where there is no competition for their age group.  

***** Special Tiny Tots Event *****   
Tiny Tots race will be the first race of the day.   
30m sprint for boys and girls.  

Standards in Long Jump will apply. 
All athletes must be registered. Age as 2014     

Under 11 and upward may wear spikes.  

Admission:   Adults €3.00  Juveniles €2.00  

Teas, Sandwiches, etc. available on the day. 

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Double Gold at Leinster Juvenile Relays

The club had 4 teams competing in the Leinster juvenile club cross country championships held on a fast, flat course in Ballyroan, Co Laois.
 First up was the u 12 girls quartet of Ella Healy, Aimee Doherty, Aoife Rutherford and Lili O Connor. Ella got the team off to a flying start on the first leg and Aimee consolidated a slight lead with another powerful display of front running on the next leg. Aoife and Lili continued to pile on the pressure and won going away at the finish from SLOT and Mullingar. The u 12 boys team of Brian Kiely, Fionn Drummond, Kyle Witter and Tom Kilgannon were only 7 seconds down on the winning team at the finish  and were a very creditable 7th team  in an extremely competitive and close race. Our u 14 girls squad of Rachel Doherty, Karen Hayes, Sophie O Connor and Emma Coroner all gave it everything and accredited themselves very well but found the competition very tough on this occasion. Our  u16 boys finished off a great day by retaining the title the club won so convincingly last year. Gareth Doyle kept the team right in the hunt on the opening leg and Alex Hunter followed up with another of his trademark charging runs to leave the team second. Tommy Friel, who was running his first race for the club, ran a cracker of a third leg to retain second place &  handed over to Brian Kiernan who posted the fastest time of the day (1 min 18 sec) when storming to victory on the last leg with Mullingar second and SLOT third. All the teams appreciated the fantastic support of their parents who cheered them on & provided transport to and from the venue and in particular Fergal Kilgannon, who epitomised the great spirit within the club, by travelling down as first sub on the u 16 team.

Winning boys u16 team
Winning girls u12 team

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Thursday night training is On tonight.

Just checked the track and it'll be fine for tonight's training. 
U9,10,11 2006,2005,2004 training from 6:30-7:30 with Hugh. 
Tom'll be there for U12-U15 (born 2003-2000) training from 6:30-8pm to do sprints, shotputt and some longjump. 
Wrap up warm and bring jackets and hats in case it rains. 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Outdoor Training Cancelled Tomight Tuesday 14th Jan

Hi Folks,
Due to to the heavy frost last night and the steady rain today the track isn't fit for training. 
Indoor little athletics is still on though. 
See you next week or on Thursday. 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Registration Night Tonight Monday 13-1-2014

Registration night for Ratoath AC is tonight from 8:00pm to 9:30pm in Ratoath GAA club. 

If you can print off a registration form (see documents tab) for everyone registering and have it filled in with correct cash or cheque it will make everything move quickly. 

Note only new members this year need attach a copy of Birthcert or Passport. 

We are hoping to have someone from Blondelle's there also with Club Singlets and Jackets for sale. 


Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thursday Night Training

Thursday night training is decided up into 2 groups. Note we don't have as much coaches on these nights so good behaviour and listening to the coaches as they are giving instruction is essential and an inability to do this might lead to not being allowed to participate in the session in the future. 
First Group 6:30-7:30 is for those athletes serious about getting in another hours training but who are not currently in either Gerry's (middle distance/cross country) or Peter's (Sprints) groups. 
This hour is to be used to get in an extra hour's training for fitness goals or for to get fast enough to be able to join one of the other groups. If you want to get fitter and run with your friends then this is the time to come. 
There should be 2 training groups at this time u10 and U11 with Hugh and Fiona and another group U12+ with Tom. 

Second Group 7:30-8:15
Gerry's and Peter's groups training now for competitions happening at Leinster Level over the next few weeks. Not general training. 

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Four Videos to View for Next Training Session

Please note we cannot control the comments added to these videos and they are recommended purely for the content of the video and we would recommend that only the video content be viewed and that juveniles do so under parental supervision.

Sprint Start Video


Long Jump Videos


Use this next video to practice the count and to see the change in stride for the penultimate and last strides

Another Video here on with good info on Holding the Shotputt for Beginners




Monday, January 6, 2014

Discussion on the American University Track Scholarship system and opportunities for athletes in Ireland.

A discussion worth listening to by young people, teenage athletes and parents
Newstalk  Off the Ball Saturday 4th January 2014

The discussion commences with a description from Sonia O’ Sullivan of her experience on scholarship in the US and perspectives. It continues with a panel discussion with Eamon Coghlan (senator and former athlete), Ian O’Riordan (former scholarship athlete and journalist), David Mc Carthy (scholarship athlete), and Marcus O’Sullivan (former athlete and Head Coach at Villanova University US). Insights on practices, coping skills and general guidance to all athletes and parents are gleaned.http://www.newstalk.ie/player/listen_back/10/6745/04th_January_2014_-_Off_The_Ball_Part_3
(Discussion commences at 5 minutes) Duration 40 minutes approx.)

Outside Training Resumes this week and Registration on Monday Night 13th Jan from 8:00-9:30 pm

Outside Training returns this week with registration next Monday 13th Jan.

U9's Born 2006 starts back tonight Monday 6th at 6:00-6:50pm
U10's Born 2005 starts back Tuesday  7th at 5:30-6:30pm
U11 and U12 2004,2003 Tuesday 7th 6:30-7:30
U13+ 2002,2001,... Tuesday 7th 7:30-8:30
Please only send your children to the correct time for their age group as it is not fair on them to be running with athletes much older than them. 


Registration Night is in the GAA club from 8-9:30pm on Monday 13th Jan. 
More details to follow. 


Little Athletics resumes in the Ratoath College Hall on the Tuesday 14th Jan with U6 and U7 born 2009,2008 at 6:15-7:00pm and the U 8's born 2007 in from 7:00-7:45pm

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Antrim IAAF Cross Country 4th Jan 2014

The Ratoath boys team  of Alex Hunter, Philip Marron and Brian Kiernan started the new year with a bang when they finished second team in a very competitive u 15 race at the Antrim IAAF cross country  held in the CAFRE campus, Greenmount, Antrim. The course was flat and generally fast but there were a couple of mucky spots and the cold and damp weather meant that the going was tough. Philip Marron went out very fast and, at one point, had a lead of 20m over the chasing pack which included Alex Hunter with Brian Kiernan providing excellent support in the mid twenties. Alex made his move on the second circuit and held the lead with just 400m to go but  was reined in on the run to the line by both Patrick Shaw(Leinster Athletics) and Darragh Drury (Shercock) to finish 3rd, with Philip in 7th and Brian, running his best cross country race yet, in 25th.