COUNTY MONAGHAN ATHLETICS BOARD AWARDS NIGHT

The Four Season Hotel was the venue for the County Monaghan Athletics Board awards night, which was held on Friday 12th February. Chairperson of the board Alan Clarke welcomed everyone to the event to celebrate the achievements of the county’s best athletes who have competed at national and international level over the last 12 months. The awards night was also held to honour those that competed with success in the county’s distance league which was being run for the second time in 2015. However Alan was quick to point out that perhaps the greatest legacy of the league, has been the friendships and friendly rivalries that developed between the athletes from the various clubs within the county throughout the year. After the buffet dinner Aiden Campbell who was compere for the evening introduced the special guests for the evening Rose Lamb of Carrick Aces and Brien Peppard of Monaghan Phoenix to the stage for a short chat to discuss their athletic achievements and experiences. Although many in the room were aware that both guests had significant athletic achievements many were unware of the very high level they both had competed in, especially as both had been rated in the top 20 in the world for their respective distances. However what both emphasised was their enjoyment of the sport and that was key for all people young and old regardless of what level they are competing at. After this the award presentations began in earnest and first up was awards for those County Monaghan Athletes who won a National Medal in 2015. There was 10 of these awards and they were presented to Denise Toner, Clones AC for 800m and 1500m; Anthony Martin, Monaghan Phoenix for 400m; Brian Peppard, Monaghan Phoenix for High Jump; Damien Barry, Monaghan Phoenix for 400m; Una McMahon, Monaghan Phoenix for Javelin, Shot Put and Discus ; Conor Duffy, Glaslough Harriers for Cross County and 5000m; Paul Peppard, Monaghan Phoenix for 800m; Amy Hamill, Glaslough Harriers for 800 and 1500m; Niamh Malone, Monaghan Phoenix for 400m Hurdles; and Conor Maguire, Monaghan Phoenix for 800m, 1500m and Cross Country. Next up was the County Distance League which was a highly successful event in ensuring that county athletes had something to focus and aim for throughout the year. There was a total of 195 Participants involved in the league which covered 13 races ranging from track 3000m, to Half Marathon and Cross Country. These races were , Glaslough Harriers 5k Road Race, County 3000m Track Race, Blackwater 10k, Blayney Rockets 10 Miler, Acorn 4 Mile RR, Monaghan Town Runners 10 Miler, Clones AC 5k, Phoenix Streets of Monaghan 5k, Carrick Aces 5k, Monaghan Phoenix Half Marathon, Ballybay Wetlands 5 Miler, County Cross Country Championships, County Development Race 5K. The winners of the awards were Senior Men – Conor Duffy Glaslough Harriers, Shane Brady Clones AC and Raymond Smith Carrick Aces. Senior Women – Ann Linden Carrick Aces, Carmel McEnaney-Kelly Carrick Aces and Niamh McCarthy Blayney Rockets. Men 45 – 50 Alan Clarke Blayney Rockets, Gordon McArdle Carrick Aces and Aiden Campbell Blayney Rockets. Women 35 – 45 Elaine Walls Carrick Aces, Emer McKenna Monaghan Phoenix and Eithne McGorman Carrick Aces. Women 45 + Audrey Harraghey Monaghan Phoenix, Patricia Fenix Carrick Aces and Rose Lambe Carrick Aces. Men 50 + Mark Macklin Monaghan Town Runners, Peadar Treanor Monaghan Phoenix, Paschal Larney Carrick Aces. The Overall Club for the Endurance League was Carrick Aces with 1215 points, second was Monaghan Phoenix with 751 points and third Blayney Rockets with 648 points. Fr Corrigan Secretary of the County Board concluded the awards with a short note congratulating all those that won awards and who participated over the year and echoed the sentiments from earlier in the evening about the importance of enjoyment while also reminding everyone that unlike many other sports Athletics is a sport which you can participate and enjoy throughout your life.