Cork Athletics International Awards 2015

The Annual Cork Athletics International Awards Night was held in the River Lee Hotel, Cork, on Friday, January 23rd 2015.

International Awards

Nominee	Phot0
Kathleen O'Brien    St  Catherine's AC Kathleen O'Brien (St  Catherine's AC) has represented her country many times and she was a member of the Irish Team that won Team Silver in the British and Irish Master Cross Country International Championships in Nottingham in December 2014. She has participated in many road races during the year and won her category (065) in the Cork Mini Marathon 2014.
Mary Sweeney....St. Finbarr's A.C. Mary Sweeney - Mary has won numerous events during a long and industrious career. In November 2014 she was a member of the Irish team at the Home Countries International Cross Country in Nottingham.
Eamonn McEvoy    St.Finbarr's A.C. Eamonn McEvoy - Eamonn has had a long career in athletics and is currently the chairman of St. Finbarr's A.C. He was a member of the men's over-60 team that won bronze medals at the Home Countries International Cross Country in Nottingham in November 2014.
Angela McEvoy    St. Finbarr's A.C. Angela McEvoy - Angela is one of St.Finbarr's most experienced athletes and has represented Cork on many occasions. In November 2014 she represented Ireland at the Masters International Cross Country in Nottingham.
Patrick McSweeney    Bandon A.C. Patrick McSweeney was part of the Irish Universities team who competed against the Scottish Universities . Patricks events are the shot and hammer
Phil Healy    Bandon A.C. Phil Healy 100,  200 and 4x100m   European seniors track and field in Zurich where she was part of Irish team that broke the irish record in the 4 x 100m relay Phil ran in the indivual 100m. Was also on the senior team for the Europa Cup .
Roisin Howard, Bandon AC Roisin Howard was part of the irish universities team who competed against Scottish Universities in Scotland where she did the 100m and 100m hurdles. Roisin also took part in the multi events in England during the year
Carmel Parnell    Leevale A.C. The British and Irish Masters Cross Country International was held in Wollaton Park in Nottingham on Saturday the 22nd of Nov 2014. The biggest success of the day was that of the Irish women's F55 team who took gold in that category. The Irish F55 team was led home by Leevale's Carmel Parnell. This was Caramel's fifth successive ti¬tle in the F55 age group with a time of 23:26. An amazing achievement by any standard.
Niamh Murphy. Blarney/Inniscarra A.C. Niamh represented Irish universities in Scotland last year where she was 2nd in both Shot and Discus. Niamh won the U/23 indoor shot, and was 2nd outdoor. She was 2nd in indoors seniors, where she set a PB 13.20 She set a PB in the Discus at the AAI games.  Niamh is studying in U S A at present.
Maureen Glanton Skibbereen AC World Masters Athletics Championships Budapest March 2014 Discus: 4th Place in Discus, lying in 3rd until last round then pipped at the post by 10 cms. She also finished in 8th place in the Hammer.
Orla Barry, Leevale A.C. Orla Barry became the third Irish athlete to receive a medal at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea in August when she claimed silver in the F57 discus. The 24 year old Leevale athlete threw a SB of 28.13m.
Frank Hayes    St. Catherine's A.C. East Cork AC would like to nominate Frank Hayes for one of the county board International Awards. In November Frank was a silver medal winner on the Irish Mens over 45 team that competed in the British and Irish Master International cross Country race in Nottingham.
John Collins, Leevale A.C. John represented Ireland in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International which were held in Wollaton Park Nottingham on Saturday the 22nd of Nov 2014
Mark Hanrahan.. .Leevale A.C. Mark finished second in the Intercounty Cross Country Championships gaining automatic selection for the Irish team for the European Cross Country Championships. He ran a strong race in Bulgaria and is in great condition heading into 2015.
Michelle Finn....Leevale A.C. Michelle Finn has been going from strength to strength since returning to Leevale from the US. Michelle fin¬ished second in the Intercounty Cross Country Champi¬onships and secured selection for the Irish team traveling to the European Championships. Michelle ran a superb race in Bulgaria finishing 23rd and was scoring member of the Irish Senior Women's team that finished 3rd place in the team contest.
Rhona Pierce    Leevale A.C. Having finished 3rd in the Intercounty cross-country Championships and lead the Leevale team to victory Rhona achieved selection for the Junior team travelling to the European Cross Country Championship. In the snow of Bulgaria Rhona ran a superb race to finish 43rd overall. A great achievement from an athlete who will be junior for three more seasons.
Robert Heffernan    Togher A.C. Robs year didn't get off to the start he had planned in the Europeans with him having to pull up in the 50k walk. Things started to look up for him as he was rewarded with a bronze medal from the Europeans in 2010. Rob also went to China for a week or two to race in one of the biggest race walking meets around and he along with his team mates finished a great 4th place. Rob and his wife Marion were also presented with a life time membership of their club Togher Athletic Club.
Ciaran O'Lionard    Leevale A.C. Ciaran came home to tackle the national 1500m title and in doing so qualified for European T&F Championships in Zurich. Having comfortably qualified for the final he was looking strong & comfortable until a trip from behind finished his race. He has since recovered well and is training hard in preparation for the European Indoor Championships.
Luke Hickey...Leevale A.C. Luke further honed his race walking skills in 2014 competing in with the Irish ream in China & UK. Luke subsequently finish 3rd in the British Grand Prix race in York
Pat Moore    LeevaleA.C. Once again Pat Moore represented Ireland at the British Masters T&F Championships winning the javelin competition, just one week after helping Leevale men win the National League Title.

Awards for Aspiring Athletes

Nominee	Photo
Scott Gibson    Bandon A.C. U-18 Scott has really made the 400m his own. Early in the year at the Nat Juv Indoor Champs he was 3rd.He won the 400m at both the Munster & All Ireland Schools Championships. His time at the All Irelands was a very impressive 49.19. At the Munster Juv T&F C'ships he won the U18 400m in a CBP 49.72 & he was also 1st in 200m. In Sept 2014 Scott was a member of the Bandon Jnr Mens team that represented Ireland in the European Clubs Championships in Leiria, Portugal where he won the 400m
Bobby Smith    Bandon A.C U-19 Bobby is a very prominent Javelin competitor in all age categories in recent years, In 2014 he won the Nat Jnr, the Co Senior, Munster Juv & Munster Junior Javelin competitions. He was also 2nd at the munster Schools & All Ireland Schools Championships. He too was part of the Bandon Jnr Mens team that represented Ireland in Portugal.
Brandon Arrey    B.I.A.C. U-19 Brandon has excelled at 400m & 400H in recent years. His performances in the past year have proven this. At the Munster Jnr Indoor C'ships he was 2nd in the 400m & 5th in the 200m. He then went on to win both the Munster Schools & All Ireland Schools 400H, & was also 3rd in the Munster Schools 400m. At the Munster Jnr T&F Championships he was 2nd in the 400m & 3rd in the 200m,
Tom Deasy    Belgooley A.C. U-17 Tom took gold in the Munster Juv Indoors High Jump & Long Jump & bronze in the Javelin. At the Munster Schools he was 1st in the Triple Jump & 2nd in the High Jump, & went on to take silver in the All Ireland Schools High Jump. At our County Championships he won the Long Jump & was 3rd in the Javelin. Then at the munster juvenile championships he took gold in the High Jump & triple jump, silver in the long jump & bronze in the 100H, He then went to the National Juvenile Championships & won the Long Jump, High Jump, & was 4th in the Triple Jump He also competed at the Munster Senior T&F champs where he was 3ld in both the High Jump & Triple Jump.
Grace McKenzie....Belgooley A.C. U-19 Great to see Grace back to full health & competing at all of our championships in so many different disciplines. At the Munster Jnr Indoors she won the 60H & Long Jump & was 2nd in the High Jump.She then went on to the Nat Indoor C'ships where she took gold in the Long & high jumps & was 2nd in the 60H. At the Munster Jnr T&F she was 2nd in the High Jump & Javelin, & 3 rd in the Long Jump & Shot. She took gold at the Munster Schools in the High & Long Jumps & got bronze for the High Jump at the Nat Schools. At the Munster Juv T&F C'ships she secured 5 gold medals- 100H, LJ, Shot, Javelin & HJ with CBP in HJ 1.70m. However she went 1 better at our County Juvenile Champs where she got 6 Golds! LJ, 100H, 200m, Javelin, HJ & Shot. At the AAI Juv T&F Champs silver in Long Jump, High Jump & 100H. And gold at the AAI Jnr T&F Champs in High Jump, clearing 1.68m, in the Juvenile Champs where she got 6 Golds! LJ, 100H, 200m, Javelin, HJ & Shot. At the AAI Juv T&F Champs silver in Long Jump, High Jump & 100H. And gold at the AAI Jnr T&F Champs in High Jump, clearing 1.68m.
Fearghal Curtin, Youghal A.C. U-17 At the Celtic Cross Country International in Antrim on 4/1/14 Fearghal had a great run to win the boys ul7 race and in doing so led the Irish team to gold. At the Munster Schools X-Country he was 1st in the Inter Boys 5K, & finished 7th at that same distance at the All Ireland Schools X-Country later in the year. He then competed in the Munster Jnr T&F Champs & was 2nd in the 1500m. At both the Munster Schools & the All Ireland Schools T&F 3K he took the silver medal. He won the 800m & 1500m at the Munster Juv T&F C'Ships. At the 2014 Munster Juvenile X-country he was 1st U18 & 3rd U17 & on both occasions helped the Cork team to secure the Gold medal.
Jack Murphy    Leevale AC In 2014 Jack focused on sprints & hurdles in order to improve his hurdling technique & times. This paid divi¬dends as he won Gold in the sprint hurdles at the schools international in Cardiff.
David Cussen....Old Abbey A.C. U-18 2014 was a very busy year for David starting off with the Munster Jnr Indoors where he took silver in both the High Jump & Long Jump. Next up were the Munster Juv Indoor Championships where he won the High Jump in a new CBP of 2.04, & he was also 2nd in the Long Jump. At the AAI Indoor Juvenile Champs David got gold in the High Jump & silver in the Long Jump. H was also 2nd in the High Jump at the AAI Senior Indoor Championships. To the T&F Competition, he took gold at the Munster Schools & silver at the All Ireland Schools in the High Jump. At the Munster Juv T&F C'ships again he was 1st with a CBP 2.07m. & at the AAI Juv T&F Champs he took gold in the High Jump.
Diarmuid Clancy, Abbey Striders U-16 Co Juv T&F champs HJ 1st, 2nd 250H Munster Juv T&F C'ships HJ 2nd, & 4th in the 250H AAI Juv T&F Champs 250H 3rd
Laura Cussen    Old Abbey A.C. U-17 Laura too has had a busy year starting off at the Munster Jnr Indoors where she came 2nd Long Jump & 3rd in the Pole Vault. At the Munster Juv Indoors she won the 60H & was 2nd in the Long Jump. Then to the outdoors where she competed in the munster Junior Championships & got silver in the Pole Vault. At the Munster Schools she won the High Jump & was 3rd in the Pole Vault, & at the All Ire Schools she took bronze at the Pole Vault & just missed out on the medals coming 4th in the High Jump. At the Co Championships she was 1st in the High Jump & the Pole Vault. At Munster level she was 1 st in the high jump & 3rd in the Pole Vault. At the AAI Juvenile Championships she secured a silver medal in the High Jump, & finally at the AAI Jnr T&F Champs she got silver in the Pole vault.
Promise Okafar    Bandon a.c,.... U-19 Yet another Bandon Athlete to come to or attention in this past year, Promise won the 100m at the Co Juv Champs. He was 2nd at the Co Seniors in 200m. At the Munster Juv T&F C'ships he took gold in the 200m, silver in the Long Jump & Triple Jump & bronze in the 100m sprint. Then at the National Juvenile Championships he was 1st in the Triple Jump & 3 rd in the Long Jump. & at the Munster Schools he took bronze in the Long Jump.
Lauren O'Mahony    Youghal A.C. U-17 Lauren competed at both Junior & Juvenile level in 2014 & has a fine cache of medals to her credit. At the Munster Juv Indoors she got 3rd in the shot. Gold in the Javelin at the Munster Junior Champs & also at the Munster Schools Championships. And at the All Ireland Scolols she came away wiyth the Silver medal in the Javelin. At the Munster Juv T&F C'ships she had 3 different coloured medals, Gold for Javelin, Silver for Shot Putt & Bronze for Discus. & at the Co Championships she won the Javelin & came 2nd in both the Discus & the Hammer.
Luke Horgan    Leevale A.C. Luke gained two caps in 2014, he competed in the 1500m race at the Schools International Cardiff and was unfortunate to finish just outside the medals in a time of 3:59:01. He has also been elected on the Irish team to compete at the Celtic Cross Country in Cowpark, Dunboyne
Andre Christie, Leevale A.C. Andre competed in the Hammer at the schools International in Cardiff and threw a PB of 52,31. Andres talent and dedication ensures that he will progress far as a Hammer Thrower.
Aideen Hallahan....Midleton A.C. U-19 Munster Juv Indoors Shot 1st. Co Juv T&F Champs Hammer 1st & Javelin 2nd.
Maeve Ahern    Leevale A.C. Maeve gained two caps in 2014 when selected on the Irish team to compete at the Celtic games in Santry & the Celtic Cross Country in Cowpark, Dunboyne
Louise Shanahan, Leevale AC Louise represented Ireland in the 800m at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing. Louise ran a phenomenal PB of 2:08.29 to finish 6th in the A Final of the 800m. 6th in the world in her age category is a superb result for Louise.
Charlie O'Donovan, Leevale AC Charlie gained two caps in 2014 when selected on the Irish team to compete at the Celtic games in Santry & the Celtic Cross Country in Cowpark, Dunboyne
Sam Healy    Leevale AC At the Al Junior Championships held in CIT; Sam achieved the 100m Hurdle qualifying standard for the World Junior Championships

Special Award

Nominee

Photo

John Walshe Ireland's First Road Race Calibration Course The first ever calibration course in Ireland was laid down, in Kilmacahill, Ballycotton, on Jan 1st 1978, prior to the First Ballycotton 10.  The course is on the straight, just before the 6M mark in the Ballycotton 10. It was laid down by East Cork's John Walshe, assisted by Dan Donovan.  The course was a half mile long and the device used was a Veeder Rootes counter, supplied by John Jewell, the world famous pioneer of course measurement. In 1988, John acquired a Jones Counter from New York Road Runners (NYRR), at a cost of $35 = £23.74, or €30.15 in today's terms - current cost of a Jones Counter is approx. €160 .....the rest is history!   John Walshe has been measuring courses for almost 40 years and has earned the thanks, appreciation and, in particular, the respect not only of everyone in the Cork running community but far beyond the county bounds and even these shores. John’s pioneering work, and his penchant for accuracy, has inspired many others.  We now have, in all, thirteen AAI certified measurers in Cork. Athletics Ireland has decided to formally certify all measurers throughout the country.  In recognition of his pioneering measurement work and his decades of service, John Walshe is honoured with Athletics Ireland’s first Measurer’s Certificate – Certificate No. 1

John Buckley Sports Graded Track and Field League 2014

Pos	Nominee	Club	Points	Photo
1	Carol Finn	Leevale AC	27.4
2	Martina Kiely	St Finbarr's AC	27.03
3	Peter Hanrahan	Togher AC	25.57
4	Dan Colbert	Midleton AC	25.36
5	Colm Sheehan	Leevale AC	24.97
6	James McCarthy	East Cork AC	24.53
7	Denis Coughlan	St Finbarr's AC	23.70
8	Michael Harty	East Cork AC	23.59
9	Mark O'Sullivan	Bandon AC	23.45
10	Danny Allen	Bandon AC	23.36

Pos	Nominee	Points	Event	Performance	Photo
1	Claire McSweeney	9.2	400m	58.76
2	David Cussen	9.17	HJ	2.05m
3	Martina Kiely	8.94	1500m	4:41.73
4	Sinead O'Connor	9.18	3000m	9:58.85
5	Martina Kiely	9.28	1500m	4:36.85
6	Conor Walter	9.76	800m	1:51.90