Last weekend was the first weekend of two in the National Juvenile Indoor Championships in Nenagh.

Christine Campion, Celbridge AC ran the race of her life in the girls u14 60m Hurdles in which she became National Champion and took gold. Going into the final with the fastest time of all from the heats, it was obvious that a medal was hers but which colour? But Christine kept cool and won the race in 9.55 secs just outside the national record, with 3 metres to spare!

Sinead Lawler, Celbridge AC also ran the fastest of all in her heat of the u17 60m hurdles and looked set to claim a medal but unfortunately a stumble at the second hurdle saw her crashing out. However, disappointing as it was for Sinead she still came away with a bronze medal in the u17 60m sprint from the day before in which she ran a blistering 8.02 secs.. Sinead will travel to Magherafelt in Co. Derry next weekend where she will compete in the long jump.

Vivian Fleischer took part in the girls u15 long jump and got 7th with a jump of 4.70m. She also competed in the hurdles and just missed out on the final coming 10th. Robert Clarke u12 boys shot putt, in his first national competition indoors did very well and also came 10th. Well done to all.

Aoife Sheehy, u18 walk, Karen Gernon, u18 walk, Ronan Power u17 high jump, Aiden Moloney u18 800m and Brian Bottrill u18 long jump will join Sinead in the 2nd weekend of the championships in Magherafelt along with the u19 boys relay. Best of luck to all.

Please note that on Thursday next 26th March, Pat Ryan from AAI will be in attendance conducting special challenges set up by him at the start of the winter. Only athletes who have paid their membership fees can take part. If anybody wishes to pay their membership on the night this is acceptable. This is also the last night of indoor training. Both Tuesday and Thursday night from then on will be outside.

This weekend is the first weekend in the National Indoor Championships in Nenagh. On Saturday Sinead Lawler (u17)will compete in the 60m sprint and Robert Clarke (u12) will compete in the shot putt. Vincent Lam and Seye (u19)have also entered for the 60m. Sunday will see Sinead in action again in the 60m hurdles along with Christine Campion (u14), Vivian Fleischer (u15) and Darragh McGee(u17). Vivian will also take part in the u15 long jump. Shauna Minnock should also have taken part but an unfortunate accident resulting in a broken foot has ruled her out. We wish her a speedy recovery. All athletes have been training exceptionally hard over the past few weeks and we know they will do us proud. Good Luck to all.

April 19th Crookstown AC Open
April 25th First Leg of League Kilcock
April 26th MillBrook Cup - 6 mile cross country Punchestown

May 4th Leinster Novice & Masters Road Championships
May 9th Le Cheile AC 5k Road Race
May 10th Kildare Championships - Day 1 Celbridge
May 17th Kildare Championships - Day 2 Naas

June 6th Leinster Relays Kilkenny
June 7th Leinster Senior & Master Track & Field Tullamore
June 13th Leinster u9-u11 (team comp)
Leinster u12 -u13 Navan
June 20th Leinster u14 -u19 Tullamore
June 21st Leinster u14 -u19 Tullamore
June 27th National u9 -u11 (team comp) Templemore

July 11th Leinster Team Competition Navan
Jully 11th National u12 - u19 Tullamore
July 12th National u12 - u19 Tullamore
July 18th National u12 - u19 Tullamore
July 19th National u12 - u19 Tullamore

What a great weekend of sport: Ireland win the Grand Slam, Bernard Dunne wins a world boxing title and our Celbridge Athletic Club men’s masters won the title of Senior County Road Champions!

In the 50 year history of this race this was the first time that Celbridge AC entered a team. Celbridge AC over the years only catered for juveniles but a new Senior/Masters club was formed over the winter and we already have a lot of members of all abilities who take part in competitions. Our team on Sunday consisted of brothers Michael and Eamon Tynan and ‘fun’ runners Simon Walsh and Wally Moore.

The race was run in Kildare town over 10k and a very fancied Newbridge team set off very fast but unfortunately one of their members had to pull out of the race with an injury. This left the way for our ‘masters’ to race for home. Simon Walsh was first home in 6th place in a very respectable 43 minutes followed closely by Michael and Eamon Tynan and Wally Moore.

The lads were delighted with their win and even more delighted when they were presented with a perpetual cup.

Not to be outdone, Celbridge AC ladies also fielded a team. Their race was run over 3k and they also won silver medals behind St. Coca’s AC. Team members were Finola Moore, Sandra O’Connor and Mary Dwyer. Finola also won a silver medal for 2nd in her masters category and 3rd in the Intermediate section. Sandra and Mary took 2nd and 3rd respectively in their masters category.

The Byrne cup is presented to the club who won the most points at the juvenile indoor championships. Gold is 3 points, silver 2 points and bronze 1 point. Celbridge gained 37 points which put us in 7th place in Leinster, just behind Mullingar Harriers. That is a great result, the highest placing of all Kildare clubs. Imagine what place we would have got if all our athletes were able to compete! Well done to all athletes and coaches.

Day 1 and Day 2 of the National Indoor Championships will be held in Nenagh this year. Day 3 and 4 will be held in Magherafelt, Co. Derry. Please click on the link for timetable of events. http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=5894#more-5894

1.  We are joining in the St. Patrick’s parade again this year.  Full details will be given to athletes later.  Brendan Clarke is organising this. All athletes to assemble in Tesco car park at 3pm. Parade starts at 4 this year! Athletes asked to wear green, white and gold!

2.  Tesco are doing the school/club vouchers again.  If you shop in Tesco please ask for vouchers and give to Finola Moore or put in collection box which is in the changing room.  Last year we got shot putts, javelins and ladders.  As they say “Every little helps”!

A large number of athletes travelled to Nenagh over the weekend to take part in day 2 and day 3 of the indoor championships for u12 - u19.  Christine Campion was 1st in the girls u14 60m hurdles with Shauna Minnock 3rd.  Shauna also took silver in the girls u14 long jump with a big PB of 4.47m. Vivian Fleischer won silver in the u15 Long jump and 60m hurdles.  Christine, Shauna, Vivian together with Jessica McHugh were 3rd in the u15 relay. Aoife Sheehy also got 1st in the u18 walk with a PB as well and Karen Gernan got 2nd in the same event.  Sinead Lawler with a massive leap of 5.12m won the long jump u17 and took 2nd in the 60m.  Sinead won the 60m hurdles on day 1 of the indoors! Emily Longworth also got 3rd in the u19 long jump. Robert Clarke got 2nd in the boys u12 shot putt and Bryan Bottrill got the bronze medal in the long jump u18 with a jump of 5.70m.  The boys u19 of Paul Brady, Vincent Lam, Bryan Bottril and Conor Burke won the boys u19 4 x 200m relay. Many other athletes competed on the day and did PB’s but were outside the medals. These medal winners go on now to compete at the National Indoors.  Well done to all.                 RESULTS  HERE