Report by Richard Hawkins and Willie Walsh.
Last weekend the ever-improving facilities in Templemore ACs track on the grounds of the town park just off the Main Street hosted the first outdoor Munster track and field event of this season. The recent amazing weather had deserted us, and frequent heavy showers passed through carried on a stiff breeze that didn’t aid the performances as it blew across the site on both days. On the Saturday we had two of our under-15 crew in the multi events competition.
On the back of medals won at county multi’s the previous weekend Allie Philips & Hannah Coffey took on the Munster competition. Hannah came in the wooden medal fourth place and Allie just completed the hurdles and high jump.
On Sunday we had four of our senior women in competition. Emma Akinkoulie picked up a bronze medal in the 100-meter Senior race where Caoimhe Geoghegan also bagged an under-23 medal. Caoimhe also participated in her first long jump competition for a while and was fifth overall. Katie Walsh and Isobel O’Meara took the top two spots on the senior 400-metre podium. All the girls’ seasons are well up and running now and will hope to continue to improve throughout the summer. The four girls combined to win the 4 X 100 senior relay to cap off a successful day’s racing in between the showers in Tipperary.
Ciaran Nugent got his 400m hurdles outdoor season underway at the National May Open in Tullamore on 18th May placing 3rd, he was among a large Irish contingent who competed in Brussels at the IFAM meet on Sunday 25th running a solid 54.71 in a highly competitive set of 400m hurdles heats..
Other News: The annual John Buckley BHAA 5k was held at the Marina on Tuesday 20th with over 1200 finishers on a warm night. It was the first occasion where the new resurfaced marina walkway could be used, the surface on the first kilometre was much improved on previous years, followed by a loop of the Centre-Park Road and Monahan Road before turning in to finish at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Well done to all our members taking part, particularly those achieving PB’s. Timmy Hawkins was 20th overall in a pb time of 15:44, followed by Peter Hawkins in a pb time of 16.53. Conor Kelly (19.00), Com Crowley (19.28 PB!), Richard Hawkins (20.06), Allie Phillips (20.29) Orla Coffey (21:40), Eileen O’Riordan (21:45), Rachel O’Callaghan (23.14) and Amy Cotter (26.01) all showing good form coming into the summer! Apologies if I missed anyone!
Catching up also on the recent rescheduled Kinsale 10-mile results where we had 3 athletes in action: Rachael O’ Callaghan (1:23:53), Cora Lynch (1:31:43) and a new addition to the club Amy Cotter running 1:37:34!
Look Ahead: Best of luck to our athletes who will represent their schools next weekend in the All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore. Locally, the Cork City 10k, Half and Full marathon events will take place on Sunday 1st June. Carraig Na BhFear AC will be well represented in the marathon events, but all eyes will be on the Intra-club competition for what is one of the highlights of the club calendar. Thanks to Rhona for putting together the teams, with forensic examination of form on Strava by Willie Walsh, the teams are finely balanced and all to play for on the day for the coveted title!
