Posted Date: 10-Feb-2009 Tues

The Odyssey Arena in Belfast was the venue for the Ulster and Northern Ireland age group and Irish senior open championships on Saturday and Sunday last. Eight Inishowen athletes competed over the two days with Declan Donaghy recording a personal best of 2.29 to reach the final of the under 14 boys 800m on Saturday afternoon. The Carndonagh athlete put in a brave performance in the final by contesting the lead for much of the 8 lap race before finishing seventh in 2.40.6. Declan Farran raced to a personal best of 2.32 in the heats of the under 15 boys 800m. Clonmany athlete David Mc Laughlin recorded a season’s best of 1.25m in the under 15 boys’ high jump and 9.18 seconds in the 60m. In the under 14 boys 60m, Feargal Doherty finished with a personal best of 9.54 seconds. On Sunday, Kieran Devlin was first in action in the under 17 boys’ long jump. The transition year student showed good early season form with a best of 5.33m. Siofra Fogarty opened her competitive season with a best of 9.20 seconds in the under 17 girls 60m, while Stephen Friel raced to 8.01 in the boys event. Friel showed impressive form over 200m to finish second in his heat in an indoor best of 25.8 seconds. Patrick Mathews raced tenaciously in the under 16 boys 800m to finish in 2 minutes and 26 seconds.

On Tuesday last, Caroline Kelly finished with an impressive turn of speed to clinch second place in the senior girls 2.7km race at the Ulster District schools’ cross-country championships at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. Declan Donaghy had an excellent race to finish 10th in the junior boys 3.2k race with very good performance from Patrick Mathews 24th, Declan Farran 25th , Cathal Kelly 96th , Jacob Sanchez 105th , and Patrick Harkin 107th . First year students Connie-Ann Hession and Aoife Bell raced impressively in what was a bitterly cold day to finish in 18th and 54th respectively in the junior girls 2.4km event. Conor Hession was Carndonagh Community School’s top finisher in the intermediate boys 4.7km race in a very creditable 37th place with Ryan Mc Laughlin 53rd and Niall Devlin 54th.

Well done to Aine Bradley, David Mc Laughlin, Stephen Friel and Kayla Farran who have been selected on the Donegal Sportshall athletics team. Aine will compete in the under 13 age category in the 2 lap race and the parlauf, while David will be representing the County in the 4 x 1 lap relay, standing long jump and circuit relay. At under 15 level, Stephen has been selected for the 4 lap race, triple jump, speed bounce and the parlauf relay. Kayla Farran will race over 4 laps and the parlauf relay as well as competing in the vertical jump and the shot putt.

Up-Coming Events

The annual Club presentation night for post-primary and senior athletes will take place on Friday 13th March at 8.00 pm in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana. Training for all juveniles in the Buncrana area continues this Wednesday at the Leisure Centre from 7.00 – 8.00 pm. The Fit for Life and senior training continues every Tuesday from the Buncrana Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Athletics training for 8-12 year old juveniles continues this Thursday in Carndonagh Community School from 5.00 – 6.00 pm. Training for post-primary school athletes takes place every Thursday also in Carndonagh Community School from 3.20-4.45. See www.inishowenac.com for more details.