Adrian O’Dwyer, Kilkenny City Harriers (KCH ), made a welcome return to competition at the senior indoor competition in The Odyssey Arena in Belfast at the weekend. Bowing out with a silver medal, having cleared 2.10m, will not have had him jumping for joy.
However after a couple of injury ridden years it is not a bad base from which he can attempt to rebuild his athletic career. Silver medals were also won by former KCH athletes, John Fagan and Ciara Everard. John, now with Clonliffe Harriers, took second place in the 60m hurdles. Ciara, on a sports scholarship at UCD and now running in the college colours, finished second in the 800m.
There were some good performances from a number of other Kilkenny athletes. Fiona Dennehy, St Senan’s, finished sixth in the 3K walk; Eoin Muldowney, Castlecomer, had a fourth place in his 200m final; Jonathan Holmes, KCH, qualified out of the 60m heats but failed to get out of the semi’s; and Austin Lee, St Joseph’s came 5th in the final of the 60m hurdles.
A good day for the juveniles
The under eights got the proceedings off to a lively start in Bramblestown, Gowran over the weekend. For the girls Aine McDonald, St Joseph’s was first home. She was followed in by Sorcha Kelly and Maeve Richardson, both Kilkenny City Harriers with Danielle Griffin, St Joseph’s, fourth.
The medals in the boys under eight went in all directions; St Senan’s had the winner with Liam Lacey. Brian Holland, Castlecomer was second. Aidan Lawlor, St Joseph’s was third with Ger Power, Thomastown, taking the fourth spot. Then there followed some great battles in the relays. St Joseph’s came out on top with three wins – boys under 10, girls under 12 and girls under14. Gowran and Thomastown shared the spoils with Gowran winning the boys under 12 and under 16 and Thomastown having victories in the girls under 10 and girls’ under16. Aughavillar with a quality team took first place in the boys under 14. An open 1500m for the under 17s brought the juvenile programme to an end. Thomastown’s Laura Walpole had an easy win in the girls’ race. In the more competitive boys race Gowran’s Seppi Lysath and Ben Lahart won gold and silver respectively. The bronze went to Liam O’Shea, Thomastown with Jack Brennan, Castlecomer, occupying the fourth spot.
KCH ladies enjoy great success at Gowran
It was a case of first, second and third for the ladies from Kilkenny City Harriers in the County Intermediate cross-country championships at Bramblestown, Gowran on Sunday.
Eilish Cantwell, who showed good form in the county seniors before Christmas was first across the finish line with newcomers Roseanna Murphy and Caoilte Malone second and third respectively. St Joseph’s had Shauna Power in fourth and Tracy Malone in fifth.
