AVIVA U.K SPORTSHALL FINALS

DONEGAL GIRLS WIN BIRMINGHAM RELAY

April 2010

And so another chapter in the history of these exciting finals was written in Birmingham N.E.C arena last week. And once again this magnificent arena saw Donegal athletes take their place on the victory podium where winning medals takes some effort, so talented are the squad taking part.

U13 GIRLS
Pride of place must go to Tir Conaill AC athlete Kelly McGrory who in the U13 competition took the gold medal in the tough six lap event. This was a great performance from a very talented young lady who led by example as she also took silver in the high jump (1.45) and Kelly carried the baton of the Donegal girls four by two lap relay team across the finish line in what was a thrilling finale to a great day’s action. This victory over Britain’s elite young relay teams will long live the memory of those there, and it was no coincidence that four club mates and reigning A.A.I champions from Nenagh relay finals took the honours.

Tir Conaill AC has certainly produced the goods here with Ruth Gillespie, Kate McGowan, Emma Brady and Kelly McGrory. What a quartet, added to all this was the fact that Brady and McGowan took silver and bronze respectively in another great two lap final with Brady (7th) in the speed bounce (84) and McGowan (7.23) in the shot putt also adding more team points. So three individual medals and relay gold was a great medal haul for this twelve member Donegal team. Eimear Walsh (Letterkenny ac) in her first big athletic competition rose to the occasion, bravely reaching the final of the four lap event where sixth place was quite an achievement. Eimear also added vital points to the teams total with a solid 78 in the speed bounce.

Eva Mc Mullin (Tir Conaill) contributed two top ten finishes in her events, eighth in both six lap and long jump (2.15). While she also paired with Nicole Boyle (Rosses AC) to a very credible finish in the paarlauf relay. Boyle jumping 6.24 in the triple jump.

Aine Bradley (Inishowen AC) 5.97 also in the triple jump. Niamh Farrell (LAC) 49 in the vertical jump, Sarah Doherty 2.00 metres in long jump, Erika Hanna (Rosses) 46 in vertical jump and club mate Claire Sweeney 4.80 in shot putt all made great contributions to the teams seventh place overall.

U15 GIRLS BRONZE MEDALS
The quality of these young athletes at such a high level was amplified when four more girls also took to the medal rostrum.

Jade O`Donnell, Caroline Sharkey, Aideen Meehan (all Rosses AC) teamed up with Roisin Ni Chuarainn (LAC) to produce another great relay performance in their four by two lap final. Donegal’s record at U15 girls in Birmingham has always been recognised as top class and the team of 2010 can be rated up there with the best finishing fourth overall behind Birmingham, Cheshire and Hampshire. A truly great team performance with the four bronze medallists from the relay leading the way. Ni Chuarainn certainly came good at these finals. Sixth in the shot putt (9.76) a top ten finish in both vertical jump (56) and four lap race saw the Falcarragh girl take eighth place overall in U15 girls multi event competition. Meehan in her first major finals, 10th in vertical jump (57), 10th in four lap race and a top twenty finish in speed bounce (74) was a real discovery. Jade O`Donnell has certainly made Birmingham a happy hunting ground having taking medals at U13 level in previous years, she made the adjustment to U15 no bother, 7th in the two lap, top ten in the long jump (2.23) and while she will be disappointed with 63 in the speed bounce this dedicated young athlete will no doubt be back again next year. Caroline Sharkey battled bravely and added vital points with her shot putt (7.12), vertical jump (56) and a top twelve position in the two lap race. Sara Donovan (Slieve Liag) took her shot putt (9.41) to a respective eighth place. While Claire Brady (Tir Conaill) and Rose Boyle (LAC) completed a solid team performance in the Paarlauf relay. Fourth place overall was indeed a great performance.

BOYS U13 SEVENTH
No medals for the boys with the standard in this competition a real athletic experience for these lads who in the majority will be eligible again next year in this age group. Peter Gibbons (LAC) eighth in a very tough six lap race time trial was the top performance with Niall Fogarty (Inishowen AC) tenth in vertical Jump (53). Paudraig Byrne (Slieve Liag) 1.35 in the high jump, Paul Doherty and Conor Doherty (both Slieve Liag) 75 and 77 respectively in the speed bounce. Dominic Gallagher (Slieve Liag) 7.64 in shot putt, Jason McGill (Slieve Liag) 1.35 in high jump, Kevin McGinley (Slieve Liag) 5.76 in triple jump, Oisin Toal (LAC) 12th in six lap, Darragh Toal (1.90) long jump, Eoin Farrell (49) in vertical jump and Fergus Cox (Inishowen AC) 6 metres in triple jump, being the pick of their performances over a tough four hour competition.

So the travelling party of thirty one young athletes and six team managers returned from Birmingham determined to return next April for more exciting Sportshall. Neil Cullen co-ordinator wishes “to thank the various sponsors who contributed to this trip and especially the team managers who gave up their time to travel.