National 100m sprint champion, Jonathan Holmes, ended his track season on a high with a personal best performance in Heat 3 of The Diamond League in Brussels on Friday night.
Holmes who finished fourth in his heat with a PB of 10.60 seconds greatly impressed clubmate, Brian Maher and club coaches Enda Keane and Conor McGabhan who were there in support. Jonathan’s dedication to training continues to bring results.
When he won the national seniors in 10.71 in July he could have been tempted to take a break for the rest of the season. Instead, at considerable personal expense, he pursued his dream and travelled for international competition first to Amsterdam where he clocked 10.62 seconds and then this weekend at The Van Damme meet he brought his time down to 10.60. The future seems bright for this twenty-one year old athlete.
Kennedy’s earn gold in Navan
It was a case of double gold for the Kennedy family from the Gowran athletic club at the Leinster Penthatlon finals in Navan on Sunday.
First Rebecca won gold in the under 14 event and Rose followed up with another gold in the under 16 event. Sinead McDonagh, KCH and a regular participant in the multi events, improved on her previous years points score to win silver. Austin Lee, St Joseph’s, won gold in the senior men’s competition and Ann Doyle, Gowran, was second in the senior women’s.
Gowran athletes show well in Rockford
A number of athletes from the Gowran club put in impressive performances at the Rockford Roof Tiles annual four mile on Saturday.
John Murphy was first junior home in 21 minutes 21 seconds and Shawn McCormack was fourth in 23 minutes 55 seconds. Paul Deegan was first home in the over forty section and 12th overall. Other club athletes to show well were veterans Denis Cormack and Mick Walsh. In a junior mile, run in conjunction with the main event, the club had third, 10th and 26th respectively with Cormac Buggy, Ruth Kennedy and Sean Grace.
Cody wins Rusty Scanlon
Some sixty plus runners went to the start for the annual Rusty Scanlon 10K which was run on the Grovine/Waterford Road course in ideal conditions on Friday night.
First in for the men was Paul Cody, KCH, who had to fend off a strong finishing challenge from Robbie McGee, Gowran. Tony Kenny was third and another Gowran man, Jimmy Barcoe, took fourth place. KCH had Paul Moran, Johann Dewberry and Seamus Murphy finishing in quick succession in 5th, 6th and 7th places respectively. Clonmel athletes Angela McCann and Keeley Tideswell scored first and third for the ladies with local athlete Niamh Richardson taking second place.
Time for coaching
Now is an opportune time for club volunteers to upskill in preparation for the coming season. It is opportune in two respects. Firstly because Athletics Ireland are hosting a Level 1 Coaching Course at The Watershed/Scanlon Park over the next two weekends.
Secondly because there will be immediate urgent demand for skilled coaches as athletes return to training following the summer recess. This course is suitable for coaches who have completed Athletics Leader or have considerable experience as a volunteer coach. Full information is available through the clubs or directly from Athletics Ireland.
Fixtures:
September 5: National Half Marathon, Crettyard, Co Laois.
September 10/11: Second weekend of Level 1 Coaching Course.
September 12: Co Kilkenny Road Championships (Men10m, Ladies 5M ), Gowran, 11.00am.
September 18: KCH Junior Ladies in European Club Championships in Italy.
September 19: Kilkenny Half Marathon and 10K.
September 26: St Senan’s open Cross-country.
