from AAI website – NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships
– Woodie’s DIY Indoor Junior And Masters Championships
– Woodie’s DIY National Master & Junior Track & Field Championships
– England Athletics Under 20 & 17 Championships NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships
Campbell set to retain his title
Willowfield’s Brian Campbell is firm favourite to retain his NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country title this Saturday over a new flat 7½ mile course adjacent to the Antrim Forum. The event is sponsored by Antrim borough council and organised by Athletics Northern Ireland.
A year ago in Coleraine triathlon specialist Campbell upset the form book to get the better of Willowfield’s Dean Fisher and Annadale’s Paddy Hamilton. There will however be little threat from Fisher this year as he is recovering from illness while England based Hamilton is tied up with work commitments.
Campbell is currently in top form as shown by his virtually unbeaten record this winter. The exception was his defeat to 1500m star Gareth Turnbull in the Seeley Cup. However Turnbull will be concentrating on the track this year which means that Campbell’s main opposition could be Omagh’s Steven Duncan, North’s David Morwood who won the All-Ireland Masters at the weekend, Willowfield’s Paul Rowan and Letterkenny’s Pauric McKinney. Particular interest here will rest on Duncan following his emphatic victory in the Junior championships a month ago.
Once again Willowfield start as firm favourites for the coveted team title. However they came badly unstuck last year when last minute withdrawals meant the title fell to a surprised Annadale Striders. Striders are unlikely to repeat this feat in the absence of Hamilton and an injured Steven Cairns. Willowfield’s Campbell, David Simpson, George McCourt, Rowan, Matt Wilson and Alan McCullough should therefore have enough depth to take what would surprisingly be only their second title.
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Woodie’s DIY Indoor Junior And Masters Championships
Weekend timetables
Pole Vaulters should note that the Junior Pole Vault scheduled for Nenagh this weekend will now be held on Sunday 2nd March at 12 noon indoors in Santry.
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Woodie’s DIY National Master & Junior Track & Field Championships
Nenagh Saturday and Sunday
By Frank Greally
The Woodie’s DIY National Master & Junior Track & Field Championships take place at the Indoor Sports Complex in Nenagh this weekend , starting with the Masters’ Championships on Saturday.
The Master’s Championships are open to club athletes in the over 35 age category right through to over 80. The age divisions are set out in five year segements-over 35, O40 etc. Competition can be intense in many of the age group categories in both track and field events.
On Sunday some of Ireland’s best junior athletes will be inaction on the Nenagh track- including the highly talented Brian Gregan of Tallaght A.C who competes in the 400 metres. Gregan is one of the most exciting emerging talents around and he has just recently returned to competition after a long spell of injury. The strongly built Tallaght runner has already run 48.58 seconds for 400m this season and last weekend he clocked 22.15 seconds for 200 metres at an event in Scotland.
Other young athletes to watch for in Nenagh include Tullamore Harriers exciting long-jumper, Eoin Hannon, Grainne Moggan from Brothers Pearse A.C, who competes in the high-jump and Jessi Barr of Ferrybank A.C who competes in the 400 metres.
Competition starts at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday.
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England Athletics Under 20 & 17 Championships
Athletics Ireland Announces Team (attached)
Athletics Ireland are pleased to announce the following team for the England Athletics Championships on 23-24th February in Birmingham. Included in the team are World Junior
high jump qualifier Barry Pender of St. Abban’s A.C. and European Youth Olympic medallist Niamh Whelan of Ferrybank A.C.
