LAGAN VALLEY RETAIN PRESIDENCY

The position of President of Athletics Northern Ireland held for the last two years by Lagan Valley Chairman Brain Downing has been retained by the club as club founder John T. Glover was elected to position at the march Annual general Meeting. This is a great honour for Lagan Valley as no club has ever retained this position.

ANNUAL 'CHRISTMAS' HANDICAP  

The postponed Annual Handicap Charity run around the bridges of the Lagan towpath took place on Valentine's Day but there was not much love lost in the battle for honours (although as can be seen from the photo some members put enjoyment before pain and in the absence of photo finish a tie was declared.  Jonny Orr, now a veteran at finding his way around the 3.8 mile circuit came home in the fastest time of 22:22. Cat McCorkell chased and passed Dog Davis who was very annoyed at not being allowed of his leash. Cat finished a suberb second fastest less that twenty four hours after her efforts at Stormont. (See below).  Maddy Bowyer took the prize for the fastest short course event.  A total of 31 entrants finished the course and details of the charitable contribution will appear at a later date.

NAME TIME POSITION
Jonny Orr 22.22 1
Catriona McCOrkell 23.43 2
Jason Ratcliffe 23.47 3
Paul O'Neill 24.05 4=
Andy Edwards 24.10 4=
Eric Montgomery 24.11 6
Jonathan Irvine 24.34 7
Ryan Sharkey 25.17 8
Callum Crawford Walker 27.01 9
Davy Wright 28.09 10
Ronnie O'Neill 28.22 11
Toni Buchanan 30.21 12=
Emma Hartness 30.21 12=
Maureen Oliver 30.48 14=
Ella Davis 30.48 14=
Jane Matthews 30.48 14=
Harriett Gilmore 30.48 14=
Emma Laverty 30.48 14=
Zoe Edwards 30.48 14=
Emer Magee 30.48 14=
Kate Davis 45.00 21=
Bud Davis 45.00 21=
Fiona Wylie 45.00 21=

Madison Bowyer 00:24:05 Short Course
Dorcas Crawford 00:24:34 Short Course
Kate Gilmore 00:24:48 Short Course
Alice Gilmore 00:25:10 Short Course
Jodie Kee 00:25:10 Short Course
Susan Edwards 00:26:31 Short Course
Amy Edwards 00:26:31 Short Course

SILVER at STORMONT

The penultimate major cross country race of the season took place at a sunny Stomont with the Lagan Valley ladies putting up a spirited defence of their title. Weakened somewhat by injury and pregnancy the team of Catriona McCorkell, Rachel Campbell, Roan Harkens and Ruth Magill nevertheless finished an excellent seconfd behind a North Belfast team who it has to admitted were worthy victors. It only remains now for the large number of club members qualified for the Ulster Schools finals to strutt their stuff before we enter the Spring road racing season and the 2010 Track and Field season only  eight weeks away.  FULL RESULTS

ODYSSEY WAS AN EPIC.

The 2010 Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena was a great success for Lagan Valley both in the Northern Ireland and Ulster  Age Groups and the Irish Senior Championships.  The 'Senior' events saw a number of our developing young athletes step up to Senior level and demonstrate that they are  well capableof  taking on the best at the Irish Senior indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena.   Top performance went to Andrew Monaghan who ran a great 1500 metres to take the bronze medal. Indeed he was not alone as Lagan Valley provided three of the eight finalists with Patrick Monaghan finishing 5th and Simon McCluney 6th both in personal indoor bests.  Jason Harvey also fought his way on to the podium with an excellent 49.05 third place in the 400m. Alan Montgomery was the fastest of our five representitives in the 60m with a personal best of 7.21 and Chloe Boomer also set new figures with 8.00 in the Women's event.  Adam Ingram and Katie Kirk both confirmed their emerging talent in the fiercely competitive 800 metres while Joanne Mills and Rachel Campbell battled it out for fouth and fifth places in the 1500 metres.  The latter two should both be in action this weekend in the Senior Cross Country Championships.

Twenty four of our Junior members competed in the Northern Ireland and Ulster Age groups winning nine medals including two Gold. Conall Kirk was well off the pace throughout the 800m but timed his finsihing burst to perfection to take victory by half a second in 2:15.27.  The under 16 Girls 800m saw Lagan Valley fill all three places on the podium with Eva Laverty, Rebecca Blundell and Rebecca Crawley taking the honours. The domination of the 800 metres was completed with Jonny Orr and Tom Magee both taking Silver and Jane Matthews getting bronze in their respective races.  Ali Johnston and Emma Leckie both took home bronze medals from their Long Jump and 200 metres events.

It was not just the athletes who brought honour to the club at the Odyssey. Praise was heaped from many quarters on the efforts of the Lagan Valley Officials who worked hard throughout the two days of the meeting. This was not only the adult officials of whom there were at least 12 on duty but also the excellent efforts of the young members under the control of Brian McCorkell who probably ran miles around the arena ensuring that starters, judges, announcers, photo finish and presentation all had the necessary information.  An excellent job!!

Robbie Rankin was an impressive winner of the MOIRA CROSS COUNTRY Youths race at the Moira Demense in Mid January. Robbie took the race by the scruff of the neck early on and amde the running throughout. He was pressed hard until the last lap when he opened up a commanding lead. FULL RESULTS

Katherine Booth got 2010 off to a great start with Silver and Bronze sprint medals in the All Ireland National Indoor Masters Championships in Nenagh. FULL RESULTS

LYNSEY CLAIMS YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR WARD

Athletics Northern Ireland Awards 2009- Winners - 21 November 2009

The Athletics NI Awards took place  at the Mary Peters Track with guest speaker Niels De Vos from UKA. The Young Volunteer of Year Award went to Lagan Valley's Lynsey Glover. The citation read as below:

VOLUNTEER
Young Volunteer of the Year (Under 25):
Lyndsey Glover- Lagan Valley AC

As an athlete, coach and now qualified official Lynsey is a tireless volunteer in the local athletics community. Lyndsey coaches on a regular basis on all Athletics NI initiatives, within her local club Lagan Valley AC, in many local schools and at the University of Ulster. As a member of the UU Athletics Club and committee member Lynsey has spent time working on Team management, club organisation and fundraising duties allowing the club to grow and support University athletes through an often challenging part of their development.

All Lagan Valley members would like to wish Fionnuala McCourt a speedy recovery from her recent serious operation. Fionualla has been in great form recently and was really looking forward to representing Northern Ireland in the Masters Cross Country International in Birmingham. Hopefully it will not be too long before she is feeling in the pink again!

CLUB RECORDS and ALL TIME LISTS UPDATED 6th OCTOBER 2009

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

The 21st Annual General Meeting of Lagan valley was held in the Les Jones room at the Mary Peters' Track on Wednesday 4th November 2009. The meeting approved an updated constitution and were reminded of the achievements of the season past by Brian McCorkell and John T Glover. The new Committee was elected

The main item of the evening was the presentation of awards and this was performed by president and three time Commonwealth Games representitive Judith Robinson.

INDOOR CIRCUIT TRAINING HAS STARTED ON MONDAY NIGHTS AT FINAGHY PRIMARY SCHOOL 7.00 PM

3rd ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CLUB HANDICAP  SUNDAY 20th DECEMBER MPT 10.30 AM

NEW WET GEAR

For those of you who will face the elements this winter (and probably next summer) and want to both keep dry and show the colours the club are offering the opportunity to purchase new wet suits (or seperate tops and bottoms). Fully waterproof the top is seen modeled by wendy (before the club name and logo have been added). anyone interested should see Geraldine  or Frank Sharkey.