from the Munster Express Right: Kelly Proper was congratulated by Nick Donnelly, Regional Director, AIB Bank Waterford for her achievements during the 2008 season. | Photo: Gavin Downey
AIB Bank recently announced that it is to continue their sponsorship of Ferrybank Athletics Club for the 2008-2009 season.
Ferrybank has been the leading juvenile club in Ireland for the last five years and retained the trophy for Best Juvenile Cub in Ireland again in 2008 when they won 35 medals at the National Juvenile Track and Field Championships.
The club has also been the most successful Irish Junior Club for the last three seasons. Ferrybank athletes are now maturing with huge success at senior level, where led by Kelly Proper they won several national senior titles and medals this year both indoors and outdoors.
At international level, Kelly Proper had great success in a range of events this season culminating in her breaking the long standing National Senior record with a leap of 6.51 metres.
Over 100 and 200 metres, she also recorded a number of notable victories including a win in the 200m at the Irish Senior Championships. Kelly has already qualified for next year’s European Under 23 championships in the 100m, 200m and long jump.
At junior level, Ferrybank had five representatives at the World Junior Championships in Poland, Niamh Whelan (100m/200m), Billy Ryan(4 x 400m), Mairead Murphy (100m hurdles), Kalyn Sheehan(400m hurdles) and Jessie Barr(400m hurdles).
Chris Russell and Niamh Whelan won the National senior indoor 200m and Niamh also took gold in the British indoor under 20 200m, setting a new Irish junior record in the process.
Shane Quinn, Kevin Cooper, Gavin Downey, Lorraine McCarthy and Kitty Walsh all tasted national and international success in the distance events.
In the juvenile age groups National titles and medals were won by Nicola Power, Jade Power, Megan Kiely, Ann O’Shea, Chris Russell, Sinead Donnelly, Ciara Giles Doran, Kate Daniels, Kitty Walsh, April Flynn, Beth Walsh, Sorcha Murphy, Shane Kennedy, Alex Flynn, Cara Kennedy, Thomas Barr, Andrew Heffernan, Stephen Murphy, Alan Corcoran, Patrick Hogan, Patrick Flynn, Aisling Quinn, Niamh Frawley, Tadhg Brennan, Cormac McCann and Neasa Murphy. Quite a list!
Speaking at the recent launch of the new sponsorship agreement at the RSC, Nick Donnelly, Regional Director of AIB Bank said the bank was “delighted to continue their longstanding sponsorship with Ferrybank Athletics Club”.