*** Updated with photos 17/08 - see "Read more..." link below ***
Big congratulations to our men's track & field team who put up a great performance in the National League Finals to grab 2nd place in a very close final! Clonliffe were worthy winners but the scrap for the minor placings was mighty with only half a point separating teams 2 to 4! We got the "rub of the green" in the mens competition but the ladies were not so fortunate, coming 4th by a couple of points in another close contest. Ferrybank were worthy winners - well done to Brid and Alan Golden for a great club performance. Commiserations to our ladies, but we'll be back!!

It was a real team effort and it is hard to pick any one individual performance. It was great to see our top international athletes out contesting every point but it's a team event and everyone was vital on the day! In the women's event it was well done Bryony for a great 2nd in the walk! Thanks Hazel for stepping up in the 4x400m and to Deirdre on her debut in the triple jump! Thanks to Avi for doing the hurdles, 4x100m and pole vault with a long standing injury to her foot (get better soon!).However, the busiest athlete on the day was Claire Bergin, who ran an excellent individual 400m, finishing 2nd just behind Joanne Cuddihy. Claire then deputised for an injured Aoife MacNeill in the 100m and ran legs of the 4x100m and 4x400m - as well as organising the whole team!

On the men's team it was a mixture of age and experience! It was a new experience for our junior jumpers Neil and Connor, while we were greatly helped out by our Masters athletes, Kevin and Brian. Well done to Ciaran for a new pb in the triple jump. It was good to see Joe back on the track after some minor health issues and also to see Eoin Healy back in action. The best moment was probably that narrow win in the 4x100m - very satisfying - well done Deanna, Patch (who also won the 200m), Nick & Mark.

A big end of season "thank you" to the coaches, who made it all possible but I'd like to say a special thanks to our two, excellent club captains, Mark Conway and Claire Bergin! You were the driving force behind organising the teams - let's use it as a platform to do even better next year!

Photos by Lucy Moore