Athletes with their families and friends, club coaches and officials, gathered at Gowran Park Racecourse on Friday night last. It wasn’t to run or train but to enjoy the cuisine and ambience of the racecourse restaurant while celebrating another very successful year for athletics in the county.
County chairman, Denis Cormack, welcomed all the guests and thanked the athletes and coaches for their commitment and achievements. For the St Joseph’s club, who collected no fewer than nine club awards, 2009 was a particularly successful year. In track and field they won the senior cup. But it was in cross-country that the club was particularly dominant, winning the Novice Ladies Shield, Senior Ladies Cup, Intermediate Men’s Shield, the Men’s Shields in Over 35s, Over 40s, Over 45s and not surprisingly the overall Cross-country Cup. The club also took home the Race Walking Shield. Gowran were presented with the Novice Men’s Cup and the Senior Men’s Shield. Thomastown received the Senior Ladies Cup and the Intermediate Ladies Shield. St Senan’s won the Juvenile Cross-country Shield. Kilkenny City Harriers won the Juvenile Track and Field Shield.
Following a year in which many athletes from the county excelled, not only at county level but also in provincial and national championships, there was strong competition and many nominations for the individual awards. The resulting winners were as follows:- Senior Track and Field, Austin Lee, St Joseph’s; Senior Cross-country, Brian Maher, Kilkenny City Harriers; Juvenile Track and Field, Paul Manning, St Joseph’s; Juvenile Cross-country, Mary Ellen Doyle, Gowran; Junior Athlete of The Year, Eoin Muldowney, Castlecomer. Eoin also received the Eamon Costelloe Shield. The Masters Awards went to Verena Fenlon, St Joseph’s. Mary Kate Lanigan, Kilkenny City Harriers received the International Athlete Award and the Race Walking Award went to Fiona Dennehy, St Senan’s.
The citations were read by county secretary, Margaret Dillon. The presentations were made by county chairman, Denis Cormack, assisted by county treasurer, Sean Kelly.
