Finn Valley Athletes Triumph at Tailteann Games & Mark English Sets New Irish Record

The recent good form shown by Mark English at European track meets continued in a major way over the weekend with yet another eye catching and encouraging performance from him in Madrid. Breaking his Irish record at 800m once again he returned a time of 1.44.53, leading him confidently into the National Senior Championships in Santry this weekend.

Brendan Boyce combined with Kate Vale from West Waterford in an effort to fill the one remaining spot in the mixed relay walk at Paris. A number of teams came together in Dublin on Saturday with the intention of filling that spot, amongst them Ireland. The news wasn’t good as Ireland struggled while the Czech Republic had an easy victory so that event is now closed and unfortunately, Brendan will not be on the start line in Paris.

A number of strong medal winning performances came from from Finn Valley athletes representing their school at the Tailteann games inter-provincial, which doubles up as the International Schools Trial. The good news was Odhran McBrearty, finishing a close up second in the 1500m and will no doubt gain selection for the meeting next month in Cardiff, Wales. This will be his second Irish schools vest during this season. Odhran is a student at St Columba’s College Stranorlar. The good news also coming back was from Katie Lousie McMonagle, a student at Gairmscoil Chu Uladh as she finished 2nd in the long jump with an effort of 5.42 which nailed down the silver medal and also puts her in line for International selection. Katie Louise is the only the second student from that school to secure Irish selection, the other being Araon McGlynn a number of years ago. Also in action in Dublin was Stephen Slevin (long jump) finishing fourth (1.70) and Padraic McGettigan steeple chase finishing 6th. Both are students at St Columba’s college Stranorlar.

Early Sunday morning, the National 5 mile Road Championship was held in the Phoenix Park with yet another strong performance from Jon Jo Doherty, finishing 6th overall in a time of 25.05 (PB) and third in the Masters category, thereby gaining a bronze National Championship medal.

The club had an outstanding day at the National Childrens Games and U12 Championships on Sunday in Tullamore with a number of real standout performances. The boys U9 and U12 relay teams clinched gold in a most exciting manner with the U12 team made up of Adam Breen, Kyle Doherty, and Shea Irwin while Adam Breen also collected a bronze in the U12 60m. The u9 boys relay had a facile victory, mainly down to sharp zone changes and an absolutely outstanding run from Eoin Cunningham. Additionally, there were silver medals in the long jump for Ceola McGlinchey and Ellen Rose Carlin and Silver also in the long jump for Eunan McGinty and Caiden McMenamin. There was a particularly positive return from our U11 boys and girls 60m runners with Evie Gallagher and Eve McGuire collecting gold ahead of Cork city and Daragh Coyle and Lucas Lyndsay who collected gold by the narrowest of margins in a time of 18.36) as against the Cork club Blarney at 18.39, with Limerick third. A turbo bronze for Blake Kennan Castlederg and Tom Durning with delight from Alison Mbuli on her bronze medal in the U12 high jump.

Leah O’Gara travelled to Dublin on Saturday to participate in the 2k open walk, returning a very respectable time of 10.38 to finish second. This will give her loads of confidence as she continues to prepare for National Championships next month.

The club extends sympathy to Neil Martin on the passing of his mother Mary and extends sympathy to the entire family circle.

Dermot McGranaghan will be particularly pleased with the World U20 qualifying time of the Irish squad in Mannheim, Germany and a new Irish record posted by the mixed relay which guarantees them a place on the plane to Peru later this season.

This weekend, we look forward ot the National Senior Championships and at the time of going to press, confirmed Finn Valley athletes participating are; Sean McGinley, Oisin Toye, Mark English, James Kelly, Lauren Callaghan, Roisin and Elish Flanagan, Janine Boyle, Arlene Crossan, Joseph Gillespie and Oisin Thompson.

The Finn Valley have the first of two Annual Summer Camps starting Monday morning. Limited places are available and for details go to the Finn Valley Camp4Champs Facebook page