1 Mile Run/walk in aid of St.Vincent De Paul Ratoath

Leinster Cross Country Championships

We had our best year ever at the recent Leinster Cross Country Championships with a record number of team and individual medals over both weekends. 

Navan and Meath Athletics hosted the even age championships on day 1 on a testing course but with good under foot conditions. Our u12s got the day off to a good start with both the u12 boys and girls qualifying for Nationals on Meath County teams, the U12 boys team finishing 3^rd and U12 girls team 4^th.

Well done to our u12 qualifiers James Kelly, Fionn Heffernan, Harry Bogan, Sarah Forde, Cara O’Sullivan, Eline Lunde, Kate Raftery, Caoimhe Fitzsimons and Niamh Murphy.

Our U14 girls were in great form again and defended their Leinster title in style taking gold  with a great team score of 57 points, great running from Aimee Doherty, Amelia Campbell , Laura Smith, Laura Kelly, Aisling Stratford, Hannah Keogh, Amy Forde & Aobh Forde.

The Meath County team finished a close 2^nd to Kilkenny with Aimee, Amelia, Laura Smith and Laura Kelly  placing in the top 6 for Meath. Individual medals also and qualification to the Leinster Team for Aimee and Amelia finishing 6^th & 9^th. 

Kyle Witter & Eoin Kane also qualified for Nationals as part of the Meath team that that finished 4^th , with Eoin having a great run out of age to finish 32^nd.

We were unable to field club teams at u16 level but we had some outstanding individual performances from Marcus Clarke and Hannah Slattery who took home individual medals and secured qualification to the Leinster team finishing 7^th and 10^th. Matthew Hayes and Stephen Kiernan put in a good run also and with Marcus were part of the Meath team that finished 2^nd. 

Day 2 of the Leinster Cross Country Un-Even Age Championships took place at Adamstown, Wexford. This course was not for the faint hearted with very difficult underfoot conditions that tested athletes to the limit. Our u11 girls got their first taste of Leinster Championship running and put in solid performances, well done to Sophie Coroner, Sophie Finn, Amelia Holland and congratulations to Katie Doherty and Mary Kate Prior who qualified for Nationals as part of the Meath team that finished 4^th.  

Our u11 boys showed no fear at this level, James Kelly loving the mud, putting in a fantastic run to finish 3^rd with Harry Bogan unlucky to finish just outside the medals in 14^th. Fionn Heffernan, Gavin Witter, Liam Walsh and Conor Walsh along with James and Harry took home Club team bronze to secure their place for Nationals in December. James and Harry also placed on the Meath team that finished 2^nd.

 

More great performances were on the way with Sophie Quinn taking Gold in the U13 girl’s event and Club silver joined by Laura Kelly, Aisling Startford, Hannah Keogh, Amy Forde, Aobh Forde and Emily Slattery. Sophie, Laura and Aishling were also part of the Meath team that finished 1^st.
We were one man short to field an u13 boys team, Eoin Kane, Stephen Walsh and Sam Carey put in good runs but didn't make the All Ireland this year.

With some great individual and team performances from the younger age groups our u15 teams were now under pressure to deliver, and they certainly did. The u15 boys were desperately unlucky not to take gold in the club team event missing out by just one point, Marcus Clarke led home the lads with a great individual run finishing 3^rd, followed in by Matthew Hayes, Tom Kilgannon, Oisin Kelly, Stephen Kiernan and Kyle Witter.  Marcus and Matthew were no. 1 & 2 for Meath that took bronze in the County event. 

Aimee Doherty put in her best performance to date at a Leinster Cross Country Championship finishing 4^th and was followed in by Hannah Slattery 11^th, Amelia Campbell 17^th and Laura Smith 30^th, the girls finished 3^rd in the club team event, a great performance with 3 of the team out of age. The four girls also placed in the top 6 for their Meath County team that finished 3rd.

Well done to all athletes who competed over both weekends and congratulation to all athletes who have qualified for All Irelands in Abbottstown and Waterford. 

Ladies u 19 Leinster XC Championships

Aine O Connor was the club's sole representative in the ladies u 19 Leinster cross country championships at Adamstown, Wexford, last weekend. Conditions were tough due to a bitterly cold wind combined with soft underfoot conditions. This did not deter Aine who finished 14th overall and in the process, helped Meath secure the bronze county team medals and qualify for the national championships. Well done Aine

Leinster Junior XC Championships

The Leinster junior cross country championships were held in Navan last weekend. Underfoot conditions were firm but the course included a number of demanding hills which made it a true test of cross country running.

In the junior mens, Alex Hunter and Philip Marron were in the leading pack of 6 that broke clear early on. On the last of the three circuits, the Ratoath lads were dropped when Adam Fitzpatrick made his winning break and they eventually finished 4th and 5th, respectively with their training partner Jarlath Jordan (Tara a/c) just behind in 6th. Ciaran Quinn, who is just back from injury, was our third club scorer in 36th. Meath were second in the county team.

In the ladies race, Aine O Connor was our sole representative and finished 32nd with Meath just out of the medals in 4th.

Defibrillator and First Aid

Ratoath AC have purchased and installed a defibrillator and 12 of our club coaches have attended a First aid and Defibrillator course put on by Heart safety solutions.

Pictured last Saturday after their all day First aid and defibrillator course are club coaches Hugh, Julie, Lorraine, Mary, Fiona. Joy, Gerry, Ciaran, Louise and Sinéad.  Missing from the photo are Siobhéal and Keith.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who contributed to our defibrillator fundraiser, all who helped no matter how big or small made it possible for the club to reach our fundraising target enabling us to purchase the defibrillator and train our coaches in first aid and AED

Firstly, we would like to thank Gerry Finnegan for coming up with and organising the Music Bingo fundraiser to Siobheal and Sinéad for helping him out on the night, Declan Bogan for his expertise and guidance selecting the best AED option for Ratoath AC, thanks to Fiona Casey for organising the coaches AED training and first aid course.

We thank all our club parents and Ratoath locals for coming out to the fundraiser night and helping to make it the great success it was. It was so successful and so much fun that there are calls for another night out soon.

Thanks to the Ratoath Inn for the use of their facilities on the night. Thanks to the following members families, Murphy / Lund family, O'Sullivan Family, Clarke Family, Byrne Family, J Fitzsimons family, F Higgins, Family, M. Quinn Family, E & P Quinn Family, O'Connell Family, Dolan Family, Murray Family, Kiernan Family, Harland Family, Fitzpatrick Family

Thank you to the following companies for donating money and  prizes on the night;  Ratoath & Rathbeggan Community Games,      Shanowen Plant Hire Limited Aidan Forde  Lir Irish Hand Made Chocolates  La Bucca Restaurants The Bridal Shop,  Ratoath Venue Theatre      As you like It Ratoath  Travel Advisors, Elegance Hair & Beauty Salon. Meath School of Motoring and to the parents for donating prizes of Spirits/wine/teddy/jewelery/toiletries

Meath Cross Country Championship's - Report

The Meath Cross Country Championships were held over the past few weeks at Fr. Murphy’s and Star of the Sea. The Club was out in force on both days and came away with some great team and individual performances. Our juvenile teams brought home Gold in the u10 girls, U12 Girls, U13 Girls, U14 Girls, U15 Girls, U11 boys, U15 boys & U16 boys, silver in the U9 girls, U12 Boys, U13 Boys and Bronze in the U9 boys & U11 girls team events.

Great individual performances also, Gold for James Kelly u11 boys, Mary Kate Prior U11 girls, Sarah Forde U12 Girls, Sophie Quinn U13 girls, Eoin Kane U13 boys, Aimee Doherty U14 & U15 girls, Marcus Clarke U15 boys, Silver for James Kelly U12 boys, Hannah Slattery U16 girls, and Bronze for Amber Lane U10 girls, Harry Bogan U11 boys, Cara O’Sullivan U12 girls, Amelia Campbell U14 girls, Hannah Slattery u15 girls and Matthew Hayes U15 boys.

We also had a large number of top 10 finishes, a few to note Laura Smith & Aisling Stratford 4^th & 5^th in the u14 girls event, Caoimhe Fitzsimons 5^th U12 girls, Laura Kelly 5th U13 girls,  Laura Smith 4^th U15 girls, Oisin Kelly 6th U15 boys and Marcus Clarke 4^th u16 boys

Well done to all who competed and thanks to Fr. Murphy’s and Star of the Sea Ac for hosting two great events.

2017 Cross Country fixtures update

Meath Junior XC championships

Alex Hunter made a seamless transition from mountain running to cross country when he won the Meath junior mens cross country title yesterday. Alex and Sean Murphy (Trim a/c) broke clear towards the end of the second of 4 circuits in the combined junior / masters race over a demanding course at Star of the Sea. In an exciting sprint finish, Alex just edged it from the Trim athlete.

Aine O Connor took the bronze in the junior women's equivalent with Karen Hayes, Aoife Reynolds and Aoife Kelly combining to take the team title

It is with great regret that we have learned the sad news of the death of Linda MARRON, Mother of club member Diarmuid  and grandmother to Philip.

Requiem Mass at 12 noon on Tuesday at the Church of the Real Presence Curraheen Road. Funeral afterwards to St. James’ Cemetery, Chetwynd. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to St. Vincent de Paul. House Private Please.

“May she rest in peace.”