JOANNA DUIGNAN - Rest in Peace

It is with a sense of profound sadness and deep shock that we let the Carrick-on-Shannon Athletic Club family know of the sudden and untimely passing of our friend Joanna Duignan.

There are simply no words to convey the sense of loss that our athletes, our coaches and their families are feeling right now as the news that Joanna is no longer with us sinks in ever so slowly and ever so terribly.

A fantastic athlete with a willingness to work hard, what marked Joanna out most of all was not her athletics achievements but the fact that she was a lovely genuine person who always had time for everyone - no matter how young or how old, Joanna's friendly, outgoing nature saw her make time for everyone and we lost count of the amount of times she helped out our younger athletes.

The loss we feel today is nothing compared to the loss of her family, her parents Philip and Theresa and brothers Daniel, Aaron and Keith, her relatives and extended family and many friends. There are no words to convey our deepest sympathy to them at this time - all we can do is offer our support and our love as we remember our friend Joanna.

As a mark of respect to Joanna, all club training is cancelled this week.

At the moment, funeral arrangements are not available but we will let people know as soon as they are available.


May Joanna Rest in Peace

COMMUNITY GAMES NEWS

Just a round-up of all the Community Games Area Athletics Finals news to help our members understand all about the Community Games Athletics Finals.

The date of births are different to Athletics Ireland with competitors under the age on July 31, in the year of competition.

The Leitrim Community Games Athletics Finals will take place in Manorhamilton on Friday, May 12, while the Roscommon Area Finals will take place Sunday, June 4, at St. Faithleach’s GAA Grounds.

Just a round-up of the local Area Finals that will involve our members.

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON AREA - The Carrick-on-Shannon Area Community Games Athletics Finals will be held on Thursday, May 4, at the top field of Carrick-on-Shannon Community School. Registration from 5.30 with events starting at 6 pm sharp. Entry fee €4. Please bring copy of birth cert to event unless registered last year

The Carrick Area covers the Leitrim side of Carrick-on-Shannon, the entire parish of Kiltoghert including Leitrim Village, Gowel, Jamestown and Kilnagross and Drumsna Village out as far as the Mohill Cross.

ARDCARNE COMMUNITY GAMES - Ardcarne Community Games will be hold their Sports Day this Sunday, April 30, in Ardcarne Park. Registration from 1.15 to 1.45 with first race at 2pm sharp. Entry will be €10 per family, or €5 per adult, €2 per child. Please spread the word. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

The Ardcarne Area covers Cootehall, Knockvicar and the Ardcarne Areas.

CROGHAN DRUMLION CORTOBER - Croghan Drumlion Cortober Community Games have provisionally fixed their Area Athletics Day for next Monday, May 1. Registration at 6 pm with first race at 6.30

DRUMSHANBO & MOHILL AREAS - Unfortunately, we have no information on the dates of the Area Finals in the Drumshanbo and Mohill Areas, when we do, we will post them on Facebook.

AGE GUIDELINES - COMMUNITY GAMES 2017

• Under 16: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2001 are overage

• Under 15: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2002 are overage

• Under 14: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2003 are overage

• Under 13: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2004 are overage

• Under 12: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2005 are overage

• Under 11: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2006 are overage

• Under 10: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2007 are overage

• Under 9: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2008 are overage

• Under 8: Competitors born on or before 31 July 2009 are overage

Carrick-on-Shannon Athletic Club 2016/2017 Newsletter 4

EASTER BREAK

The Club’s Primary School section breaks for Easter Holidays and the last session for the Primary School group will be held on Tuesday, April 4, which means there will be NO training on April 11 & 18. 

When training resumes on Tuesday, April 25, training will take place OUTDOORS at the top field of Carrick-on-Shannon Community School at the usual times. Please remember to bring suitable gear for training outdoors.

Training for the Post Primary group will continue over the Easter Holidays, contact John Connolly for details.

CONGRATS CLIVE

Many congratulations to Clive Glancy who set a magnificent new personal best in the Asics Manchester Marathon last Sunday, clocking an impressive 2.35.42, taking three minutes off his previous best.

Clive was the epitome of even-paced running as he went through the halfway point in 1.17.56 and covered the second half nine seconds faster to finish 25th overall. A great performance Clive - an inspiration to everyone in the Club

CHURCH GATE COLLECTION - HELP NEEDED

We’re looking for help with the Club’s Annual Church Gate Collection which will be held in the churches in Carrick-on-Shannon, Jamestown, Cortober, Gowel, Leitrim Village, Drumsna and Annaduff over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend of April 15 & 16.

We realise this is the Bank Holiday weekend but if you could stand at a church for 20 mins before the start time and 10 mins after, it would be a huge help as this is the Club’s only fundraiser for the year.

Please contact John Connolly at 087-9446961 or any other club official if you are able to help out.

SUMMER TRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONS

We’d ask all parents to take special note of the fixture list below and if a child is selected for competition, please let us know if they are available.

When it comes to the Leitrim Primary Schools Track & Field, it is the schools who organise the competitors for that competition.

2017 FIXTURES

Wednesday, May 3: Leitrim U9, 10 & 11 Team competition - Manorhamilton

Sunday, May 14: Leitrim Primary Schools Track & Field - Manorhamilton

Wednesday, May 24: Leitrim Club Track & Field - Manorhamilton

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, June 24: Athletics Ireland National U9, 10 & 11 Team competition; Tailteann Games - Santry

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

August 18-20: National Community Games Finals - Blanchardstown, Dublin

CONTACT POINT

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

ATHLETICS IRELAND JUVENILE INDOORS WEEKEND 2

Another weekend of personal bests for our athletes at the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors in Athlone with Gerard Murtagh coming very close to a medal when he finished fourth in a high quality U13 Long Jump with a new personal best.

Gerard, our youngest member in action on Saturday, came the closest to a medal when he actually took the lead in the competition on the fifth round, a 4.44m jump also a new personal best. Gerard improved that by one centimetre in the final but unfortunately, three jumpers produced exceptional efforts, including a new championship as he just missed out in the club's best performance of the 27 indoors.

Fiachra O'Dowd missed out on the U19 60m Final by one place and it was unfortunately the same in the 200m as, despite a 0.25 improvement, a magnificent new pb of 23.36 saw him miss out on the final despite a great performance.

The Sheerins also set new pbs in the U17 races - Clodagh, in a difficult lane 2, broke 27 seconds for the first time with a time of 26.91 while Niall broke 25 for the first time with an excellent 24.81, both big improvements on their times from the Connachts.

Shauna McCabe took three quarters of a second off her previous best when she ran 28.21 in the U18 heats.

Shane Finn threw a massive new personal best of 9.48m in the U14 Shot to finish 10th overall, a big improvement on his Connacht performance.

Lauren Reynolds was our last competitor in action as she ran a time of 2.39.30 in the U15 800m, just a little outside her best while her training partner Ellie O'Rourke reached the final with a new pb of 2.26.41 before finishing eighth in the final.

Many thanks to Anna Corcoran, Laureen & Oisin O'Dowd,Michael O'Brien, Michael Reynolds, Siobhan Murtagh and Niamh Ni Comhraide for travelling down with our athletes and supporting them so well on the day.

That brings our Indoor season to an end but we won't have too long to wait for the outdoor season as we have the Irish Universities next weekend in Cork. Roll on the Summer!

Photos from Athlone can be viewed on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/carrickonshannon.ac/media_set?set=a.987335738070756.1073741930.100003830187592&type=3&uploaded=10

ATHLETICS IRELAND JUVENILE INDOORS WEEKEND 1

Another hectic and busy weekend in Athlone with three Carrick AC breaking into the top eight at the Athletics Ireland Irish Life Health Juvenile Indoors last Saturday & Sunday.

Toyosi Fagbo was our top finisher as he broke his personal best when finishing fifth in the U14 60m Final on Sunday, running an exceptional 8.00 dead after running 8.08 when finishing second in his heat. This was a very good run for Toyosi in a high quality final and a great run.

Alannah McGuinness twice broke her personal best, set in the Connachts, as she qualified as a fastest loser in the U16 60m heats with 8.15 before going considerably faster with 8.08 in the final where she finished a close sixth

Gerard Murtagh was our final finalist, this time in the U13 60m - Gerard also set a new personal best in the heats, running 8.42 and was marginally slower in a final plagued by false starts, recording a time of 8.44 which was faster than his old best.
You can watch videos of the 60m Finals on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw5Iu2m24cM

Also in the 60m heats, Shauna McCabe ran an impressive race to finish fifth in her U18 heat in a new pb of 8.39 while Fiachra O'Dowd ran 7.57 for fourth in his U19 heat. Niall Sheerin's first All-Irelands saw him run 7.95 in his heat while Sophie McCabe ran 8.75 in her U14 heat.

Our youngest competitor of the weekend, Alan Beirne, ran 9.39 in the U12 heats with a strong showing.

On Sunday morning, Anna Corcoran and Fiachra Henry were in action in the 1,500m with Anna recording a time of 5.41.64 in finishing 14th while Fiachra was 10th in his heat in a time of 4.46.71.

On Saturday, we had four relay teams in action with three of them setting new personal bests. Our U15 Girls team were unable to compete after Aine McGwynne suffered a bad knee injury on Friday and we all wish her a speedy recovery!

Our U17 Girls team of Clodagh Sheerin, Anna Corcoran, Seonna Devaney & Alannah McGuinness took three seconds off their Connacht time as they finished eighth overall in a time of 1.54.38, Clodagh and Alannah both breaking 27 seconds on their legs.

The U18 Boys squad of Oisin O’Dowd, Brian Holahan, Oisin Boland and Niall Sheerin were fractionally faster than their Connacht time as they also finished eighth overall in a time of 1.44.62, Niall running a 24.4 split on the last leg. 

The U16 squad of Oisin Kearney, Eoghan Farrell, Daniel Bosquette and Evan Corcoran were also faster than their Connacht time, finishing eighth in a time of 1.48.93 with Oisin smashing the 25 second barrier and Evan fractionally outside it.

Unfortunately, the Carrick U14 boys team of Patrick Charles, Shane Finn, Cian Mollohan and Toyosi Fagbo were disqualified after a mishap on the second changeover saw the baton hit the deck. It was a terrible pity as the team looked in a great position to qualify for the Final with a storming leg from Shane Finn but the disappointment is sure to drive these lads on in the future.

Pictures from the two days are on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/carrickonshannon.ac/media_set?set=a.984390671698596.1073741929.100003830187592&type=3&pnref=story

Our thanks to all the parents and supporters who travelled to Athlone and especially to Siobhan & Callum Whelan who travelled with the bus on Saturday.

Finally, best of luck to Clodagh Sheerin, Niall Sheerin, Shauna McCabe, Fiachra O'Dowd, Lauren Reynolds, Gerard Murtagh and Shane Finn who are all competing this Saturday in Athlone as the Indoor season comes to an end.

NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOORS FIRST WEEKEND

Next weekend sees the first weekend of the Athletics Ireland Irish Life Health National Juvenile Indoors in the AIT International Arena in Athlone and we have a big contingent in action on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, we have five relay teams competing with the U15 & 17 Girls in the morning session while the U14, 16 & 18 Boys are in the afternoon session.

On Sunday, it is the turn of our 1,500m runners and 60m sprinters to take to the track and we wish everyone the very best of luck.

There will be a bus for the relay teams on Saturday, leaving from the complex at 8 am sharp with a fare of €5.

Those competing on Sunday are to make their own way to Athlone but if anyone needs a lift, contact John Connolly asap and we will see what we can arrange.

All athletes must collect their numbers AND check in with the officials at the check-in area in Athlone a minimun of one hour before the scheduled time of their events (see below). Collecting your number is not the same as checking in so make sure you get your name ticked by the officials.

The full timetable is as follows:

SATURDAY MARCH 25

• U15 Girls Relay: Aine McGwynne, Elsie Harman, Lauren Reynolds, Sophie McCabe – 10.30
• U17 Girls Relay: Clodagh Sheerin, Anna Corcoran, Seonna Devaney, Alannah McGuinness – 10.30
• U14 Boys Relay: Patrick Charles, Shane Finn, Cian Mollohan, Toyosi Fagbo, Ross Flanagan – 1.30
• U16 Boys Relay: Oisin Kearney, Eoghan Farrell, Daniel Bosquette, Evan Corcoran – 1.30
• U18 Boys Relay: Oisin O’Dowd, Brian Holohan, John O’Beirne, Niall Sheerin – 1.30

SUNDAY MARCH 26

U17 Girls 1500m: Anna Corcoran – 10.50
U17 Boys 1500m: Fiachra Henry – 10.50
U12 Boys 60m: Alan Beirne – 1.30
U13 Boys 60m: Gerard Murtagh – 1.30
U14 Girls 60m: Sophie McCabe – 1.30
U14 Boys 60m: Toyosi Fagbo – 1.30
U16 Girls 60m: Alannah McGuinness – 1.30
U17 Boys 60m: Niall Sheerin – 1.30
U18 Girls 60m: Shauna McCabe – 1.30
U19 Boys 60m: Fiachra O’Dowd – 1.30

Again, we wish everyone the very best of luck in Athlone.

NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOORS QUALIFIERS

We have a busy schedule ahead of us for the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors at the end of March, beginning of April and we need to know now who will be competing.

We have five relay teams in action on Saturday, March 25, while Sunday, March 26, will see 14 individuals in action over 15 events. On Saturday, April 1, we have nine individuals down for competition.

We need to know by next Monday, March 5, who is competing in the Nationals so we can finalise entries. Please contact John Connolly asap.

The following is the dates and times for our athletes according to the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Handbook, which can be accessed at http://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/other/Juv_Booklet_2017_nc_(7).pdf

SATURDAY MARCH 25

U15 Girls Relay: Aine McGwynne, Elsie Harman, Lauren Reynolds, Sophie McCabe – 10.30

U17 Girls Relay: Clodagh Sheerin, Anna Corcoran, Seonna Devaney, Alannah McGuinness – 10.30

U14 Boys Relay: Patrick Charles, Shane Finn, Cian Mollohan, Toyosi Fagbo, Ross Flanagan – 1.30

U16 Boys Relay: Oisin Kearney, Eoghan Farrell, Daniel Bosquette, Evan Corcoran – 1.30

U18 Boys Relay: Oisin O’Dowd, Brian Holohan, John O’Beirne, Niall Sheerin – 1.30

SUNDAY MARCH 26

U18 Girls 400m: Kasey Bruen – 10.00

U18 Boys 400m: John O'Beirne – 10.00

U19 Girls Long Jump: Sibeal Reynolds – 10.00

U17 Girls 1500m: Anna Corcoran – 10.50

U17 Boys 1500m: Fiachra Henry – 10.50

U12 Boys 60m: Alan Beirne – 1.30

U13 Boys 60m: Gerard Murtagh – 1.30

U14 Girls 60m: Sophie McCabe – 1.30

U14 Boys 60m: Toyosi Fagbo – 1.30

U16 Girls 60m: Alannah McGuinness – 1.30

U17 Girls 60m: Clodagh Sheerin – 1.30

U17 Boys 60m: Niall Sheerin – 1.30

U18 Girls 60m: Shauna McCabe – 1.30

U19 Girls 60m: Sibeal Reynolds – 1.30

U19 Boys 60m: Fiachra O’Dowd – 1.30

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

U15 Girls 800m: Lauren Reynolds – 11.15

U17 Girls 200m: Clodagh Sheerin – 10.00

U17 Boys 200m: Niall Sheerin – 10.00

U18 Girls 200m: Shauna McCabe & Kasey Bruen – 10.00

U19 Girls 200m: Sibeal Reynolds – 10.00

U19 Boys 200m: Fiachra O'Dowd – 10.00

U15 Girls 800m: Lauren Reynolds – 11.15

U14 Boys Shot: Shane Finn – 1.00
U13 Boys Long Jump: Gerard Murtagh - 1.30