NEWS

March 7th - Cavan Spring League in Shercock

The first stage of the Cavan Spring League was held for the first time on the new tartan track in Shercock today. The clubs athletes across all age groups turned out to enjoy the competition on a cool but sunny day.

RESULTS

March 6th - James Treanor Qualifies for Youth Olympics!

16 year old James Treanor made his debut in the 10km walk at the Manx Harriers Open Meet today and put in a great effort to win the race in an impressive time of 46:27 minutes. This is well inside the qualifying mark for the European Youth Olympics which are due to be held in Moscow in May. James kept a very even pace over the first 9km of the race, sticking closely to his raceplan, and then powered home on the closing lap to dip inside 46:30 at the finish. After such a promising debut at 10km, James can look forward to reducing his time further over the coming months as he prepares for the big day in Moscow. There was further cause for celebration for the Irish racewalk contingent in the Isle of Man when Kerry's Emma Prendeville also qualified for the Youth Olympics with an impressive performance in the 5km event. James and Emma are pictured below following their races.

February 27th - Ulster Juvenile Championships, Magherafelt

Shercock athletes were in top form today when the second stage of the Ulster juvenile indoor championships were held at the magnificent Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt. Highlights on the day included gold medal winning performances by James Treanor (left, walk), Shane Duffy (60m) and Liam Kiernan (high jump). The 1500m races saw two impressive runs as both Edel Kieran and Niall Clerkin secured bronze. Blaithin Hughes won silver in the 60m hurdles while fourth place finishes were achieved by Celine Clerkin (300m) and Blaithin Hughes (60m). The day concluded with some very exciting relay events and Shercock were to the fore once again with the under 16 boys taking silver (Niall Clerkin, Senan McGeever, Ciaran O'Reilly and Ryan Rogers), the under 16 girls won bronze (Edel Kieran, Emma Duffy, Kelly Colton and Jessica Drohan) while the under 18 boys and under 12 boys finished just outside the medals in fifth and fourth respectively.

Niall Clerkin ran well to take bronze in the under 16 1500m.
Liam Kieran won the Ulster title in the under 12 high jump.
Shane Duffy won the Ulster title in the under 12 60m sprint and also finished third in the long jump.
Blaithin Hughes won silver in the under 19 60m hurdles.

February 25th - Noel Carroll had a positive run in the Armagh International 5k today - finishing inside his personal best with a time of 15:22 for the distance.

Scottish Indoor Championships: Two Shercock athletes were in action in the Scottish juvenile indoo championships. Ryan Rogers set a personal best of 1.58m to finish fourth in the high jump. Padraig Donagh progressed to the final of the under 15 800m where he finished in fifth place.

February 13th - Irish Universities Indoor Championships

Pictured at the Irish Univerisiies Indoor Championships in Nenagh are Shercock athletes Richard Tsang and Noel Carroll (University of Ulster), Matthew O'Reilly (Carlow IT), Paul Fitzpatrick (Dundalk IT), John McGeever (coach), James Ruxton (Dublin City University), Hugh Fitzpatrick (Trinity College Dublin) and Craig Lynch (Dublin City University).

A number of Shercock athletes were in action at the Universities Indoor Championships in Nenagh at the weekend. Paul Fitzpatrick (Dundalk IT) made a return to competition after a layoff due to illness and successfully defended his indoor title, winning the 2k walk comfortably in a time of 8:52. Richard Tsang had a busy day, beginning with the triple jump where a best effort of 12.04m left him in third place. Richard also went on to finish 8th in the long jump and helped his University of Ulster team to third place in the relay. Matthew O'Reilly (Carlow IT) threw well in the shot put competition, finishing fourth with a best effort of 11.70m. James Ruxton (DCU) made it to the final of the 400m where he finished fourth in a close finish. Craig Lynch (DCU) achieved the same result in the 60m final. Noel Carroll (UU) found himself up against a strong field in the 3000m, however a very fast closing lap saw him overtake several positions to finish fifth behind race winner Liam Reale. Noel was also rewarded with a new indoor personal best of 8:53 for the distance. Hugh Fitzpatrick was in action in the weight for distance for TCD, finishing seventh with a best throw of 7.63m

February 6th & 7th

Positive Return to Competition by Ruxton and Lynch at Irish Indoors.

The national senior championships at Belfast's Odyssey Arena proved to be a watershed for two of the club's most successful athletes as James Ruxton and Craig Lynch attempted to put an injury ridden 2009 firmly in the rear-view mirror. Craig was first into action in the heats of the senior men's 60m and despite a conservative start he powered to the head of the field to win his first race of 2010. James Ruxton found himself drawn against strong opposition in his 400m heat but was determined to make good his return to competition for the 2010 season. Making a critical move at the break he moved positively into second place, shadowing the leader down the back strainght before moving strongly into the lead off the final bend for a hard-earned and well-deserved victory. Both Craig and James can now look forward to a positive season in 2010 having put a troublesome 2009 behind them.

16 year old James Treanor stepped up to the line in the men's 5000m in the prestigious company of three Olympians. While Robert Heffernan beat out a relentless pace at the front on his way to the title, James found himself well ahead of his target time after a fast opening 2k. Finding strength that belied his relative youth he held on through a gruelling last 3km to cross the line in 22:11 - far ahead of his most ambitious expectations and ranking seventh in his first Irish Senior competition. With a good 5km under his belt, James is looking forward to his first attempt at 10km, which will take place in the Isle of Man in March, when he hopes to achieve the qualifying standard for the European Youth Olympics of 47 minutes.

Matthew O'Reilly was in action once again in the shot putt, finishing well in sixth place with a best effort of 11.29m.

The first stage of the Ulster juvenile championships was held alongside the senior competition and a number of young Shercock athletes featured on the medal rostrum. Edel Kieran led from gun to tape in the under 16 800m, smashing her PB with an excellent time of 2:23.47, which also stands as a new club record. Jess Drohan made a dramatic move from distance running to sprint hurdles and was rewarded with a silver medal in her first competition. Darina Fitzpatrick kept the family tradition going in the 1000m walk, also winning a silver medal, while Ciaran O'Reilly threw the shot 9.95m to finish third in the under 16 event.

 

Weekend Round-up - January 31st

Noel Carroll had a positive start to the 2010 season when he ran well to finish 5th at the Ulster Junior Cross Country Championships at Finn Valley in Donegal. Noel kept with the leaders for the opening half of the 10k race until a gap formed and he lost ground in the sticky underfoot conditions. He maintained he position through the closing stages, holding off a late challenge to secure fifth place.

Juvenile Combined Events: Six Shercock athletes were in action in Nenagh at the national juvenile combined events championships and all safely made it through the five events - hurdles, high jump, shot putt, long jump and 800m. Niall Clerkin fared best, coming home fifth in the under 16 event, just two places ahead of team mate Ryan Rogers. Niall's best result came in the 800m (2:21) and Ryan had a high jump PB of 1.53m. In the same competition Padraig Donagh did well to finish 12th while competing a year above his age group. In the under 18 event David Donagh was 7th, just one place ahead of team mate Micheal Gargan.

Edel Kieran produced a great run over 800m in the under 16 competition, covering the distance in 2:29, the fastest time of the day, however her overall points total left in 9th place at the finish.

 

James Ruxton took advantage of the Leinster senior championships on Sunday to open his season with a soild run over 400m, winning the guest event, and covering the distance in a useful 52.2s.

January 23rd - Cavan Sportshall, Kingscourt

The county Sportshall was held in Kingscourt Community Centre today, attended by athletes from Shercock, Innyvale, Annalee and Bailieborough athletic clubs. The facility proved ideal as a venue and the competition was much enjoyed by all the young athletes who took part.

RESULTS