Training Tonight- Competition Group 6:30 and 7:30 Sessions

Please bring both running shoes and spikes  tonight as the track maybe waterlogged and session may have to be take place on the road.

National Indoor Championships- Day 4

 

The final day of the National Indoors took place in Athlone last Saturday the 28^th, Matthew Buckley and Lili O’ Connor were back in action in the u13 and 14 sprint hurdles events while Brian Kiernan was competing in his first Indoor National final over 200m.

Matthew and Lili who have now become very efficient hurdlers qualified from their heats with ease, Lili setting the fastest qualification time going into the final even after some technical issues with her starting blocks. Lili made no mistakes in the final and stormed to victory setting a new pb of 9.77s to claim her first National track title. Matthews final was a close affair with only 6 hundred’s separating 1^st from 3^rd, Matthew took the bronze to add to his gold from last week, he also set a new pb of 9.32s. Both Lili and Matthew have worked very hard on the technical side of this event over last number of months and thanks also to Aideen Murray and Tom Clinton who have assisted them with this.

Brian Kiernan competing in his first National Indoor championships did not show any sign of nerves when winning his heat in a time of 23.55s in the boys u17 200m, Brian picked up a slight niggle in his hamstring in the heat and was not 100% fit going into his final, none the less he gave it his all to finish 5^th in another tight finish.

  

Well done to all our athletes who competed so well at the National Indoors this year, We had a record haul of medals taking home 2 gold and 4 bronze as well as a large number of top 10 finishes. 

U10 Training Cancelled

U10 training scheduled for this evening is cancelled due to weather

Training will resume again after the Easter Holiday Break on Monday 13th April



Have a great Holiday

Easter Training details

***Easter Break-Juveniles ***

There will be no training for Ratoath AC little Athletics or Juveniles U9(2007) up to U16 during the Easter holidays, with exception of U10 (2006) they will train tonight only with Hugh and Ruth.

**Adults, Peter's competition group and Gerry's group will continue Tuesday/ Thursday training as normal.

See you all back the week of April 13th.

Happy Easter to all our athletes and coaches.

Mullaghmeen Forest 5 K Hill Run

Alex Hunter was in fine form over the weekend when he placed third in the Mullaghymeen Forest 5K hill run . Despite suffering from a head cold, his time of 17 min 47 sec was over 20 faster than he ran in 2014 and suggests he is rounding into form for both the track and hill racing season.

Well done Alex

Fones4Life Appeal Update

With over 250 old  mobile phones already collected the club is well on the way to reaching the target of 350 . These phones can then be exchanged for a defibrillator or other sports equipment.

A big thank you to all those club members who have already supported this appeal but we need a big push to get us over the line especially from those members yet to contribute. If every member collected 1 mobile phone we can wrap up this appeal in a matter of weeks

Meath Inter Club League Day 1 b - Wednesday March 25th

Day 1 b of the Meath inter club league takes place tomorrow night in Cushinstown at 7:15pm, We would like to encourage the following age groups to attend:

U9,11,13 &16.

Please note all athletes are required to attend at least 3 competitions per year.

Meath InterClub Track & Field League

March 25h 2015 - 7.15 pm - Cushinstown AC

Program: Day 1(b)

Boys & Girls			Born
U9	60m &	Long Jump	2007
U11	60m &	Long Jump	2005
U13	60m &	High Jump	2003
U16	60m &	High Jump	2000

All Ireland Indoor Relays

The National Indoor Relays were held On Saturday at Athlone IT, We had 3 teams competing from the club in what was a very competitive event this year with a large number of championship best records being set.  With the uneven ages on the in the morning session the u13 girls team of Emma O’ Connell, Ella Healy, Aoife Rutherford, Lili O’ Connor and Aimee Doherty  were on the track first and qualified by winning heat 3 in a close battle with Doneen Ac in the 4x100m,  the u15 girls 4 x 200m quartet of Ivie Okome, Aine Cooney, Emma Coroner and Karen Hayes also qualified in a tough heat just edging out Galway City Harriers in the 4 x 200m.

The finals were as usual a tight affair, the u13 girls team who are now well accustomed to performing on the big stage ran a great race and had to battle all the way to secure a bronze medal with a great final leg from Ella Healy just edging out Doneen Ac again on the finish line. The U15 girls ran out of their skins in the final in what was the most competitive final of the day, the winning team taking 2 seconds off the National record, the girls were very unfortunate to finish 6^th after a great battle on all legs, the girls time of 150.31s would have taken silver in this event last year. Their day will come.

The u14 boys were on in the afternoon, the 4 x 200m team of Oisin Kelly, Tom Kilgannon, Matthew Buckley and Ben Toole had a solid run in their heat to qualify for the final. With another National record set in the final by a very strong Portmarnock AC team medals were going to be a tough ask, the lads all ran well and came home 5^th in a time of 1:51.55.

Thanks to all our athletes who have trained so well over the past number of weeks with great commitment shown and it paid off with all teams making it to their respective finals. 

 

Day 2 of National Indoor Juvenile Championships

New championships best performances (CBP) came fast and furious on day 2 of the national indoor juvenile championships in AIT and glad to report that the Ratoath athletes were right in the thick of it.

Pride of place goes to Matthew Buckley who once again dominated his  u 14 60m final to claim the gold in a CBP of 7.63 sec. Matthew will be trying for the double next weekend when he goes in the 60m H. Emma Coroner was close to her best in the u 14 60m heats but just failed to make the final despite running a fast 8.52sec. Lili O Connor was ultra consistent in the L/J but her best of 4.32 m left her in fifth and just out of the medals. Lili's favoured event is the 60m H which takes place next weekend and we wish her the best in that.

Philip Marron ran an indoor PB of 4 min .13.03 in the u 18 boys 1500m and despite a really strong finish, he was just outside the medals when taking 4th. Deirdre Healy kept her haul of national medals ticking over when running yet another PB of 4 mins 45.91 in the u 19 1500m, finishing a close third behind Louise Shanahan and Clodagh O Reilly.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going and that summed up Aimee Doherty's attitude in the u 12 600m as she threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field with a blistering 33 sec opening 200m. Aimee was only caught in the closing stages but she hung on for third in wonderful race  when posting 1 min 47,71 sec. Tom Kilgannon is another of our young and highly talented middle distance group and his 9th place (1 min 45.71)  in the boys u 13 600m will keep his big brother Peter and the rest of our older group on their toes as there is a new up and coming kid on the block.

Well done to everyone.

The Meath Primary Schools Cross Country

The Meath Primary Schools Cross Country was held on Friday the 13^th last at Fairyhouse Racecourse. We had great success from Ratoath AC’s  parish schools ; Rathbeggan NS came home with four individual medals and in the team events they won three Gold three Silver two Bronze. St. Paul was also very impressive with six individual medals. Ratoath AC Athletes were also representing St.Andrews NS Curraha and St. Michaels Trim. All club members where prominent in both individual and team events on the day.

The first race of the day was the 1^st Class girls 600mtr; Katie Doherty was a worthy winner; her Ratoath AC and St.Paul’s NS team mate Isabel Wallace coming in strong in 2^nd place.

In the 1^st Class boys: Robert Hayes was 14^th for St.Pauls. with club mate Conor Toole of St.Andrews coming in 26^th . Very impressive running from them as this was the first cross country competition for both boys.

2^nd Class Girls race had a 1^st 2^nd 3^rd for Ratoath AC: Ciara Coroner, had a great run finishing 1^st and her club mates Niamh Muphy in 2^nd (both St. Pauls NS) and Lauren Fewer in 3^rd position with Grace Toole 11^th (both St.Andrews)  helping their school to Team Bronze.

Jared Roach came 19th in the 2nd class Boys race, and his team (St. Andrews Curragha) finished in 3rd place.

Laura Kelly, St. Pauls had a great run finishing 1^st in the Girls third class 800 mtr event.

Harry O’Connor, impressive as ever, winning the 3^rd Class Boys 800mtr race representing St. Michael’s Trim.

In the girls 4th class 800mtrs race, we had another  1^st 2^nd 3^rd for the Club with Sophie Quinn 1^st and Elbha Toole 2^nd for St. Andrew’s  NS Curragha NS and Amelia Campbell in 3^rd for St.Paul’s. NS. Curragha girls won gold in the team event.

The 5^th class girls 1,000mtrs was won comfortably by Aimee Doherty (St.Pauls)

In the boys 5^th Class 1,000mtrs event Fionn Drummond continuing to make it back from injury finished 8^th and helping his Rathbeggan N.S team to Bronze. Jamie Fewer came in 20^th for St.Andrew, Curraha.

In the 6^th class girls Orla Hayes lead the field all the way to finish in 1^st place for Rathbeggan NS,

The last race of the day was the 6^th Class boys 1,000 meters Adam Quinn came in 6^th and Ben Toole 7^th (both boys St.Andrews)

If I have missed anybody in the above report please email your child's name, school and race place to  ratoathathletics@gmail.com

 Thanks to the teachers from our local Schools for taking the children to this event and also Paddy Mangan and Meath Athletics for a well run competition,to  Gerry Finnegan who helped out on the day and thanks also to Tommy Boshell, Peter Doherty and Paddy Mangan who set up the course.

All Ireland Indoors

Best of luck to our 3 relays teams competing at the National indoor relay finals tomorrow in Athlone, U13 girls, U14 boys and U15 girls team.
Best of luck also to our Athletes competing in the individual events on Sunday, Emma Coroner and Matthew Buckley take part in the u13 &14 60m, Aimee Doherty and Tom Kilgannon in the u12 and u13 600m, Philip Marron and Deirdre Healy in the u18 and u19 1500m and Lili O' Connor in the u13 long jump.
Live coverage/streaming will be available on Sunday from 11am on the Athletics Ireland Web site.

Dietary Advice & Injury Prevention Talk

Free talk on Dietary advice & prevention of injuries for athletes on Wednesday 25th
7-9pm in the venue Ratoath, just register your name to this text to avail of this 0879143532

We have registered for the Topaz cash for clubs scheme and we need 300 completed cards. Get a card in your local topaz station and collect stamps when you buy petrol. Drop the completed cards into the box at training. Don't forget to write Ratoath Athletics, registration number 11068 on the back of the card. You don't have to be a member of the club to get a card so please ask friends and family to help. The club could win up to €10,000!!!!

Topaz Cash for Clubs

Gerry's Training Group - Tuesday 17 March

Gerry's training group will train at Le Cheile track 10.30 Tues 17th March.
Meet 10am at Ratoath track to travel in convoy

International Singlet for Deirdre Healy

Congratulations to Deirdre Healy on her selection on the Irish Junior womens team that competes in the Antrim IAAF Cross Country International  this Saturday, 14th March.

U9 Training Cancelled

Training is cancelled tonight for the U9s due to bad weather and water logged track.
Reminder that the u9s,11s,13 &16s will be competing in Cushinstown on Wednesday next the 25th at 7:15pm in the Meath Track and field league.

Training Notice

Training Session at 6.30pm: Any children who train with Hugh / Ruth tonight at 6.30pm

Training is cancelled tonight as coaches and a lot of children are attending a communion preparation mass tonight

All other sessions still going ahead including U9’s at 6.30pm