Week ending Saturday 16th January
Worthy recognition for Colm Walsh
Congratulations to Colm Walsh on receiving the 2020 Volunteer of the Year for Westmeath. The Federation of Irish Sport is the representative organisation for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in Ireland. Their membership consists of over 110 NGBs and LSPs from every corner of the country. They hold the Volunteers in Sport Awards annually, which were created to recognise the contributions, commitment and dedication of the 450,000 volunteers who give their time to Irish sport every year.
Over the past Covid-ridden year, Colm has kept the adult members of the club motivated through restrictions and lock-downs, producing training plans that could be done on their own, organised innovative virtual events and competitive training sessions like the recent Mullingar Ekiden, managed the backroom online solutions to register for and attend training when we were allowed to train again at the club, coached at the training sessions for the club’s youngest members on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but still kept training and running himself, carrying out the duties of Club Secretary during a very difficult period, and all the other unseen things done in the background to keep a big club like Mullingar Harriers ticking over, all as a parent of a young family and while holding down a full time job too. Such energy and dedication is commendable and Mullingar Harriers is very fortunate to have someone like Colm in its ranks!
Impressed by this dedication, Bashir Hussain, the Athletics Ireland Regional Development Officer for the Midlands, nominated Colm for the award and a panel of judges have awarded him the 2020 Volunteer of the Year for Westmeath. Colm admits to be being totally taken aback by the nomination, let alone the award, because he modestly thinks there are more deserving volunteers at the Harriers, let alone other sports clubs in Westmeath, but he considers the award is worthy recognition of Mullingar Harriers as a club and the dedication of all its coaches and committee members. The award ceremony has moved online this year and will be streamed on Tuesday night (12th January) at 7pm at https://vimeo.com/event/589341. Congratulations to Colm from everyone at the club.
This time last year
If it wasn’t for Covid-19, Mullingar athletes would have been competing at the Leinster Intermediate and Masters Cross Country last Sunday, in melting snow and slush and cold, in stark contrast to the cool but dry and at times sunny conditions they enjoyed in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny this time last year.
Taking control early in the intermediate men 8,000m race, Padraig Moran really showed his class with a faultless effort to win, tracked by Andrew Nevin also racing hard to the line to finish second. With James Keegan (sixth) and master athletes Kieran Nolan, Barry McDonald and Gerard Brady selflessly running in the intermediate race to make up a team rather that run in the master race, they were all rewarded for their fantastic efforts by finishing first Club and third County.
Still a relative newcomer to cross country racing at the time, Aisling Corcoran worked hard all the way through the race and was delighted to finish well up and lead the Mullingar team home in the master women 4,000m. Following in with determined efforts and giving great support was Emer O’Hanlon, Patricia Broderick (first in her age category), Brigid McCabe (first in her age category), Linda Cunningham, Terri Greene and Caroline Mullen. After sorting the age categories and team results, it was first Club for the team of Emer, Patricia and Brigid in their master age category, to add to the long list of titles this team had amassed in the previous couple of years.
Powering up the home straight, Gerard Gavin had the honour of leading the big Mullingar team home in the master men 6,000m. Packing well in support was Eddie Newman (second in his age category), Tom McGrath, Patrick Muldoon, James Cribbin, David Fagan, Pauric Brady, Paul Ginnell, Nicky McCabe (second in his age category) and Pat Boyhan (first in his age category). It was team honours for Eddie, Tom, David and Paul as they finished first Club in their age category.
Membership for 2021
We’re now into a new year, so 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, when they return). Membership can be paid online though the Club’s website (or any night at training, when we’re back at the Club). Rates are unchanged from 2020.
For all the latest news, check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page.
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