Finn Valley Open Track and Field

Sligo AC juveniles brought home plenty of medals from the Finn Valley Open Track and Field meeting on Wednesday, April 24th. Well done to all medal winners including Ross Doherty in the 300m and javelin; sprinters Graham and Stacey Kerr; racewalkers Roisin Clarke, Orla Delahunt and Robbie Kelly and Lauren Cadden in the under 13 80m.

Busy weekend!

Another great day for the club with excellent performances at home and abroad on Sunday. Pride of place goes to teenager David Harper who earned many plaudits for his third place finish in the Spar Mile Challenge in the Phoenix Park, a precursor to the Great Ireland 10k Run. Coached by Dermot McDermott, David has an exciting future ahead of him and the club wishes him continued success.

The club was represented in the senior and master categories in the Great Ireland Run. Conditions weren't ideal with very strong winds but everyone can be very proud of their achievements.

Official results appear in Monday's Irish Independent and online from midday*

Likewise, well done to those who represented the club in the Rotterdam marathon where conditions of a different nature were experienced. Heat was the main factor to battle here. Well done to all, especially those who did pbs.

 Meanwhile, preparations continue apace for the club's 8k road race on May 17th at 7pm. The course will have a new start and finish and the course was measured at the week-end. More details later.

* EDIT: after a correction Richard Gorman of Sligo AC received gold for the M35 age group. Well done Richard on another outstanding race and result!

National Road Relay Title for Sligo AC

Sligo AC produced one its best performances at national level in many years when winning the National Road Relay Championships in Dublin on Sunday.

Over 250 athletes competed in the Woodie’s DIY National Road Relay Championships in Raheny and the senior Sligo AC men's team of James McGeough, Alberto Sanchez, Dermot McDermott and David Harper came out on top for Sligo AC.

The team produced a brilliant performance to win the senior title ahead of Dublin clubs Raheny Shamrock and Clonliffe Harriers AC. Sligo AC's 800m athlete David Harper showed a great burst of speed to put Sligo into an early lead with Raheny, Clonliffe and Finn Valley all in close attendance. Finn Valley AC began to make an impression and were the leaders at the second changeover with Clonliffe and Raheny now back in second and third respectively.

The crucial three mile leg saw Alberto Sanchez of Sligo AC put in a stellar performance to record a time of 14.22. Sanchez demonstrated great strength to hand over in the lead team mate Dermot McDermott in a time of 28:48. At this stage Raheny were only three seconds behind Sligo AC. Clonliffe Harriers AC at this point were 100m back in third place going into the final leg.

The final two mile leg turned into an exciting battle between McDermott of Sligo AC and O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock. McDermott looked the more comfortable of the two as the two athletes headed out on the final mile of the race. McDermott made the decisive break coming up the finishing straight and looked full of running on his way to an impressive victory in a combined time of 38:31. Raheny Shamrock AC finished in second place in a time of 38:34 ahead of third place Clonliffe Harriers in a time of 38:35.

Meanwhile, the club will be represented in the capital again this coming week-end at the SPAR Great Ireland Run. The national 10k event through the Phoenix Park will provide a testing challenge for the club's representatives. The club will also be represented further afield this week-end when a number of members compete in the Rotterdam Marathon. It will have been the culmination of several weeks of training in tough weather conditions for the athletes concerned, some of whom completed their last marathon only last October in Dublin.

The Sligo 8K now open for entries!

Sligo AC are delighted to announce The AMCOR FLEXIBLES SLIGO 8K Run/Walk, which will take place on Friday, May 17th, 2013 at 7pm in Rosses Point, Sligo.

Ciaran Donnellan (Amcor Flexibles), Vanessa Foley, Michael O'Connell, Emmet Dunleavey, Carina Clarke, Seamus Somers (All Sligo AC) and Collette Hamilton (Sligo Credit Union) at the presentation of the 2013 Sligo 8K.

Featuring a flat fast course with AAI Permit, and Chip timing. Registration and Chip Collection from 5 O'Clock in The Yacht Club in Rosses Point. Prizes for first 3 male/female finishers as well as prizes for first 2 male/female in the usual age categories. After race refreshments will be served in The Yacht Club. Contact 087 6405190 for further details.

To enter the race please click here.

Carina makes it two in a row!

The club was well represented in the 300 strong field of runners in the Carney 10k today in very cold and blustery conditions.

Five out of the top ten positions in the men's field were filled by club members while Carina Clarke made it two wins in a row in the Road Race League with a pb of 38.24. Third woman home was Mari Johnston, also of Sligo AC, in a pb too of 39.57.

Richard Gorman 2nd overall with Liam Feely winner and Stephen Prentice third overall with Mel Casserly.

Richard Gorman set the pace for the men, coming home second overall in 33.32 with Seamus Somers 4th in 35.06 and Michael O'Connell 5th in 36.12. Jonathan Hill was 9th in 36.40 with Ultan McNasser 10th in 36.49. Ross Downey was a very impressive 12th overall in 37.10.

Mari Johnston (3rd woman overall) and Carina Clarke (first woman overall) in today's Carney 10k with new pbs.

There were category prizes for several club members. Carina Clarke followed up her Tubbercurry 10k success with another impressive win in Carney, leading the women's field from the off. Mari was next as third woman overall with Roseanne Mitchell the next club member home in 42.29 followed by Cathy McCarthy in a new pb of 44.51, Catherine Bradley in 45.18, Deirdre Deering in 45.36, Pauline Henry in 47.06, Fiona Fahey Gilmartin in a pb of 47.12 and Ashling Cawley in 47.26.

Complete results can be found here. Lots of photos are available on the Club's Facebook page here.