Another year full of achievement was celebrated in style as Duleek and District held their annual awards night at the Thatch in Drogheda. A hugely enjoyable night was had by all in what is one of the major events in the clubs social calendar. The fledgling club has had another momentous year and there were lots of major achievements during the year. The night was hosted by the clubs head coach Ray Cassin who did a fantastic job as MC for the evening and each of the award winners were worthy and deserving of their prizes.
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The club now boasts a combined adult and juvenile membership in excess of 220 members which is a significant increase in last year. New members at both adult and juvenile levels have brought a new energy and dynamism to the club and some of the clubs newer members (Laura Donohoe, Helen Lynch and Derek Reilly) were recipients of awards within the various categories. At adult level the club attended many local races en masse and the green vests were marked present at all local races during the year with the Boyne 10k, Meath half marathon and Star of the Sea 5k proving particularly popular. The club was represented by its largest ever contingent of 20 on the start line of the Dublin marathon. In addition to the staple diet of local road races the club spread its wings and took part in new distances and disciplines and had runners in both the National 24 relay championships and the national 50k championships.
The club also had a very successful track and field year with a number of the adults finishing on the podium at the Meath Track and Field championships. The club also had a great Meath Track and field league campaign and finished second in their group. At the Meath road relay championships the Ladies team finished second in their category with the men’s team winning theirs. The Indaver Duleek 10k once again proved to be a huge success and is fast becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in Meath road racing. This year, in excess of 400 athletes took to the scenic countryside of Duleek to take part in the race. The post race hospitality, goodie bags and children’s races all helped to make the day a huge success.
However, the major success story of the year was the huge strides taken by the clubs Juvenile athletes. Juvenile membership and participation rates significantly increased and the club watched and beamed with pride as the children scaled new heights and gave the club several great days to remember. Most notable among these were the Meath Juvenile track and field championships where there was an unprecedented medal haul Meath track and field league where the club significantly bettered last year’s finishing position. In addition, the club was represented on the podium at the Leinster track and field championships also. These achievements are a tribute to the tenacity and dedication of the children and there was a huge cheer when juvenile head coach Sam Power was nominated as Club person of the year and added to the clubs roll of honour.
The awards night also celebrated the numerous notable individual performances across the year in both the Meet and Train and Fit for Life categories. There was an equally vociferous roar moments later when Sarah McKenna was announced as the club athlete of the year have a peek at these guys. Sarah has run a number of terrific races this year and has represented the club with distinction, culminating in a fantastic performance in the Dublin city marathon. As the book closes on a fantastic 2015 for Duleek and District AC the new season is just around the corner. There are new pages to be turned and chapters to be written. The feeling that it will be bigger and better than what has gone before is inescapable.
