Week ending Saturday 13th January 2018
Michael Lane honoured by Athletics Leinster
At the Athletics Leinster Star Awards Gala Dinner in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore last Saturday evening, Michael Lane was presented with an Outstanding Service Award by Athletics Leinster for his contribution to the sport over many years.
Michael Lane joined Mullingar Harriers in 1978 with the intention of being a long distance runner. It wasn’t long before he was introduced to the discipline of race walking and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Within a few months he had mastered the race walking technique to the point where he was in contention for National honours at the Irish Championships. It didn’t take too long more before he became an Irish International athlete, competing at various International events, culminating in his being selected to compete at the European Championships. All the time, Michael continued to be a valued member of Mullingar Harriers, not only as a competitive athlete but also serving on the committee for many years. Michael’s interest in coaching has seen him become one of the most respected race walking coaches not only in Ireland but in the World and he is among the pioneers of race walking in Ireland, helping hundreds of athletes, and is currently the National Event Coordinator. Michael has been an Irish Team Coach at European and World Championships and was a coach at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. His contribution to athletics in Westmeath both as an administrator and coach has been invaluable. Michael is certainly one of the unsung heroes of Irish athletics, especially to the race walking fraternity.
Michael was delighted to be given recognition and honoured by Athletics Leinster in this way and it was great that his wife Mary and children Oisin and Aisling were present at the award ceremony to see him receive his Award.
Other individual Awards were presented to Mullingar Harriers athletes Vicky Harris (senior athlete) and Shauna Leydon (juvenile girl) and joint Awards were made to the North Westmeath AC athletes Darragh Gaffney and Conor Fogarty (juvenile boy). Also winning an Award was Niamh Fogarty (North Westmeath AC) who received the Throwers Award for Leinster.
After the hugely successful cross country season where Mullingar won ten of the eighteen Club titles in cross country, there’s no surprise that our juvenile athletes retained the Morrissey Cup for best juvenile Club in cross country in Leinster. Mullingar has won this trophy every year since 2001. Westmeath also finished second County in the Foley Cup, behind Kilkenny, so congratulations to all our underage athletes that played a part in this success.
Mullingar came very close to winning the Leinster Shield for u/9, 10 and 11 Pairs, equaling the points of Boyne AC but Boyne edged it as they had more gold medals. A very close result! Mullingar also placed joint second in the Dew Shield for Junior and u/23 T&F and second Club in the Mick Byrne Cup for juvenile T&F, so perhaps we can target these trophies in 2018?
Victory for Jamie Battle in Celtic International Cross Country
Congratulations to Jamie Battle who got 2018 off to a fine start with a superb victory in the Celtic International Junior Cross Country at the Antrim International Cross Country last Saturday morning. Jamie dominated the race to finish a clear winner in a field that included the best Junior endurance athletes from Scotland, Wales and Ulster and in the process helped Ireland secure second place in the team rankings. Jamie is one of the most improved young athletes in the Country over the past year and his first International victory is a fitting reward for his dedication and commitment to the sport. Caoimhe O’Brien was third scorer on the Irish Development Team in the u/17 race and will benefit greatly from the experience of representing Ireland again. Congratulations to Jamie and Caoimhe from everyone at the Club.
Munster Indoors
Sean McMullin dropped down a master age group in the 3,000m race walk at the Munster Indoors in Nenagh last Sunday morning but still had more than enough to win the race comfortably and get his 2018 season off to a great winning start.
Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Annebrook Hotel, Mullingar on Friday 19th January at 8pm. We hope see all our adult members attend and also the parents of the very many underage athletes who receive training, coaching and guidance throughout the year. The meeting will take about an hour and a half and we urge everyone to show your appreciation of the work being done at the Club by attending the AGM. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
Membership for 2018
As we head into the New Year, members are asked to please renew their membership as soon as they can. If you’re not registered, you’re not insured and can’t train at the Club or take part in Club competition. Membership can be paid any night at training. As always, it can be paid in instalments if you prefer. Rates are unchanged from 2017. We’re introducing a new attendance system in January and underage members will be issued with an electronic wristband that can be read by a smart phone, so they will be checked-in to training. They must wear the wrist band to training sessions or they will not be allowed to take part.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com. You can also follow what is happening at the Club on our Facebook page.
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