Report and Results of 1985 Southern Region Track and Field Championships

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Southern Region T&F Championships 1985

Mardyke, Cork,

Sunday June 9th 1985

Big breakthrough for Garret Barry — Great 800m from Valerie O'Mahoney

 
Marathon Magazine Cork City Sports Special 1985

Valerie O'Mahony

I'm not sure what it has been like in the rest of the country but all major races down south this year seem to be plagued by atrocious weather. The Southern Region Championships on June the 9th - one of the few major events at the Mardyke - was another miserable unseasonable day but as has been the trend during the past couple of seasons some excellent performances and competition have been the order of the day.

 The 800 metres provided the first really bright spark early in the programme. Brian Malone from Waterford created a mild surprise when he outsprinted a more fancied Ray Shanahan with junior Ian Bolger 3rd. Waterford are really producing the goods in the sprints up to 800m and that was reflected in victories for Pat Flanagan, 100 & 200. Kieran Leahy scored a fine victory over Kieran Finn in 48.7.

B. Malone leads 800m from R. Shanahan

The trend was continued in the 400h. when D. Dower had a facile win from Aidan O'Regan, who had scored an exciting double the day before at the Irish schools, that superiority was reflected when Waterford won both the relays.

D. Dower, Waterford, wins 110m hurdles

The 1,500m was run at a pedestrian pace for the first 800m and Cormac O’Riordan had plenty in reserve at the finish to hold off Michael Kelleher.

C. O'Riordan heads T. Ryan

But on the track the most exciting event of the day was the 5,000m. After 3 laps John Linehan, Tony O'Leary and Garret Barry had broken clear. Then, with 4 laps to go, Tony O'Leary made what appeared to be the decisive move and opened up a lead of 150m, and it looked as if Garret Barry, running his first major race at the distance, must succumb to John Linehan. But Garret had other ideas. With a lap and a half to go, he broke away from the Kerryman and had closed to within 90m of O'Leary at the bell. Still, his case looked hopeless but he began to close the gap with every stride and in a furious finish he got up to pip the Leevale man for a sensational win, having covered the last lap in 57 secs.

North Cork winning trio: G. Sheehan (3000m, C. O'Riordan (1,500m) and G. Barry (5,000m)

It is good to see athletes their first year out of Junior making a breakthrough and this gave a great boost to his confidence, as he proved subsequently when he clocked 8:57 for the Steeplechase. That more than compensated for his disappointment of bieng ruled out of the National Trials.

P. Flanagan wins a close sprint finish

K. Leahy takes 400m from K. Finn

Big Breakthrough

Another man that must have gone away from the meet happy was Gerry Horgan of Killorglin, who has done trojan work to promote the sport at every level in South Kerry. Now he has received just reward for his dedication; he had an excellent throw of 44m.28, relegating the experienced Denis McSweeney to 2nd.

The strong of Munster

Pat Hartigan won the shot impressively from that other great Kerry field man, Pat O'Connor, who had ample compensation when winning his speciality — the Javelin — from Pat Moore, former national champion.

Gerry O'Connell of Marian had his expected 56lb. double. It was not a day for good jumping, still Joe Kennedy of Waterford had an excellent double in Long and Triple, while another of the O'Grady clan took the High once again to Nenagh.

Gerry O'Connell

Frank Leahy with Waterford spectators

Valerie and Kathleen Best

Highlight of the ladies' events was the 800m of Valerie O'Mahoney, and the treble of Kathleen Glavin.

Kathleen Glavin

These two fine athletes are just a few of the very talented group of Juveniles who have persisted with the sport and it was hearterning to see a former National Senior 400m champion, Mary Fleming, making a comeback to major competition when she finished 2nd to Sinead Behan in the 400m. Mary, now running in the Leevale colours, has the ability to really make it to the 'big time' again and I for one will have a keen interest in her future progress having coached her for 6 years in Midleton.
Conditions were really against 800m running but the way Valerie O'Mahony stuck to her task was very commendable in the circumstances, running a virtual solo 2.07.8 for a sfine new personal best. Catherine Hourihane was 2nd, and later won the 1,500m impressively.

Valerie o'Mahony leads Valerie Vaughan

Kathleen Glavin's treble came in the 100m, 100m hurdles and her speciality - the long jump. It is good to see her back again doing the hurdles, which will certainly help her long jump.

K. Glavin, S. Cobb M. Moroney

Fidelma Kirwan followed up her two good runs in Dublin with a good win in the 400m h. and the most impressive field eventer was Elaine Boland of Limerick.

Class action in ladies 400m hurdles

A lot of disatisfaction was expressed at the unavailability of basic equipment and for at least one man who travelled all the the way from Tramore for the Pole Vault, it was a wasted journey, and that is not good enough under any circumstances.

Declan O'Donoghue with Discus Throwers

S. Behan and M. Fleming battle in the 400m

Results

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