Flying Eanna storms to gold as Elise wins relay bronze

It was a productive day for Carrick-on-Shannon AC on Friday in the AIT International Arena in Athlone as Eanna Madden stormed to gold in the Irish Universities Indoor 200m Final while Elise Bruen won her second All-Ireland medal as a member of the UCD 4 x 200m relay squad.

It was great to see three Carrick AC members in action with Cathal McElgunn rounding out the roster in the colours of Athlone IT.

Eanna naturally took the headlines with a new indoor personal best of 21.46 as held off training partner Thomas Barr and Limerick IT's Christopher Sibana to win a very close race with Sligo's Zak Irwin in fourth. 

Eanna set up his victory with a strong 21.88 in the heats, a time that gave him lane six for the final, a factor that would prove crucial in the final. 

Eanna got a good start but as all four of the top contenders came off the top bend close together, Eanna's strength was enough to hold off a fast finishing Barr who had earlier set a new championship best in the 400m.

The time of 21.46 was a new indoor personal best and Eanna followed up with a gold in the relay as his lead leg on the 4 x 200m University of Limerick team of Eanna, Ciaran Elliott, Paul Byrne and Barr were commanding winners.

Update: Eanna's time of 21.46 sees him move into ninth place on the Irish All-time Indoor list, just ahead of Thomas Barr.

Elise Bruen made her debut in the Universities Indoors in the colours of UCD and it was a memorable one as she was a late addition to the event, only getting the nod for the 200m on Monday. 

In her first race of the season, Elise ran 27.22 in the heats before she was drafted in as a late replacement in the relay, running the first leg in a hand time of 27 dead. 

UCD were battling for the bronze all the way through with a storming leg from anchor leg Aisling Drumgoole lifting them into the bronze medal position. It is Elise's second ever All-Ireland medal so well done Elise.

Cathal was in action very early in the 400m, his first heat taking place at 10.40 am. Cathal ran strongly, his time of 53.22 a little slower than his his season's best. Cathal then ran a fantastic second leg for AIT in the relay later that evening, showing great pace and strength.

Well done to Eanna, Elise and Cathal. More photos and videos on the club's Facebook page.

Weekend Round-up: Gerard flying in Cardiff

Another busy weekend for the club with members in action in Cardiff, Raheny and Athlone.

Gerard O'Donnell had another very solid weekend when he finished fifth in the 60m Hurdles at the Welsh Indoor Championships in Cardiff. His times of 7.92 (heat) and 7.94 (Final) were his best of the season so far as he seems to be coming nicely into form.

A large contingent of club members were in action in the Raheny 5 in Dublin on Sunday with Dean & Melissa Beirne, Graham Allen, Pat Heffernan, Adrian Lyons & Helen O'Gara. No times yet and sorry if we've missed anyone.

Finally in Athlone, Cathal McElgunn and Kyle McNabola were both in action over 400m at the Athletics Ireland U23 & Junior Indoors. Cathal's 52.77 was his fastest ever season opener and faster than any time he ran last year as he finished fourth in a strong heat. Kyle was a good 53.65 but was balked when a runner cut in on top of him after the break on the home straight. Kyle lost a lot of momentum but produced a strong start to the season.

 
 

Lauren top performer in North Connacht Schools Cross-country

Well done to all our members who performed so well in the North Connacht Schools Cross-country in Calry on Thursday.

We had some excellent performances in all age groups but topping everyone today was Lauren Reynolds who was a fantastic second in the Minor Girls race - a race that may have been her first outing on the country. Lauren started off conservatively but moved through the field at incredible pace and passed second and third in the final 200m to take second in a great performance.

Fiachra Henry was our next top finisher as he finished fifth in the Inter Boys race. Fiachra didn't ease down for this race, training hard on Tuesday and a conservative approach paid dividends as he cut through the field over the second lap and was very unlucky not to take fourth place.

Cian Mollahan put in a great strong run in the Minor Boys race, finishing an estimated eighth with a great strong performance while Iarlaith O'Brien came through strongly for 28th with Jack Keenehan 41st. Well done also to John Cunningham and Ryan Mulligan who rounded out the team.

Anna Corcoran, running for Drumshanbo VS, made light of recent illness to finish in the top ten in the Inter Girls, a nice solid run after her bout out of action.

Evan Corcoran was another top ten finisher, displaying his usual trademark strong finish in the Junior Boys race.

Congrats also to Ellie O'Rourke, who trains with our gang, on winning the Junior Girls race with an impressive performance.

Ayran Patrasco had a tough day with injury in the Senior Boys while Liam McGinn ran well in Inter Boys

When we get definite placings, we will let you all know.

See our club facebook page for more photos from Thursday's races.

Clive flying in Dundalk

Congrats to Clive Glancy on an excellent display in the National Novice in Dundalk IT on Sunday as he finished 37th in a race that featured an incredible 175 runners.
It's been a good few years since Clive tested himself in the Novice, having concentrated on the roads and the marathon in recent years, but he returned to his roots and got stuck in, just outside the top 20 on the first of three laps.
Clive maintained his place in the 20s for the second lap but came under severe pressure on the final lap but held on strong to record a time of 20.24 for the 6Km distance on a really fast good surface with some brutally testing short climbs.
Well done also to North Leitrim's Ryan Owens (57th) and our local physio John Russell (102nd) who were also in action in Dundalk in what has to be the most fiercely contested race on the Irish cross-country calendar.
Well done also to Anna Corcoran who put in a solid run to finish 73rd in the U17 Girls race. A year out of her age group, Anna made a good start in a big field and finished strongly, outsprinting a few rivals down the home straight to finish eighth runner from the Province which was an improvement on her 12th place finish in Westport.
And congrats to Ellie O'Rourke (Ballinamore AC) who again made the top 20 in Ireland as she finished 19th in the U15 Girls race, again a year out of her age group.
See our Facebook page for photos from the event.

Carrick-on-Shannon AC 2016/2017 Newsletter 3

Eanna Madden pictured with Packie Bonner and his family after winning the Senior Star award at the Leitrim Sport Star awards

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

The Club breaks for Christmas Holidays next week and the last session for the Primary School group will be held on Tuesday, December 13, in the Sports Complex and training will resume on Tuesday, January 10, at the usual times.  

The last Wednesday Gym session will be held on Wednesday, December 7, as older members will be competing on Wednesday, December 14. Training for the Post Primary group will continue over the Christmas Holidays, contact John Connolly for details.

Finally, we want to wish all our members and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

CONGRATULATIONS EANNA

Congratulations to Eanna Madden who was named a joint winner of the Senior Sport Star of the Year award at the recent Leitrim Sport Star Awards, a fitting recognition for another great year. And also congratulations to the Carrick AC crew who won the Table Quiz again (with no help from Andrew Brennan who tried to shoehorn his way onto our winning team!).

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SYSTEM

The one-way traffic system at the Complex has been a great success thanks to the co-operation of all our parents. Just remember that the system will remain in force when we return in the New Year.

2017 FIXTURES

Saturday, January 14: AAI Indoor League - AIT

Sunday, January 22: National Intermediate Cross-country - Tuam

Saturday, January 28: AAI Indoor League - AIT

Sunday, January 29: Athletics Ireland Junior & U23 Indoors - AIT

Sunday, February 5: AAI Games - Abbotstown

Sunday, February 12: National Masters and B Cross Country - Waterford

Wednesday, February 15: AIT International Grand Prix - AIT

February 18/19: Athletics Ireland Senior Indoors - Abbotstown

Saturday/Sunday, February 25/26: Western Region Indoors - AIT

Saturday, March 4: IUAA Universities Indoors -

Sunday, March 5: Athletics Ireland Masters Indoors - AIT

Saturday, March 11: Irish Schools Cross-country - Mallusk, Belfast

March 25/26: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors - AIT

Saturday, April 2: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors - AIT

April7-8: IUAA Universities Track & Field

Saturday, June 3: All-Ireland Schools Track & Field - Tullamore

Saturday, June 10: Connacht Juvenile Team events and U12 T&F in Sligo

Saturday, June 17: Connacht U13-Senior T&F in Sligo

Saturday, July 1: Athletics Ireland U23 & Junior track & Field

July 8 & 9: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Track & Field - Tullamore

July 15: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Relays - Tullamore

July 16: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Track & Field - Tullamore

July 22-23: Athletics Ireland Senior Track & Field - Santry

CONTACT POINT

If you have queries, contact Club Secretary John Connolly (0879446961), email connollyjohnb@eircom.net or message us on Facebook.

Our Facebook Page is closed to Friends Only so submit a Friend’s Request which will be returned promptly.

Eanna & Fiachra the headline acts

We had a busy weekend in two very different fields of activity with a strong contingent of Carrick AC at the Leitrim Sport Star Awards on Saturday night and Fiachra Henry in action on Sunday at the new cross-country course at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown on Sunday.

First of all, congratulations to Eanna Madden who was the Joint winner of the Senior Sport Star Award in The Landmark Hotel on Saturday night at the Leitrim Sport Star Awards.

Eanna had a magnificent 2016 as he represented Ireland at the European Senior Championships in Athlone and also moved well up the all-time lists over three different events.

It was a great year for Eanna but from chatting to him last Saturday, he is already setting his sights on 2017!

Eanna Madden pictured right with John Connolly and Mary O'Donnell after receiving his award

Congratulations also to club coaches Andrew Brennan and Siobhan Murtagh who were nominated in the Senior Sport Star category for their achievements in the world of triathlon & duathlon, they are certainly an inspiration for our young athletes.

Congratulations also to North Leitrim AC's Tom Kelly on winning the Volunteer of the Year Award and especially to Breege Connolly on winning the Overall Leitrim Sport Star of the Year award, a great night for Leitrim athletics.

On Sunday, Fiachra Henry was in action in the Irish Life Health National Cross-country Championships in Abbotstown, finishing a strong 78th in a tough U16 race on a very testing course at the National Sports Campus.

See our club facebook page for more photos from the weekend's activities.

Fiachra & Anna qualify for Nationals

Congratulations to Fiachra Henry and Anna Corcoran who both qualified for the Athletics Ireland Even Ages cross-country championships with strong performances at the Connacht Championships on Sunday in Galway.

On a superb new course at Southpark in Galway City, just beside Claddagh and the Spanish arch, we had just three athletes in action as Iarlaith O'Brien joined the two older runners in action on what was an ideal day for running.

Fiachra & Anna finished in the top 12 to qualify for the Nationals in Abbottstown at the end of November.

Fiachra produced a very strong race in the U16 boys, running strongly and aggressively in the early stages of a good quality race. Fiachra was as high as seventh at one stage but came under pressure over the latter half of the race. But even as he was being threatened, Fiachra produced a strong finish over the last 300m to ensure an 11th place finish and a place on the Connacht team.

Anna had a tougher experience in her U16 race as she got out strongly and put in a strong first half of the race but struggled a bit on the second half. However, like Fiachra, Anna showed great determination to finish strongly and hold onto 12th place, the last spot on the Connacht team.

Iarlaith O'Brien was bothered by a troublesome injury before the race started but insisted on taking part in the U14 Boys race. Despite being clearly hampered, Iarlaith ran strongly to finish in 30th place.

Congratulations also to Ellie O'Rourke, who trains with our distance gang, on winning the U14 Girls race in Galway with a commanding display, leading all the way before pulling away to a comprehensive win in the final stages. Congrats also to North Leitrim who won the U14 Girls team competition and Leitrim who finished second in the County race.

The action moves to Westport House next Sunday for the Connacht Uneven Ages Cross-country Championships.