Monday, February 27, 2017

Leinster Junior & Masters Indoor Track Championships

The early 10am start did not stop Siobheal Murray from dominating the masters high jump and her leading jump of 1.45m  and a new championship best performance set the standard and inspired a string of great performances by the junior section of Ratoath A/C. over the course of a long day. Philip Marron had a gun to tape win in the junior mens 1500m to retain his Leinster title. After a tactical opening 800m was covered in 2 mins 14 sec, he cut loose to win by almost 3 seconds in 4 min 08 .96 - a new indoor PB and championship best performance.

Having just lost out on a Leinster medal by the narrowest of margins, Karen Hayes showed true grit yesterday when taking a wonderful bronze in the junior womens 800m while giving 3 years to some of her competitors. Karen led through 400m in a modest 73 secs but despite relinquishing the lead with 150m to go she battled all the way to the line to hold on for third ( 2 mins 28.22 sec ) in a blanket finish involving 5 athletes. Her smile as she crossed the line said it all. Peter Kilgannon and Naoise McKenna were next up in the junior mens 800m. In another tactical affair, Peter finished with his now trademark turn of pace to get up for third in a new PB of  2 min 00.11sec with Naoise back in 10th place overall.

Naoise showed his true form and mental toughness when he quickly bounced back to run a stirring leg of the 4 x 200m. With  national schools champion Niall Harvey on the same leg he matched him stride for stride and combined with his team mates Brian Kiernan, Philip Marron and Peter Kilgannon to chase SLOT all the way to the line and record a new club senior and junior record of 1 min 35.10 for this distance. It was great to have Brian Kiernan back to his best and with virtually no time to recover Brian led off our junior 4 x 400m quartet that also included Alex Hunter, Ciaran Crowther and John Redmond. Well done to John in particular, who made a seamless step up to the junior ranks. They won the junior category and set a new club indoor junior and senior record of 3 min 48.84 sec

The junior 3k saw Alex Hunter come to life about half way through the race and while he chased down the eventual race leader all the way to the line to finish second in 9 mins 20 sec, he was always playing catch up. After a slow start, Ciaran Crowther got into his stride and was doing his best running at the finish as he came through the field.

Well done to all officials and parents who put in a long day at Abbotstown













Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Monday, February 20, 2017

Alex King of the Hills in Mullagheen

The Mullagheen Hill run was held last Sunday over a much tougher new course than the original. Alex Hunter was a convincing winner of the junior boys from Fergus Crilly McEntee. However, Alex gets his sense of direction from his mother so it was no surprise that he went off course while leading the race. Thankfully, he realised his mistake and was quickly back on track to record a hard earned victory.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Relay teams for Leinster Indoors- National Indoor Arena 25/2/2017

The following teams have been selected for the Leinster indoor relays which will take place at the National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown on Saturday, February 25th. Note: Uneven age relays are on in the morning session followed by even age relays in the afternoon. Start times to be confirmed.


U 12 Girls A
U12 Girls B
U12 Girls C
Katie Doherty
Gina Keogh
Jane Dolan
Niamh Murphy
Sarah Forde
Ciara Flanagan
Caoimhe Fitzsimons Kate Raftery
Corina Wade
Cara O' Sullivan
Lauren Fewer
Caroline Byrne








U13 Girls A
U14 Boys A


Niamh Murphy
Eoin Kane


Sophie Quinn
Sam Carey


Aisling Stratford
Kyle Witter


Aobh Forde
Fionn Drummond










U14 Girls A
U14 Girls B
U14 Girls C
Aobh Forde
Aisling Stratford
Aoife Casey
Sophie Quinn
Amelia Campbell
Elizabeth Buckley
Aimee Doherty
Blessing Duruanyawn
Rachel Conway
Eabha Toole
Laura Smith
Kate Hayes








U15 Girls A
U15 Boys A
U15 Boys B
Lili O' Connor
Jed Walsh
Stephen Kiernan
Ella Healy
Oisin Kelly
Ciaran Rogers
Emma O' Connell
Matthew Hayes
Marcus Clarke
Aimee Doherty
Tom Kilgannon
Killian Stratford








U16 Boys 
U17 

U17 Boys 
Rafa McCaffery
Aine Cooney
Rafa McCaffery
Matthew Buckley
Karen Hayes
Matthew Buckley
Jed Walsh
Maria Rogers
Daragh Casey
Kevin Conway
Kate Smith
John Redmond



Rachel McPartlin


Colours success for Ciaran with UCD

The annual colours XC  match between UCD and Trinity was held in the Phoenix Park yesterday. Ciaran Crowther, running for UCD, put in a strong performance and was their fourth scorer as he helped UCD to retain the team title. Ciaran covered the demanding 8k course in 29 mins 28 and this suggests he is getting back to his best form in time for the Irish Varsity championships in Abbotstown, early next month.


Saturday, February 18, 2017

2017 Meath Track and Field League begins next Wednesday the 22nd of February @7:15pm


Reminder Meath League Day 1 (A)

The Day 1 (a) of the Meath League takes place this Wednesday evening indoors in Cushinstown AC at 7:15pm sharp
Events are only for the flowing age groups U10(2008), U12(2006), U14(2004), U15 (2003) and Junior, Senior and Masters

Please arrive early for warm up and sign in.

Further Track and Field League Dates for members are:
Day 1(b) 22nd of March U9 (2009),  U11(2007) U13 (2005) ....
Day two league19th April Claremont. Navan
Day three league 31st May Claremont. Navan
Day four league 21st June Claremont. Navan


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Leinster indoor juvenile Championships AIT Feb 11/12

The medal haul from the Leinster juvenile indoor championships was a wonderful 7 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze with many more great performances just missing out on making the podium.

Fionn Drummond led the charge with a fine silver in the boys u 14 high jump - our first medal of the weekend. Jed Walsh made his competitive debut for the club with another silver in the u 15 60m dash and looks like proving to be a "great find" for the club. Matthew Buckley was the favourite for the 16 60m and he duly delivered, taking the gold in 7.48 sec with Rafa McCaffrey a close 4th in 7.69 sec.

Eoin Kane surprised many (but not his coach) with a mighty run in the u 13 600m to win a well deserved bronze in 1 min 45.63 sec. Sophie Quinn dominated the u 13 girls 600m from the gun to take gold  in a new indoor PB of 1 min 42.46 but there were other Ratoath strong performances in the same race  from Laura Kelly. Aishling Stratford and Hannah Keogh. Aimee Doherty was equally impressive when winning the u 14 800m in a new club junior and senior  indoor record of 2 min 24.52 with her clubmates Amelia Campbell and Laura Smith in close attendance. Kyle Witter continues to make steady progress and was  9th in the boys u 14 800m final while Marcus Clarke Matthew Hayes and Tom Kilgannon all gave good accounts of themselves in the boys u 15 800m. We had a wonderful and talented group in the girls u 12 600m but unfortunately, Caoimhe Fitzsimons, Cara O Sullivan, Kate Rafferty, Eline Lund and Lauren Fewer did not get among the medals on this occasion. Karen Hayes was caught right on the line and missed making the podium by the proverbial whisker in the u 17 girls 800m  while  Aobh Forde, Niamh Murphy, Lili O Connor, Lili Nannery, Emma O Connell, Elizebeth Buckley, Stephen Walsh, Sarah Forde, Sam Carey and Eline Lund were others to just miss out despite really strong performances

Matthew Buckley completed a great double when taking the u 16 200m in 24.18 sec with Rafa McCaffrey a close second. Rafa turned his silver in the 200m to gold with a winning jump in the boys u 16 long jump. Caoimhe Fitzsimons also captured the  gold in the girls u 12 long jump with a wonderful 4.27m. while  Niamh Murray was another to excel - taking bronze in the u 13 long jump as well as 4th in the shot putt, Cara O Sullivan produced a silver medal winning high jump in the u 12 's and Laura Kelly maintained her status as the queen of the high jump with a majestic new indoor PB of 1.42m to take another Leinster title in the u 13 (Siobheal will need to keep on her toes with Laura around), Naoise McKenna was another to record a new indoor PB when clocking 2 min 6.95 in a very competitive u 19 800m.













Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Leinster Schools XC Championships

The Leinster schools XC championships were held in Santry Demesne today

Aimee Doherty continued her impressive start to the 2017 season with yet another top drawer run when finishing 5th in a high quality minor girls field. Ella Healy was an excellent 23rd. Tom Kilgannon kept the ball rolling with a battling performance in the minor boys and put in a tremendous sprint at the end to overtake several athletes and get up for 21st.

Marcus Clarke qualified for the All Ireland in Belfast next month with a fine 11th place in the junior boys while Aine O Connor was 28th in the senior girls.  Philip Marron unfortunately missed the break on the second of 4 laps and thereafter was always playing catch up on the lead pack of 4 athletes in the senior boys but nevertheless it was another top class run to cross the line in 6th and he was closely followed by Ciaran Quinn who continues to improve with every outing.

Well done to all who represented their respective schools with distinction