Jun 6, 2011 [Noel Guiden] The competition was like the weather in Tullamore on Saturday for the All Ireland Schools: Hot. After regional and then provencial qualifiers anyone appeararing in the All Irelands was well deserving of their place and can rest assured that only the very best in their event make it to Tullamore. The Clonliffe athletes taking part did themselves, their schools and their club proud and are all performed with distinction with our four medalists deserving of special meruit: Elaine Begley, Simon Galligan, Alex Anyaebunam and Ryan Whelan.
Elaine Begley who has taken up hurdling over the past 18 months or so after early promise as a cross country runner, has really developed both speed and technique over the season. She went into Saturday`s Inter 300h having placed 3rd in Leinster and upped her performance greatly with a superb 3rd place in the All Irelands taking a coveted All Ireland bronze medal with a time of 45.98.
The club`s field eventers have excelled over the last few years in senior competition and it`s wonderful to report that the up coming generation of field eventers look more than capable of taking up the mantel in the future. In the boys inter Javelin Ryan Whelan (48.52m) won silver, likewise in the inter hammer silver for Simon Galligan (44.43) and in the senior boys triple jump Alex Anyaebunam also took silver with a best jump of 13.34.
Excellent performances from all. Liam Ashton ran an excellent race in the U/16 Mile, always with the leaders and was only run out of a medal down the home straight as he placed 4th in 4.40.41, a PB. Ryan Cleary was also 4th in the inter 2k walk (10.39.17). Seanna Reilly was 6th in the inter girls 300m in 44.31, a great effort from Seanna who has another two years at inter. Well done also to Megan Coomber in the junior long jump where she was 6th, again an athlete who well benefit from the expierence and has a very bright future ahead.
So the school`s season has now drawn to a close. The club`s now kicks off with the Dublin`s next weekend….enjoy the rest!!