Where do you start, I suppose the only place possible, thanking all involved in the club – behind the scenes on committees etc for their commitment and hard work bringing events to fruition, the coaches who give selflessly of their time volunteering to bring the love of running to new generations, the parents who encourage and bring their your athletes to training and races throughout the year and then most importantly the athletes themselves – these energetic, sprightly, red & white cloaked ambassadors for Ennis Track who turn up week after week, train, make friends, get fit and healthy, form teams and run for their club, county, province and country. Thank you each and every one.
Here are just some of the 2018 Highlights, a mighty year, a great way to welcome 2019.
JANUARY
Mairtin Glynn and Dee Grady winning the last of the Clare Athletics Winter series in Tulla
In the Juvenile Pentathlon Ava Rochford took Gold setting a new Munster High Jump record on the way
Well done to Laura Healy and Mark Hanrahan who ran for Ireland at the Celtic Cross Country yesterday in Antri
Jo Keane wins the All Ireland Junior 1500 m in Junior Women in Athlone
Meanwhile in the Clare AAI Indoors in Nenagh Ennis Track took 21 Gold, 17 Silver & 13 Bronze
FEBRUARY
Damien Landers and Rory Chesser finished 2nd and 3rd in the AAI Games! Meanwhile abroad Niamh Markham won an 800m meet in the U.S. in a time of 2:12.265. Kevin Mulcaire ran a very quick 8m.06 secs for 3k indoors. Cross country season finished on a high with Ennis Track winning Best All Ireland B cross Country Club 2017.
Avril Lillis and Ellen Mannion who won Gold & Bronze at Munster Indoors U14 800m
MARCH
Damien Landers won the varsity XC title running for NUIG ! Our Masters athletes representing the club at the All Ireland Indoor Championships in AIT with coach Gerry Hayes. Rory Chesser and Becky Coughlan who won the first individual titles!
All Ireland Success for some of our athletes representing their schools in the Irish Schools Athletics Championships. Aisling Healy coming 6th in the Minor Girls 2000 for St. Flannans. Dylan Casey came 1st in 13:28 followed by Dean Casey in 2nd in 13:29.
Picture from the Munster Athletics Award Night Ailbhe Doherty received an award for Track & Field. Donal Devane collected his award for his achievements in the Juvenile Cross Country. Marie Roche & Ger Casey collected the award on behalf of Ennis Track for best Juvenile Cross Country Award
Super Day for the Ennis 10k & Kids 2k -Well done to Rory Chesser and to Becky Coughlan who won the 10k!
Ben Deasy wins the under 18 800m all Ireland title in athlone
Meanwhile abroad our athletes continue their success Niamh Markham who ran 4.31 for 1500m and Kevin Mulcaire who ran 14.05 for 5k!
APRIL
Started with some of our athletes training in Portugal and kept us up to date with their training and stories.
A great day was had in Munster 4 mile in Cork Women’s O35 team 1st, Women’s senior team 2nd, Women’s Novice team 3rd, Ann Marie Connellan 2nd 0/40. Team made up of Ann marie Connellan, Becky Coughlan, Zelma Power and Mary Cahill. Pat Morrissey 2nd 0/55. Sean Whelan 6th 0/65.
More great running from Niamh Markham running for Bradley with a new PB Of 2.12.45 for 800m! She now owns the 7th fastest mark in school history
Our Sports Day on Sunday April 29th was a very successful day and great fun was had by all ages, we had clubs from Connaught, Leinster and Munster on top of great support from local Clare clubs .
MAY
James and Ava Rochford won their age group events at the Munster Outdoor Combined events. Ava set a new Munster High jump record and combined events points record! Ruth Leyden too set a new PB.
Our senior men’s team of Darragh Lynch, Kevin Chesser, Rory Chesser and Patrick Chesser finished 6th at the National Road Relays Championship! The “B” team of James Whelan, Ben Deasy, Conor Devane and Bakhit Khamis who finished 20th in a very competitive race!
Jo Keane won the Junior 400m at the Munster Track and field and James Whelan took a sliver in the junior 5k!
Clare Awards Night
Cathal Dennehy wrote a great piece about Kevin Mulcaire in “Loneliness of the long distance runner..”https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/athletics/loneliness-of-the-long-distance-runner-all-too-real-for-mulcaire-in-injury-trauma-36832604.html?fbclid=IwAR3jBVHCUXMFgez6UbRzNbAbSKJTGug17BmnQGCDq-UF9J3zYeTB43DP_FI
Jo Keane and Rory Chesser win the “Barry Coughlan” memorial titles
Another great run and PB for Kevin Mulcaire in the mens 1500 m Final with a time of 3:46
Jo Keane won the 800 at IMC! Rory Chesser was 14:40 for the 5k! Ben Deasy was 1:55 for 800, with Kevin Chesser 4:01 and Conor Devane 4:10 in the men’s 1500m!
Cathal Crosbie after a sensational run today at the Leevale Sports!
Ava Rochford unoffically set a new record of 1.65m breaking the U16 Girls National High Jump record of 1.62m. An incredible leap. Then in Morton Stadium Ava Rochford set a new Girls U14 Irish High Jump Record of 1m 63 and a new record combined events total on her way to winning the U14 National Combined Events
Some of our athletes competed in the National Community Games held in UL last weekend, Mark Hanrahan won individual Silver in the 7k Boys marathon.
JUNE
There was some fantastic performances by our athletes at the Munster Senior & Masters T&F Championships at Castleisland
Rory Chesser wins the Munster 800 with Damien Landers 2nd! Rory later won the steeplechase! Ben Deasy won the 1500 with Damien 2nd! Conor Devane ran a PB in 15:55 a new PB! James Whelan another superb Pb in 16:43
First results from the IMC today where James Whelan wins the 3k “B” race in 9:35!