Athletic Report Four county league, round 1, Tinryland, Sunday 5th March The first round of the Four County League got off to a flying start in Tinryland on Sunday. The course was dry but a little rough in places particularly on the run in to the finish. The number of participants in all races was well up on last year and the quality of competition was good. The first race of the day was the junior boys’ race which was won by Robert O’Rourke of St Laurence O’Toole. Slaney Olympic’s Brian Murphy was a good 6th and Eugene Kehoe was 12th. Sinead Cummins of St Joseph’s won the ladies race conformably from Una O’Neill of Ballyfinn. Una was watched from the side line by her sister Ann Keenan Buckley who recently won the National Senior cross county. Ann Sullivan of DMP finished in third place. Ann had fought her way up to second but was caught by Una towards the finish. Catherine O’Connor of Slaney Olympic, after a slow start, made her way through the field to fifth place, but her lack of speed showed at the finish when she was passed by two athletes putting her into seventh place. Marie Furlong of United Striders was pleased with her run and finished in 20th place. Annis Kehoe of Slaney Olympic finished in 33rd place. Ann Sullivan is now leading the Vet 2 category and Catherine is leading the vet 1 group. Marie Furlong and Annis Kehoe are third in the vet 1 and vet 2 groups. Pat Byrne of Tinryland literally ran away with men’s race. No one had the pace to go with him and he finished well ahead of the rest of the field. Tommy Payne of Tinryland took second place with our own Tommy McElwaine of SBR in third. Tommy surprised everyone by continuing on for a further lap and still managed to finish a head of some of the competitors. Larry Stafford of DMP was the next Wexford man home in 6th place with Jim Stafford (Slaney Olympic) in eight place and Mark Clancy (DMP) in 10th. This was one of Mark’s best runs in recent times and be seems to be coming back into form again. In Division A there is a battle on between SBR and DMP who are only one point apart in the league table. Portlaoise lead the table. SBR are in fourth place with 75 points and DMP are one point behind with 76. Both teams will be eagerly awaiting the challenge over the next three rounds of the competition. Tommy McElwaine set his team up well with his fine third place. Tommy Jordan, just back from injury ran well to finish 12th. Aidan Doyle was 29th, Pat O’Neill was 31st and Joe O’Connor was 47th. DMP had Larry in 6th place, Mark in 10th, Michael Kehoe in 26th. Michael is now second in the vet 2 class. Richard Fortune was 34th, Eugene Reck was 37th and Dave Jordan was 42nd. Slaney Olympic lead Division B. Jim Stafford had a fine run taking 8th place. Mark Wickham, making a welcome return to athletics, ran excellently for his first race in over a year to finish 18th. Martin Qiurke was 44th and finally veteran athletes Jim Kehoe was 55th. In the vets category Tinryland lead with DMP in second place. Kilmore are in third and SBR in 6th place. Kevin Walshe was the main performer for the Kilmore team finishing in 23rd place. Kilmore also had Alan Lawlor in 50th, and Paul Foley in 76th place. SBR had Raymond Byrne in 38th, Raymond Kinsella in 58th, Don Redmond in 73rd and Billy Harpur in 78th. Ted Flannley of United Striders ran well as an individual finishing in 19th place. Slaney Olympic’s annual dinner was a great success last Saturday night. Dancing went on to the small hours and there were a few sore heads at training in Curracloe the following day. Mr Nicky Cowman, chairman of the county board, presented the county medals to athletes. There were two very special awards on the night. John Walker (Kilmore) was presented with the Ann O’Keeffe memorial cup for the best under 16 athlete in the county. The perpetual cup is presented in the memory of Ann O’Keeffe a member of Taghmon athletic club who tragically dies a few years ago. A new award, sponsored by Kehoe Fruit and Vegetables, was presented. This will be an annual perpetual trophy awarded to the person who has contributed the most to athletics in the county in the past. Mr Toddy Moore who recently retired as county secretary was a very popular and deserving winner of the trophy this year. Justin Browne of Slaney Olympic is exercising his athletic talents in the gym these days. He recently was second in the Ferrycarrig leisure club gym challenge. He goes on to the national superstars final in UCD in a few weeks time. Diary Saturday 11th Irish Schools Cross country, Dungarvan, 1pm Sat/Sun 18th/19th National Juvenile Indoors, Nenagh IAAF world championships Sunday 19th Four County League Ferns, 2pm Sat/Sun 25th/26th National Indoors u11/18 part 1, Nenagh Sunday 26th Ras na hEireann, Leopardstown Sunday 26th Ned Buggy Sports Novice and Veteran’s county road race, New Ross 2pm April Sat/Sun 1st/2nd National Juvenile 11/18 indoors part 2. Saturday 1st Nestle Schools international cc, Irvine Sunday 2nd Four County League, Gowran 2pm Wednesday 5th AAI juvenile relay c'ships, Nenagh Sunday 9th National road relays, Lisburn Thursday 13th County Board meeting, 8.15pm sharp, Crandonnell. Friday 14th Four County League, Tolerton, 7.30pm Sunday 16th Dublin 5 mile Classic road race, 3pm Friday 21st Testing in New Ross, Contact Mel Heynan Sunday 23rd Dunboyne 4 mile Road Race, 3.15pm Ned Buggy county senior road race, Ferns 2pm Monday 24th Crookestown/Millview Open Sports Sunday 30th Wexford Creamery County Track & Field, part 1, Kilmore
