The Annual General Meeting of Clonliffe Harriers took place in the clubhouse last night, November 24th. It was a well attended meeting which heard impressive reports from the three club captains on the outstanding successes enjoyed by Clonliffe athletes and teams over the course of the previous twelve months.
The Men’s Captain Joe Cooper outlined on a month by month basis the results achieved with the highlights on a team perspective being the regaining of the Men’s Senior Cross Country title last March in Rostrevor, Co. Down, the regaining of the National Track and Field league title in Tullamore in August and then the winning of the National Cross Country title again (following on the switch with the intercounties, the previous Sunday in Santry). The captain also outlined the excellent individual performances by the clubs athletes and made mention of national titles being won by Dara Kervick, Brian Gregan, Ian Rogers and the 4 x 100 squad.
The Ladies Captain in addition to the results achieved by the teams focused on the continued growth in the Ladies Section of the club. In the field of competition she highlighted the performances of the track and field team in finishing 3rd in the National League and in cross country the performances of the intermediate teams and she also outlined the successes enjoyed by the Meet and Train Group. The Ladies Captain also welcomed the ‘signing’ this year of Ben Lawlor.
The Juvenile Captain also focused on the continued growth of the juvenile section paying tribute to the coaches who assist: Gerry Carr, Mick Fogarty, Noel Guiden, Bart Rogers and Ray Fitzsimons. She outlined the successes of the juvenile athletes and paid tribute in particular to Hope Saunders who is moving from the juvenile into the junior ranks and over the course of the year had won the National Junior Cross Country title last March. The meeting noted the performance of Hope in retaining that title in Santry the previous Sunday and the meeting paid a generous round of applause by way of appreciation.
Presentations were also heard from the club Honorary Secretary on the club’s promotions over the course of the year and from the Honorary Treasurer who took the meeting through the clubs account and outlined the healthy financial position of the club as a whole.
Paddy Marley in his President`s address thanked all who contributed over the previous twelve months to an amazing year in the life of Clonliffe Harriers, in particular he thanked the club members who had responded to all requests for assistance and highlighted in particular Sunday’s interclub cross country with the huge number of Clonliffe members who came out to assist pointing out that these events simply could not take place without the enthusiasm and dedication of all members of the club. He also thanked all of the clubs coaches, the clubs sponsors and in particular Helen Flynn and Hireco, Colm Doran for his sponsorship of juvenile events, all of the sponsors for the various races over the year, the Grand Prix Series and all of the sponsors who became involved in Morton Games, he also thanked the individual club members who had become ‘Friends of Morton Games’ which had meant that the club was in a position to provide a top class international Meet which was possibly the highlight of the year.
The meeting elected the following Committee for 2016:
Honorary President – Paddy Marley
Honorary Secretary – Noel Guiden
Honorary Treasurer – Eoin Murray
Club Captain – Joe Cooper
Ladies Captain – Pamela Cooper
Committee Members: Caroline Tuite, Stephen Harkness, Alan Worrall.
The meeting also re-elected unanimously the club’s trustees: John O’Leary, Maurice Ahern and Tommy Griffin Senior and the club’s vice presidents.
The meeting also passed the two Motions as follows:
“That in recognition of his achievements as coach to St. Aidan’s CBS and in particular his contribution to the juvenile section of Clonliffe Harriers that Alan O’Neill be made an honorary life member of Clonliffe Harriers A.C.”
“That the annual subscription for membership of Clonliffe Harriers A.C. be increased by the sum of €10.00 per category of membership”
Under the heading of any other business George Maybury on behalf of the Irish Masters Athletics Association thanked the club for its assistance with the hosting of the recent British and Irish Masters Cross Country International.