Maher Sports recently came on board as Key Sponsor for Leevale Open Sports 2010. Marguerite Maher states, “we are delighted to support such a prestigious athletics event in the Cork region.”

Full results

Results for Leevale athletes:

See Twitter page for latest updates from Nenagh.

The purpose of the meeting is to give all parents information on:

• Club Coaching Structure
• Athlete progression through the club
• Details of training schedules
• Overview of competition season and what events juvenile athletes should participate in.

This will be followed by a question and answer session where we will try and answer any questions parents may have.

This event is being run by Ina Killeen (tel: 086-8591522)

Complementary teas and coffee will be available, so please come along.

The goal of the Fit4Life programme is to help you develop your fitness in a fun sociable environment. You can start at any age, no previous experience is required and you can choose a pace to your level of fitness.
The programme is suitable for beginners through to regular runners, and the emphasis is on meeting with people of a similar ability on a regular basis to walk or run.
We encourage everyone interested in getting fit, especially parents to come along and register.

How It Works
A qualified Fit4Life leader sets out a schedule suitable for your needs. The training nights feature group runs/walks, with each group composed of people with similar fitness levels.
These groups range in ability from complete beginners up to regular runners and they each train at an appropriate level. Clubs provide runners/walkers with items such as safety vests for night runs, gloves and running diaries. Just turn up on the night to register wearing runners and comfortable clothes.

Initially the Fit4Life programme will be held on Thursday nights with a view to increasing the frequency to two nights a week as fitness improves.
For further information please contact our Fit4Life coordinator Liam Horgan on 086 8297020 or at chairman@leevale.org. Click below for flyer.

The former World Indoor Champion has had a turbulent lead up to these championships, with a calf injury forcing her to miss weeks of pre-season training, followed by a bout of sickness which forced her out of the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham last weekend.

Her form had been steadily improving this season, culminating in a seasonal best of 8.00 seconds in Norway last week. This will be a huge disappointment for her, but we know she will bounce back as she now turns her attentions to the upcoming outdoor season, and the European Championships, which will be held in Barcelona this summer.

Amongst the highlights for Leevale athletes were a third place finish for Barry Donovan, running in UCC colours, and top-15 finishes from Eirne Ní Dheasmhunaigh and Chris Mintern in the Minor Girls and Inter Boys respectively.

Derval opened up her indoor season at the Woodie’s DIY Senior Indoor Championships, winning her tenth national title in 8.18 seconds. She followed this up by winning the UK Championship in 8.11 seconds. A bout of sickness forced the Leevale athlete out of the Aviva Grand Prix but she was back in action this weekend in Flora, Norway where she placed second in a seasonal best of 8.00 seconds. After placing fourth at the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin last year, she is now focused firmly on making the podium in Doha.

Further announcements on sponsorship are due over the coming days.

Permanent TSB

Aviva

Credit Union

Ailis McSweeney had a comfortable win in the senior women 60m, in a time of 7.48 seconds.

There will be a farewell/40th party for James in Cantys on Friday 26th Feb at 9:00pm. We hope that every one will attend to bid James every success for the future.

Meanwhile, Derval O’Rourke continues her build up for the World Indoors in Doha next month when she lines up for the 60m hurdles at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix next Sunday. She will be looking for an improvement on her season’s best of 8.11s, which she set in winning the UK Championships last weekend, in what should be a tougher challenge this weekend.

The Cork teams for the above championships which will be held in Boyle, Co. Roscommon on Sunday next, Feb 21st 2010 are listed below. The bus will depart Victoria Snooker Club, Patricks Quay at 1pm on Saturday, Feb 20th. Athletes travelling on the bus should confirm this with Donie Walsh at 086-2092795. Anyone requiring accommodation on the Saturday night should contact Aine Murphy at 085-1223885.

Bus and accommodation will be organised with bus departing Saturday 20th February 2010 (details TBA).

If other athletes wish to compete, please contact team managers Donie (Men) and Áine (Women).

Intermediate Cork – Women

• Annette Quaid, Leevale
• Sinéad O’ Connor, Leevale
• Jessica Vonhatten, Leevale
• Emma Murphy, St Finbarrs
• Carol Finn, Dunhallow AC

Masters W35 – Women

• Rhona Lynch, Eagle
• Ann Marie Healy, Eagle
• Ann Marie Holland, Eagle
• Ann Marie Power, Eagle
• Margo Dinan, St Finbarrs
• Rachael O’ Callaghan, St Finbarrs
• Mary Sweeney, St Finbarrs
• Ann Donnelly, St Finbarrs
• Carmel Crowley, Bandon AC

Masters W50 – Women

• Carmel Parnell, Leevale AC
• Joan Hough, Midleton AC
• Marian Lyons, St Finbarrs
• Kathleen O’Brien, East Cork

Intermediate Men – Cork

• John Shine, Leevale AC
• Thomas Maunsell, Leevale AC
• James Grufferty, Leevale AC
• Kevin Wilmot, Bandon AC
• Diarmaid Collins, East Cork AC
• Frank O’ Carroll, East Cork AC
• Denis Coughlan, St Finbarrs AC
• Con Marshall, St Finbarrs AC
• Declan Murphy, St Finbarrs AC
• John Meade, St Finbarrs AC
• Eoin Shanaghy, St Finbarrs AC
• David Hickey, St Finbarrs AC
• Brian Russell, St Finbarrs AC
• Tony Kelleher, Togher AC
• John Griffin, Grange Fermoy AC

Masters M35 – Cork

• Trevor Woods, St Finbarrs AC
• Cathal O’ Connell, St Finbarrs AC
• Cathal Kelly, St. Finbarrs AC
• Kieran O’Sullivan, St. Finbarrs AC
• Jerry Cronin, St. Finbarrs AC
• Tony O’Brien, St. Finbarrs AC
• Donnacha O’Mahony, East Cork AC
• Roy Fay, East Cork AC
• Eric Meade, East Cork AC
• Denis McCarthy, East Cork AC
• George Murray, East Cork AC
• Frank Hayes, East Cork AC
• Tom Laffan, Bandon AC
• Ian O’ Leary, DSD AC
• Tony Kelleher, Togher AC
• Billy Flaherty, Skibbereen AC

Masters M50 – Cork

• Michael Murphy, St Finbarrs AC
• Paul Dinan, St Finbarrs AC
• Eamonn McEvoy, St Finbarrs AC
• Dan Kennedy, St Finbarrs AC
• Willie Hayes, St Finbarrs AC
• Joe Murphy, Eagle AC
• Pat Murphy, Eagle AC
• Paul Cotter, Eagle AC
• Pat Twomey, Eagle AC
• John Quigley, Eagle AC
• Maurice Tobin, Grange Fermoy AC

Full results

Full meet results available here.

Conor George talks to Leevale and UCC coach John Sheehan about the need for an indoor arena so that Cork athletes can compete with the best.

FOR the first time in his illustrious 30 year career as an athletics coach, John Sheehan cancelled a session for his athletes. Why?

Because it was so cold and wet that he was afraid his sprinters would pick up an injury.

Prudence won out and while he knows he made the correct decision, it rankles. Had Cork a proper designated indoor athletics arena it wouldn’t matter the weather conditions.

“Cork needs an indoor track,” stated Sheehan this week.

“As a matter of fact I think there should be one in the South of the country and in the North.

“It would hugely help our athletes and we would be able to train all year round, irrespective of the weather conditions.”

Sheehan’s desire for an indoor track has little to do with mere convenience. And his abhorrence of the cold has absolutely nothing to do with a personal preference for dry environs. It’s to do with his athletes’ well-being. “The reason why I had to cancel the training session was that I was afraid one of the sprinters would tear a hamstnng.

“Sprinters need warm weather or they run the risk of injury. That’s what the issue is.

“In this country sprinters are training under awful conditions for their craft. “It’s very cold and sprinters need a bit of heat. We’d have comfort indoor; we would be able to go in there and do speed sessions at any time of the year.

“At the moment you’re conscious that it’s so cold. As coach you’re trying to get speed into people but there is the constant fear that someone will pull a hamstring.”

Last weekend John travelled with many of his athletes to Belfast for the National Indoors. The problem, aside from the cost involved in traveling the length of the country, is that the track is Belfast is a temporary one.

“They laid the track for the weekend and then take it up,” he explained.

“A lot of athletes won’t compete there as a result. The word is that the bends are bad. I don’t know but it’s certainly not ideal.

“The Nationals used to take place in Nenagh and while that track isn’t great I wouldn’t knock it because of the effort it took to build the place. “That was a club effort by Nenagh and it is a very fast track. All our best athletes have run there and have run qualifying times for international meets.

“But it’s not ideal. It’s not state of the art and that is what we need, a state of the art indoor track and arena for athletes and spectators.”

There is a move to build an indoor track in Cork with Leevale Athletic Club actively pursuing the project.

If their dreams come to fruition it would be the first permanent indoor arena in Ireland capable of holding IAAF Meets.

There is the obvious benefit a modern indoor track would provide to Cork in that the National Championships could have a permanent home which would help boost the economy.

From a purely athletics perspective the benefit would be huge according to Sheehan.

“In the last ten years or so the sprinting has taken over from middle distance.

“I would put that down to Nenagh, new techniques and raw talent. If we had the proper facilities I guarantee there’d be a massive improvement in our athletes.

“People would travel to Cork to hire out the track just to train.

“It would help our sprinters to improve and be competitive on an international stage with far more regularity.

“And if we’re serious about trying to develop our athletes – the association (AAI) is serious – then the government has to get involved too and back this project in Cork between Leevale and CIT.

“It’s the way forward for Irish athletics. We could have far more success like Derval O’Rourke and Paul Hession and David Gillick have been bringing to Irish athletics.

“We need the facilities to match our ambitions. And the ambitions are there, the talent is there, we now need to nurture that talent and provide it the best possible training facilities.” At least then John wouldn’t have to cancel any more training sessions.

• John Sheehan is Director of Speed with AAI. He is also a coach with Leevale Athletic Club and University College Cork.

Click to view article as originally published

LEEVALE Athletic Club are behind the drive to build Ireland’s first dedicated indoor athletics arena in Cork.

Plans are already well underway to make their ambition a reality, and it is hoped to have the estimated €55m arena built and operational within two years.

According to Leevale secretary Donal Murnane the Cork club have already raised €1.25m for the project and are currently in active negotiations with both CIT and UCC to build the arena in conjunction with one of them.

“We have all the costs, drawings and plans already in place,” explained Mr Murnane. “What’s next is for a site to be chosen and that will depend on which party we opt to go with.

“We are in active negotiations with both third level institutions and are anxious to work in tandem with one of them.

“We have spoken to the Government bodies necessary as well as Athletics Ireland and the Cork City Council and everyone is in favour of this happening. All that remains is for a site to be chosen and then planning permission received and we can move ahead.

“We are then hopeful of receiving a government grant to meet the projected cost of the project and are confident of being successful in that endeavour,” he added.

At present the only dedicated indoor athletics arena in Ireland is in Nenagh but that is an obsolete venue with the Irish National Indoor Championships taking place in Belfast in recent years.

“We see Cork then becoming the home of athletics in Ireland for the winter at least. Ireland desperately needs an arena like this,” Mr Murnane added.

Leevale Athletic Club hope to announce a partnership with one of the Universities in the near future.

If Leevale pair with CIT then the arena will be built within the CIT complex in Bishopstown while the Farm in Curraheen would be the venue for a project done in partnership with UCC.

• For more see page 11. of Cork Sports World. (Article available here.)

Click to view article as originally published

Doha-bound Derval O’Rourke blew off the winter cobwebs by winning the 60m Hurdle title at the Irish Senior Indoor Championships in Belfast over the weekend. Derval, the 2006 World indoor champion, recently returned to the track after a calf niggle – her first hurdles session was just last Tuesday. But she showed her quality with two clean runs in the semi-final and final at the Odyssey Arena, clocking 8.29 and 8.18 seconds respectively.

Speaking afterwards, they were clearly confidence-boosting runs for the Leevale woman. “I’m so relieved to have that out of the way. It felt good to get out there and win my tenth national title. Hopefully I can go faster in the coming weeks and get everything right for the Worlds,” she said.

Adam Idah and Chloe McCarthy set new Munster Records in their respective 60m sprints. Adam set a new championship best performance of 9.46, while Chloe set a new championship best performance of 9.70 seconds.

Adam Idah had a clean sweep in the Boys U10 events winning the 60m, 300m and long jump events. Jack Murphy also won three individual medals in the Boys U13, 1st in long jump, 2nd in the 60m hurdles and 3rd in the high jump. Sean O’Callaghan showed great form to win the BU13 60m. Chloe McCarthy and Chelsie Wright both sprinted extremely well to win the U10 & U13 60m sprints. Matthew Murnane ran a very strong 600m race to take a comfortable second place.
Special mention for Gabriella Chisholm who finished just outside the medals in the G11 long jump, Gabriella was winning the event until the last round. Tyreik Wright, was unlucky to finish just outside the medals in the BU10 long jump and 60m sprint.

Individual results:

Relay results:

Full results

Ailis McSweeney finished second 60m final is a close fought sprint.

Results:

Full results

Event programme

NOTE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMME CHANGES:
- Women’s 400mH added to the programme
- Men’s & Women’s Pole Vault added to the programme
- Men’s 1500m had been dropped in favour of an 800m

ONLINE ENTRY FORM FOR SENIORS & JUNIORS

Event entry is free of charge. You may also enter on the day if you wish. If you are having problems sending your entry or have made a mistake doing so please contact Leevale Webmaster.

Maher Sports

Permanent TSB

Aviva

Credit Union

• Feb 20th- Nenagh Indoor Stadium (Registration starts 10am with session starting 10.45am sharp and finishing at 1.30pm due to competition at 2pm)
• Mar 20th- UL Track (Registration starts 10.30am with training starting at 11am sharp)
• Apr 17th- Cork IT Track (Registration starts 10.30am with training starting at 11am sharp)

The top Leevale finishers on the day were Louise Shanahan (Schoil Mhuire) who finished 2nd in the Minor Girls’ race, Eirne Ní Dheasmhunaigh (Coláiste an Phiarsaigh) finished 6th and Sophie Collins (Regina Mundi) finished 11th in the same race.
Aisling Hanrahan (Regina Mundi) was 8th and Denise Hallahan was 9th in the junior girls race. Chris Mintern (Coláiste Chríost Rí) also finished 6th in his age group, Inter Boys.

Full results
Girls
Boys

Full report available from AAI here.

Also in action on Friday were Barry Donovan and Owen Cummins, this time for UCC in the UCC v. CIT Cross Country Match. Barry has been in flying form recently, and ran for the Ireland U23 team in the Celtic Cross Country at Antrim last weekend. He continued his form on Friday, leading from start to finish to win comfortably. Owen Cummins, who has improved rapidly over the past year, came in second and both athletes helped UCC take the team title.

Full results and report available here.

Leevale men also finished second in the 2x Long Jump competition with combined jumps of 12.49m

Leevale Award Winners for 2009

• Ailis McSweeney
• Jesika Zebo
• Derval O’Rourke
• Deirdre Murphy
• Liz Lee
• Carmel Parnell
• Orla Barry
• Ryan Creech
• David Berry
• Barry Donovan
• Mark Hanrahan
• Ciarán O’Lionáird