Young ones get running awards

Young ones get running awards

28 March 2012

A LARGE, knowledgeable and appreciative crowd packed into the assembly hall of Shimna College to celebrate the success of the athletes who had competed so valiantly over the six races in the McGrady Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series.

Among the guests was Ian Brannigan, who remains the most successful athlete from Northern Ireland in British and World Transplant Games.

Ian recalled how his career began at the age of thirteen in the grounds of Shimna College by a fresh-faced 17 year-old coach called Paul Rodgers. Ian said how he immediately became hooked and began to participate in races for both his school and the newly formed Tollymore AC.

He paid great tribute to Mike McNulty, acknowledging Mike’s contribution to his development as an athlete.

Ian also noted how he had been fortunate to attend Loughborough University where he met and trained with some very fine athletes. On returning to Newcastle in the early 1990s, Ian remarked how he raced less at this time, but still enjoyed training and keeping fit.

Ian required a kidney transplant in 1998, which theoretically could have ended his career. However, Ian saw this as a new opportunity and a fresh challenge and has been competing with great distinction at the British and World Transplant Games ever since.

Ian commented that his participation in these games has enabled him to travel to countries such as France, Hungary, Sweden and Japan to compete and represent the UK.

The speeches were punctuated by the presentation of awards to all who completed four of the six races in the series and to those who were placed first, second and third in each category.

Finally the team shields were presented to the host club for the second successive year. At one point with Deon, Billy and the Kenealley girls on the stage, there was something akin to a McNeilly dynasty on parade.

The second speaker of the evening was Newcastle’s most successful senior, Deon McNeilly, a man with an impressive CV that stretches all the way back to the early 1980s and who has competed at the highest level internationally, most notable narrowly missing out on the English National championship to Eamonn Martin, an athlete who went on to win a London Marathon.

Deon began by thanking the committee for inviting him to speak and praised their efforts in organising such an effective and efficient series. Addressing the children he told them what a privilege running was and how it had enabled him to travel all over Europe and as far afield as New York and New Zealand to compete and in the process meet many different and interesting people.

Reflecting on his teenage years Deon recalled that he was not a particularly talented runner and was dabbling in many different sports at the time. He shared with the audience how at his first visit to the Schools’ Cross Country he finished 56th overall. However, the next year, after some training, he managed to improve dramatically and finished second.

For Deon it was the lure of the majestic Slieve Donard mountain that fuelled his desire to run faster and longer to pursue his ambition of competing in the race to the top of the mountain and back.

His ambition was rewarded as he holds an unequalled nine wins on Slieve Donard and is determined still at the age of 49 to win a 10th title.

Deon also reminded those present that in the early days there was no junior club structure and reminded those present how lucky they were to have such a committed group of talented and caring coaches.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the shields to the winning teams. Both were contested fiercely throughout the six races, but in the end Newcastle were able to retain both categories.

Athletics was the real winner as evidenced by the large numbers who received prizes and certificates on the night.

The packed hall was told that the generous sponsorship of McGrady Financial Services which has made the event possible for the initial two years would be renewed for the 2012-13 season.

Shimna College was thanked for its gracious and much appreciated hospitality throughout the winter. Thanks also expressed to the main sponsors, McGrady Financial Services, who provided the magnificent array of trophies, medals and other prizes awarded, the coaches and volunteers who give of their time so willingly and the other local businesses who provided spot prizes during the season.

Behind every great organisation there is a great woman and Newcastle AC feel it would be remiss not to mention the effort made quietly behind the scenes by Martina Hawkins.

As proceedings drew to a close all were reminded of the charity family fun run (all proceeds will donated to Mary Murray House), organised by Newcastle AC to coincide with the Slieve Donard mountain race on May 5.