Carraig na bhFear AC -Epic week for Carraig Na BhFear AC!

Report by Richard Hawkins

It was one of the busiest weeks in the calendar with some of our athletes running on multiple days, boosted by glorious sunshine it was great to see the numbers out, not so great for report writing!

The second round of the County Graded leagues were held in MTU on Thursday May 15th incorporating the County Senior 100m, 5000m and High Jump Championships! Carraig Na BhFear AC had no fewer than five athletes competing in Heat 2 of the Senior Women’s 100m. Emma Akinkoulie (13.66) secured the bragging rights placing 3rd overall on times but was pushed all the way by Orla Coffey (13.66), Katie Walsh (13.76), Isobel O’Meara (13.97) and Caoimhe Geoghegan (14.5). Eoin Quirke had a typically gutsy performance in the men’s Mile to finish 3rd overall in 4:38. The men’s 5k race started in warm conditions, the field fragmenting in the early stages but Timmy Hawkins (16.20) and Peter Hawkins (16.59) although isolated, stuck to their task admirably finishing in 7th and 9th place overall. The final event of the night was a novel mixed medley relay combining legs of 1200m, 400m, 800m and a mile. It was great fun with Carraig Na BhFear entering two teams. Eoin, Timmy, Peter, Isobel, Katie, Orla, Laura Moore and Mattthew Crowley (Cork Track Club) dug deep to put in a mighty effort to finish the night.

The final day of the Cork County Track & Field Championships also took place in MTU, the County Juvenile ‘B’, combined events and relays closing this year’s program. Investment in coaching time and club equipment is clearly paying dividends with success across a range of disciplines. Allie Philips and Hannah Coffey placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the U15 girls’ multi-events competition. Well done to all the athletes competing in the county ‘B’s, the medal winners were Harry Ryan 2nd boys under-10 60m, Laura Hosford 3rd girls under-12 600m, Emma Johnson 3rd girls under-15 800m and Lily O’Keeffe 3rd in girls U15 long jump. Our relay teams competed well also, well done to the Girls under-12 team (Saoirse O'Neill, Cliona Collins, Hannah Casey and Laura Hosford) who were 7th in the final, the Girls under-15 team A (Mary Kate Dawson, Aoibhe Dunlea, Rebecca McCarthy and Lily O’Keeffe) who placed 5th in the final and the Girls under-15 team B (Amelia O'Donovan, Belle Quinlan, Rossin Murphy and Emma Johnson) who were 7th overall.

The Munster Schools Track & Field Championships took place in MTU in hot conditions on Saturday 17th May and our athletes performed extremely well again. Amelia O’ Donovan (Colaiste An Chroi Naofa) placed 2nd in the minor girls short hurdles and will be joined in the Nationals by Aoibhe Dunlea (Colaiste an Chroi Naofa) who jumped 4.63m winning bronze in the minor girls’ long jump. Amelia and Aoibhe also helped their school to 4th place in the Minor Girls 4 x 100m relay. Daniel Hogan (Colaiste an Chraoibhin) won gold in the minor boy’s long jump with a best effort of 5.58m. Hannah Coffey (St.Angelas) bettered her recent pb in the Junior girls pole-vault. Hannah was tied for the lead on 2.55m, placing 2nd on countback and will head to Nationals with confidence. Mary-Kate Dawson finished 6th overall in the Junior girls’ short hurdles running 13.92s. Aoife Martin (Colaiste an Chroi Naofa) had a convincing win in the Inter Girls 2000m walk in 9.55.06, Robyn Maher (Loreto Fermoy) was 2nd with a pb time of 10.21.16. In the tightest of finished less than one second separated 2nd and 4th with Anna Mullins (St.Angelas) unfortunate to be pipped into 4th place in a time of 10.21.60! Caoimhe Gray-Walsh (Loreto Fermoy)had a pb time of 1:03.48 to finish 6th overall in a very competitive Senior girls 400m sprint. Ruaidhri Boyle (Colaiste an Phiarsiagh) won the Senior Boys 400m hurdles. Aidan

Maher will travel to National having finished 2nd in the Senior Boys 1500m in 4.34.47, also finishing 4th in the Senior boys 2000m steeplechase.

Other news: The latest BHAA race was the Pfizer 6-mile on a challenging hilly, double-loop in Ringaskiddy. Tadhg Crowley (34:54) and Brian Hawkins (34:58) battled it out to finish in 11th and 12th place overall. Great running from the lads who are in great shape, Tadhg placed 2nd in the O40 category. Conor Kelly finished in 41:11 ahead of Richard Hawkins (41.20) who placed 2nd in the M55 category, Rachel O’Callaghan finishing in 48.00 looks like a shrewd signing for ‘The Punks’ in the upcoming Cork City10k Intra club relay competition! Allie Philips, Emma Johnson and Cathal Walsh all ran sub six-minute miles to finish in the top ten of the Cheetah mile in Fota wildlife park. Kate Lynch (7:13) and Ruth O’Sullivan (7.25) both11 years of age ran a very creditable times for the distance! Faye O’Riordan (20.29) was 1st female junior in the 5k race, nice running also from Siobhan Walsh (21.46), Cliona Lynch (22.27), David O’Riordan (23.12), Orla Gorman 23.56), Anita Casey (25.00), John Maher (25.22),Megan Murphy (28.28), Cora Lynch (28.47) and Seanna Boyle (32.29). Fantastic to see all the club singlets on display in one of the most enjoyable races in the calendar.

Look Ahead: Munster Track and Field Championships get underway next weekend with the Munster U20/Senior/Masters & U11-U16 combined events taking place over Saturday and Sunday in Templemore. The very best of luck to our athletes who are competing.