Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Training Timetable for 2016

Training for the main club is now finished until after Christmas, training will recommence on Monday January 11th. The u11-19 competition group will still train over the Christmas period, please contact your Coach for details.

The training time table for 2016 is as follows:

Monday 
U11 (Born 2006)  6:15 -7:15pm  Hugh Kelly, Keith Heffernan
Adults 7:15 – 8:15pm   Mary Kiely
Fit for life 7:30pm-8:30pm  Richie Smith
Tuesday
U12 (Born 2005) 5:30-6:30pm,  Siobhéal Murray, Joanne Kelly, Deirdre Walsh
U13-14 Endurance & Sprint Competition Group 6:30-7:30pm  Peter Doherty, Ciaran Buckley
U13-16 Fit 4 Group 6:30-7:30pm  Phil Bateson, Orla Rogers
U15-Junior, Competition Endurance Group 7:30-8:30pm  Gerry Finnegan, Noel Crowther
Little Athletics : Ratoath College Hall
U6-7  Born 2010 , 2011 6:15-7pm   John Mc Kenna
U8  Born 2009 7-7:45pm   Aengus Ó Curraidhín
Wedensday 
U9 (Born 2008) 6:00 -7:00pm  Sinéad McGoldrick, Teresa Doyle
Adults 7:30 – 8:30pm  (non coached session)
Fit for life 7:30 – 8:30pm  (non coached session)
Thursday
U10 Born 2007 6:30-7:30pm  Peter Doherty, John Coroner, Lorraine Doherty
U11-12 Endurance Group 6:30-7:30pm  Hugh Kelly, Siobhéal Murray
U13-14 Sprint and Endurance Competition Group 7:30-8:30pm  Peter Doherty, Sinéad McGoldrick, Ciaran Buckley,
U15-Junior/Senior Competition Endurance Group 7:30-8:30pm  Gerry Finnegan, Noel Crowther
Friday
Adults  9:30-10.30am  Jackie Doyle, Joy Tyrell,
High Jump Training U11-15 5.00-6.00pm  Siobhéal Murray, Des Gough – Cushinstown AC
Sprint Competition Group 7.30-8.30pm  Ciaran Buckley, Peter Doherty – Le Cheile AC
Saturday
Junior Endurance and Sprint Group Gym Session 8am-9am Ashbourne, Gerry Finnegan, Peter Doherty
U14-19 Sprint Group Gym Session 9am-10am Ashbourne, Peter Doherty
U15-Junior, Competition Endurance Group 11am Gerry Finnegan, Neil Crowther
Sunday
U9+ and all older age groups  
(each group coach will give out details)

Monday, December 14, 2015

Well Done Deirdre

Deirdre Healy became the first Ratoath A/C athlete to compete in the European Cross Country championships over the weekend (Sunday 13 December). The course in Hyeres, France was flat and fast but with some man-made jumps and sharp inclines included. Deirdre finished a very credible 67th in a top class field. She loved the whole experience of mixing it with Europe's elite and is more determined than ever to make the Irish team next year as she has one more year of eligibility in the junior ranks. Deirdre's proud parents Flor and Geraldine also traveled out to support her and all the other Irish team members take on Europe's best in what was a fantastic weekend of athletics.

 




Sunday, December 13, 2015

Track Closed

We will be closing the track for the next 4-5 weeks, all sessions will take place on the road during this period. The track is in very poor condition due to the recent bad weather and we hope to re-open it again week commencing Monday January 18th.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Sophie Quinn Strikes Gold

Considering all the previous heavy rain, the underfoot conditions in Dungarvan were better than expected for the the national uneven age juvenile cross country championships last weekend (Sun 6th December).

The start of the u 11 girls was frantic but Sophie Quinn threw down the gauntlet from the gun. After leading all the way she had to withstand a late charge form the chasing bunch but nevertheless ran out a convincing winner. Both Sophie and Laura Kelly (36th) were scoring members of the Meath team that finished third county and they were well supported by Aisling Strarford (107th), Amy Forde (141st) and Lily Nannery (152nd). It was great to have a club team qualifying for a national championships and every one of these talented and tough young girls fought all the way to the finishing line.

The competition in the boys u 13 was equally tough. Tom Kilgannon (41st) and Oisin Kelly (76th) were scorers on the Meath team that was just out of the medals in 5th.  Both of these athletes will have gained from the experience and will form the cornerstone of a strong club team going forward. Well done also to Marcus Clarke (Navam a/c) who regularly trains with Tom and Oisin, and finished 29th.

It was also fantastic to see the club well represented by 2 athletes in the girls u 17 with Aine OConnor 41st and Niamh Gannon 84th. and both helped Meath to finish 7th county. Club teams in this age category are rarer than hens teeth so it would be great to find 2 more girls of this standard to make up a club team next season.

Thanks to all parents and coaches for making the long journey down to support the athletes.






Thursday, December 10, 2015

U9 Training Cancelled

We are cancelling the u9 training session again tonight due to the Weather

Monday, December 7, 2015

New Meath Athletics President 2016

Congratulations to Ratoath AC's Tommy Boshell on his appointment as the New Meath Athletics President for 2016.
     
                  

Thursday, December 3, 2015

6:30 Training Session Cancelled

The 6:30 u9-11 training session is cancelled tonight due to bad weather and track condition.
The 7:30 U12-19 session will go ahead on the road, please bring trainers, hi viz vests will be available at the container.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Local Community Games AGM tonight

"Ratoath/Rathbeggan Community Games AGM tonight Tuesday, 1st December in Ratoath GAA Clubhouse at 8.30pm. New Volunteers always welcome. Any queries, contact 086 8466495

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Ratoath AC AGM tomorrow Monday November 30th @ 8:40pm

The Annual General Meeting of Ratoath Athletic Club will take place tomorrow night Monday November 30th @8:40pm in the Ratoath GAA Club House 

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow night

Thank you for your support during the year.

Monday, November 23, 2015

National XC Championships Santry Demesne

The national even age juvenile , junior and senior cross country championships were held in Santry Demesne on Sunday 22 Nov.

Underfoot conditions were a lot better than expected but the course still represented a tough challenge even for the top class fields assembled.  Ratoath a/c had four athletes competing and they all put in fine performances. First up were Aimee Doherty and Amelia Campbell in the girls u 12. Aimee got out fast and remained in the top 10 for most of the race but slipped to 14th in the sprint for the finish with Amelia in 79th position. Both girls scored on the Meath county team but had hard luck with Meath just out of the medals in 4th. Aimee, however, had the satisfaction of being a scorer on the Leinster winning team.

Deirdre Healy was next up in the junior womens. With 6 places up for grabs on the Irish team to compete in France at the European championships it was always likely to be super competitive and so it proved. Deirdre was seventh with only about 600m remaining but she called upon all her experience and determination to finish 3rd junior and 4th overall. Deirdre has been selected on the Irish junior team and will be the first Ratoath a/c athlete to compete in the European cross country championships.

Ciaran Crowther has been the mainstay of our mens junior training group this year and is probably our most improved male athlete as a consequence. He was our sole representative on the Meath u 18 team. Ciaran started very aggressively as it was a combined u 18 and junior men's race with close to 200 competing. Ciaran was the fourth scorer on the Meath team that took 3rd county when finishing 51st.

Well done to all




Thursday, November 19, 2015

Meath Awards 2015



The annual Meath Awards took place last Sunday the 14th of November in the Ardboyne hotel Navan. Huge congratulations to Ratoath Athletic Club athletes, coaches and committee on a very successful Meath Awards night.
The club would not have been so successful this year if it had not of been for the hard work and dedication put in by all our fantastic coaches for training, organising and encouraging all athletes to take part in the various events.
Big thank you must also go the athlete’s parents for taking their children to training each week and also for traveling to all the events to encourage and support our athletes.

All the underage athletes who won medals at National Championships this year were presented with plaques by Meath Athletics Honorary President Dessie Gough to acknowledge their achievement. The following are the Ratoath AC National Medal Winners:

Aimee Doherty: -3rd in National u12 Indoor 600m         
Alex Hunter:      2nd in u17 2000m Steeplechase    
Deirdre Healy:   3rd in national indoor   U19 1500m
Lili O’Connor:  1st in   u13 National Indoor 60m Hurdles and 1st in 60m Outdoor Hurdles
Matthew Buckley: 1st in u14 National 60m Sprint,  2nd in National Indoor 60m Hurdles,  1st in Outdoor 80m Sprint, 2nd in Outdoor 75m Hurdles, 1st in the national u 14 200m





Ratoath AC win the treble 
This year for the first time ever ratoath ac won the top three juvenile club awards

Best Juvenile Club at the Cross Country Championships 2014

Best Juvenile Club at the T&F Championships 2015 The Bob Heffernan Shield    

Inter Club Track & Field League 2015:  Division A Winners by 100 points:  Ratoath AC.




U9's
Our U9's had a very successful year in their first year of competing winning both girls and boys U9 Meath team of the year.

The Heffernan Cup: Girls U9 Team:           Ratoath AC                                                                                        
Na Fianna Cup: Boys U9 Team:                  Ratoath AC                                          
                                                 





Meath Athlete's of the year

Cross Country & Road Meath Athlete of the year

U11-13            Girls                Aimee Doherty 

U17-19            Girls                Deirdre Healy             


Track & Field Meath Athlete of the year

U11-13 Track            Girls    Lili O’Connor     
       
           
U14-16 Track and field Meath Athlete of the year 
Girls    Emma Coroner  
         
Boys    Matthew Buckley       


Senior Track  Meath Athlete of the year    Conor Duncan    
           








Well done to all the Club athletes and their coaches on a very successful year, they well deserve to be acknowledged as they are a hard working talented group of athletes. 

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Day two Meath XC league is CANCELLED tomorrow 15th November

***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED*** ***CANCELLED***
Due to weather & ground conditions day two of Meath Juvenile Cross Country League which was to take place tomorrow 15th November is cancelled. Please pass this message on.

Meath Cross Country league day 2

Meath Cross Country league day 2 for even ages takes place this Sunday the 15th November In Athboy. First race is girls U10 which starts at midday. Those competiting to be at the venue at least 30 mins before first race. Anyone unsure of directions can meet up with Hugh & Keith who will be departing from track at Jamestown at 10.40am. Best of luck to all running!!

Friday, November 13, 2015

Leinster Juvenile Cross Country Championships

The even age categories were held in Moyvalley on 25th Oct. Aimee Doherty led home our u 12 girls with a storming run when finishing 6th. She was well supported by Amelia Campbell (38th), Clara Walshsubiran (65th) and Molly Keane (85th). Meath were second in the county team. Fionn Drummond  is gradually getting back to his best form after being out for some time with an injured knee and he spearheaded our u 12 boys in 40th. He was closely followed by Jamie Fewer (54th) and Kyle Witter (66th). These 3 lads will surely form the basis of a strong club team going forward. Deirdre Healy was an impressive winner of the u 19 girls and looks to be in good form for the upcoming Irish junior team trials while Ciaran Crowther got out of his sick bed to finish 15th in the u 18 boys and helped Meath win the county title

JFK Park in Wexford was the venue for the uneven ages on Nov 8th. Persistent rain made for extremely tough conditions but our athletes were up to the task. None more so than Sophie Quinn who seemed to float over the mud on her way to winning the girls u 11. Laura Kelly was equally impressive with a super 9th place. Sophie and Laura were backed up with fine runs by Aisling Strarford (58th), Amy Forde (71st) and Lily Nannery (137th) and won bronze in the club team. Meath took gold in the county team category. Eoin Kane (55th) and Stephen Walsh (76th) gave it everything in the boys u 11 and are ones to watch for the future. Tom Kilgannon finished like the proverbial train to get up for 10th in the u 13's, just ahead of Oisin Kelly 17th and Stephen Kiernan 77th. Tom is improving with every run on the country and should go very well in the nationals. Karen Hayes was 37th  and Aoife Kelly 60th in the u 15 girls. Both made the Meath scoring team but were just out of the medals in the county team when finishing a close 5th. Fergal Kilgannon was our lone representative in the boys equivalent and ran strongly for 58th place . Aine O Connor (23rd) and Niamh Gannon helped Meath take bronze in the county team while Ben Mahon grabbed the sixth spot on the Meath scoring team by moving up 4 places on the last lap to finish 35th. This essentially enabled Meath to won the county team title by just 4 points.












Thursday, November 12, 2015

Tonights 6:30PM Training Cancelled


 All 6:30pm U9, U10, U11 and U12 training is cancelled this evening due to bad weather

Ratoath AC AGM set for Monday November 30th @ 8:40pm

The Annual General Meeting of Ratoath Athletic Club will take place in the Ratoath GAA Club House on Monday November 30th @8:40pm.

If any club members have motions they would like to put forward or if you would like to join our committee (we are always in need of new committee members), please forward all motions and nominations to Club secretary Sinéad McGoldrick at ratoathathletics@gmail.com before Monday the 23rd of November.      Agenda to follow.

Thank you for all your support during the year. 
Looking forward to seeing you at the AGM.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Its tough at the top

Meath Athletes Ben Mahon and Naoise McKenna had to improvise and shower in a water fountain after the uneven ages Leinster XC championships at a very wet and mucky Kernnedy Park this weekend


Friday, November 6, 2015

It is with great regret that we have learned the sad news of the sudden death of Ann Johnston, Mother of Karen and grandmother to club members Sophie, Lili, Harry and Charlie O’Connor.  
May she Rest In Peace

 Reposing at her residence from 5pm until 10pm today, Friday 6th, November and from 11am until 3.30 pm tomorrow, Saturday, 7th November with removal Saturday evening to The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Kingscourt arriving at 5pm. Funeral Mass on Sunday at 12 noon, burial afterwards in the adjoining Cemetery for more details www.rip.ie