Craughwell AC make the journey to Portugal this weekend to compete at the forthcoming European Athletics U20 Club Track and Field Championships in Leiria, Portugal, on Saturday.
It will be a historic weekend for the growing club, making its first foray into European competition. Team management, Michael Tobin, captain Laura Cunningham, and Aisling Keady, are confident of a strong showing.
Qualification for the Champions Cup was achieved by the club’s U20 women’s team when they topped the leaderboard in the Irish U20 Championships held last year. The club will be pitted against the top clubs from Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia.
The athletes will compete across a range of 19 track & field disciplines comprising 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 100 hurdles, 400m hurdles, 2000m steeplechase, long jump, high jump, pole vault, triple jump, shot putt, discus, javelin, hammer, and two relays, 4x100m and 4x400m.
European Masters Athletics
Medal success for Jim Phelan was among the highlights for Galway athletes at the European Masters Track and Field competition which concluded last weekend after 12 days of competition in Italy's Venice area.
The hugely talented sprinter, Phelan of GCH secured two European medals in the relay events, first anchoring the Irish 4x100m M40 team to European bronze medals, and setting a new national record of 45.38 in the process. On Sunday in the 4x400m relay, Phelan and the Irish squad went one better to win silver medals with the O40 team.
Sean McDermott of Castlegar AC enjoyed a good championship, placing 11th in the men’s 800m at O45 level, and clocking a 1:22 in the half marathon on the road in very hot conditions.
In the field, Tommy Farragher of Corofin AC placed eighth in the throw pentathlon, incorporating five events.
Cross country season
Castlegar AC Cross Country: The local cross-country season kicks off this weekend, with Castlegar AC hosting its annual cross-country event for juvenile and adults ages on Saturday. The events will be held at Merlin Woods city park at Doughiska and will start at 12 noon. The programme includes cross country relays for U8 to U16 age groups and an adult mixed relay, all over 4x500m laps; a 2km open event, and the two main adult events of the day, the women's 4km and the men’s 6km. These adult races will incorporate the Galway Novice Cross Country Championships.
Athletics Training: Galway City Harriers’ Fit for Life next beginners group for those wishing to start running takes place om Thursday evening, September 19 at 7pm from its HQ at Westside Library. There will be an introductory talk by programme leader Bernie Kelly, followed by a short session.
