Posted Date: 28-Feb-2008 Thurs

Karol Doherty and Helean Crossan were the overall athlete of the year award winners at the third annual Inishowen A.C. presentation night held in the Lake of Shadows Hotel in Buncrana on Friday evening last. Regional development officer for athletics Eamon Harvey and his wife Jackie were the special guests for the evening. Karol Doherty had an outstanding year by taking gold in the wheelchair section of the national ½ marathon in 72 minutes last September and went on to finish fourth overall and second Irish finisher in the Dublin City marathon in October. He also won the Waterside ½ marathon and set a personal best of 17.46 for 5km. Crossan progressed to ultra-distance running and made a sensational competitive debut by taking the women’s title at the Connamara ultra-marathon last April and finishing fourth overall. This performance earned her selection for the World 100k championships in Holland last September where she set an Irish record of 7 hours 52 minutes and 20 seconds when finishing tenth overall and winning a bronze medal in the V2 masters section. Helena capped off a memorable years by finishing second in the World 50-mile trail run in Texas in December. In the juvenile section Kayla Farren was the overall female winner. The Ballyliffin athlete earned the award for her performances at sportshall, cross-country and track & field. She was a member of the County sportshall team that qualified for the Ulster finals and finished fourth in both the County U 15 and U 16 cross-country championships. Urris teenager Stephen Friel was the overall juvenile male winner for performances that included qualification for the Ulster Schools track & field finals over 800m in a personal best of 2.18.9, selection on the County sportshall team, ran the anchor leg for Donegal at the National cross-country relays in Killybegs last January, helping the team to silver medals and for representing Donegal at the National Community Games Finals in Mosney last September. Other juvenile winners included Rodger Griffin (most dedicated), James Griffin (most improved), Caroline Kelly (female cross-country athlete), Stephen Devlin (male cross-country athlete), Kayla Farren (female track athlete), Kieran Devlin (male track athlete). The team performance went to the boys U 16 team that finished third in the County cross-country championships. The team included Stephen Friel, Stephen Devlin, James Griffin, Enda Mc Daid and Rodger Griffin. Recipients of special merit awards were Kayla Farren, Stephen Friel, Caroline Kelly, Conor Collins and Kieran Devlin. All juvenile athletes were presented with a medal for their contribution to the Club throughout the year.
Senior prize winners included John Collins and Bridget Moohan (most improved), Theresa Doherty and Patrick Doherty (road athletes of the year). The team performance went to the senior ladies who won silver medals at the County 5k road championships. The team included Helena Crossan, Bridget Moohan, Theresa Doherty and Katrina Ruddy. Club person of the year was awarded to Kathleen Furlong. Winners of special merit awards included Owenie McKinney, Donal O’ Doherty, Noel Doherty, Peter White, Patrick Mc Laughlin, Aoife Logan, Chantal Busek, Seamus Mc Daid, and Anna Doherty.