A: Grange, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | E: info@mullingarharriers.com

Week ending Saturday 6th February

 

Domestic indoor season cancelled

It came as no surprise, but last Friday, Athletics Ireland confirmed the cancellation of the National Senior Indoor Championships, which were scheduled to take place at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin in three weeks time. The decision was taken in light of the ongoing Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, which have been extended until early March. Similarly, the National juvenile committee decided that it would not be in a position to hold the National Juvenile Indoors either. Whilst a small cohort of elite athletes have been granted a Government exemption to continue to train at Level 5, the prohibition on any Club training would not allow most athletes sufficient time to prepare safely for events, even if held at a later date than normal. Following suit, Athletics Leinster has also confirmed the cancellation of the Leinster Indoors this year, thus ending any prospect of indoor competition this season, except for a few elite athletes.

On a more positive note, the Athletics Ireland juvenile committee met recently to discuss fixtures for 2021 and have developed several proposals to offer as much competition at juvenile level as possible. A meeting is scheduled this week with representatives from the Regions, including Athletics Leinster, to discuss the proposals and agree fixtures for the coming months. The juvenile committee is also aware of a need for qualification for the European u/18 and u/20 T&F and believes that something needs to be put in place for athletes to work towards and to help Clubs recruit and retain members. We also hope to learn of the fixture plans for outdoor T&F for seniors and masters too. As we learn more, we’ll update members.

Membership for 2021

We don’t know when we will be allowed to reopen the Club grounds for training again, but we need to be ready for when we can. The Club grounds might be closed, but there are still costs to be met to maintain the ground, pay utility bills, pay the various insurances needed etc, so we’re appealing to members to please renew membership as soon as possible. Something that Club members need to know is that registered Club members are covered by Athletics Ireland insurance when training from home, if the session is part of a coordinated programme supplied by the Club. Additionally, all AAI registered members participating in a live virtual Club training session facilitated by a Club coach are also covered under the Athletics Ireland personal accident insurance cover. 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). The quickest and easiest to pay at the moment is though the Club’s website. Rates are unchanged from 2020.

Online Annual General Meeting

This year, due to Covid restrictions, the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held online on Friday evening 19th February at 8pm. The AGM will be held using Microsoft Teams and members should email info@mullingarharriers.com requesting a link to the meeting. Motions and nominations shall be submitted to the same email address by Friday 12th February.

This time last year

Having only just learned that there will be no Leinster indoors this year, we hope it doesn’t rub salt in the wound to look back at days one and two of the Leinster Juvenile Indoors in Athlone IT this time last year.  The tone for the weekend was set early on the Saturday morning when our race walkers powered their way to podium finishes followed by victories mid-afternoon in the middle distance races and some explosive speed shown by our sprinters later on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday evening, Mullingar had multiple podium visits across numerous disciplines. The hard work on the training ground over the winter months paid off with nine gold medals (two in new Championship records), two silver and five bronze medals, seven more Mullingar athletes came close in fourth place and another ten qualified for their finals, making it one of the best Leinster indoors for Mullingar by any measure. Little did we know though at the time that this would be the last competition for many of them for over a year, and counting!

The nine gold medals came from John Glennon (1,000m u/14 walk), Andrew Glennon (1,500m u/16 walk), Matthew Glennon (1,500m u/18 walk in a new Championship record of 6:02.32), Diarmuid Fagan (1,500m u/16), Kyle Faherty (60m u/14), Charles Okafor (60m u/18 and 200m u/18 in a new Championship record of 22.10 seconds), Matthew Molloy (600m u/13) and Jamie Wallace (800m u/14). Silver medals were won by Colin McGee (1,500m u/18 walk) and Phoebe Bates (1,500m u/17). It was bronze for Faith Okafor (60m u/15), Mariam Ogunleye (60m u/18), Eta Oviahon (60m u/18), Luke O’Leary (800m u/14) and Philip McCartan (800m u/15). Just missing a medal but still qualifying for the All-Ireland Finals, though of course they had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions, was Shauna Leydon (400m u/19), Amy Geoghegan (1,500m u/17), Colin Smith (1,500m u/18), Grace Byrne (800m u/15), Ross Killalea (800m u/16) and Criostoir Ormsby (u/14 long jump and 60m hurdles).

Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.

PRO