The 2010 Bandon Athletic Club Annual Awards Ceremony was held recently at the Bandon GAA Club. Awards are presented every year to athletes who have excelled during the previous year and are presented to the best in Track & Field and Cross County athletes across the various age categories. Receiving Track & Field awards were Kyle Buttimer u9, Cian Kingston & Conor Calnan U11, Erin Kingston, U13, Colin Kingston U15 and U16-U19 Laura McSweeney. The overall Track & Field award went to Patrick McSweeney. Cross Country awards were presented to Tim Twohig U9, Gráinne Mulcahy, U11, Fiona Everard, U13, Aisling Everard U15. Carmel Crowley took the overall Cross Country award for the second year in a row. Liz Coomey won the overall Masters award, also retaining the title. Athletic prowess seems to run in families as can be seen from the award winners this year where there are three sets of siblings. Coach Denise Harrington was awarded Club Person of the year for her unstinting dedication across all areas of Club activity. Mark O’ Sullivan received the President’s award. Tadhg Twomey was awarded in the Hall of Fame category. Tadhg held national titles from the sixties to the eighties in Weight for Distance and Height. He had a long career in athletics and as well as competing in throwing events was also a high and triple jumper.
Bandon athletes have been busy this month with the track and field season in full swing. A number of club athletes representing their various schools had impressive performances at the Munster Schools Track & Field Championships held in CIT on 21st May. Winning gold were Patrick McSweeney ( Senior Boys hammer), Laura McSweeney (Inter Girls hammer and shot), Colin Kingston (Inter Boys shot) and Eric Stam (Inter Boys Long Jump). Other medal winners included Lynn Bradfield, Mark O’Sullivan, Sinead Mulcahy Emma Young, Fintan Shaughnessy, Fiona Duggan, Phil Healy, Robert O’Sullivan, Shane Howard and Joey Henchy .
There were two rounds of County Juvenile Track & Field Championships both held at CIT Track on 8th and 15th May. There were many fine performances by Bandon athletes who brought home numerous gold, silver and bronze medals and all these athletes now qualify to compete in the upcoming Munster Track and Field Championships in June. Full results of any events mentioned can be seen on the club website www.bandonac.org.
Joan Healy and Róisín Howard competed at the Woodies DIY AAI Games at Morton Stadium on May 15th. Joan finished in second place in the Senior Women’s 100m but Róisín was just outside the medal positions on this occasion with a 4th and 5th place in High Jump and Hurdles. Róisín Howard was however in top form at the Irish Universities Track & Field Championships in Belfast on 29th & 30th April, where she won gold in the Senior Women Combined Events. Timmy Harrington won bronze in the Pole Vault and came sixth in long and triple jump. Eric Stam won gold in Pentathlon at the Munster Juvenile Combined events in CIT on 30th April. Also competing were Cian Kingston, Moira Barrett, and Laura Nicholson. At the All Ireland Community Games held in Athlone IT on 28 & 29th May, Gráinne Mulchay and Moira Barrett came fourth in the Cross Country event. A number of athletes from the club also competed in the Annual Courceys Open Sports where they put in medal winning performances in many events.
June is another busy month in the Athletics Calendar. The Cork City Marathon is on Monday 6th June. The All Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships take place in Tullamore on 4th June. The first round of the National League takes place in Castleisland on 12th June. At the same venue on June 18th and 19th the Munster Juvenile U14-U19 Championships will be held. The Dunmanway 10K road race (West Cork Series 3) is scheduled for 19th June. A full listing of all forthcoming fixtures can be found on the Club website. Fit 4 Life continues on Tuesday evenings. Meet at Kelleher’s on the bridge in Bandon at 8pm for walking, jogging or running.
