from N.I Athletics Athletics Northern Ireland and Athletics Ireland are pleased to announce that the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Senior Championships will return once more to the Odyssey Arena Belfast on 11th-12th February next year. The competition acts as Trials for places on the Irish Team for the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul in which Derval O’Rourke has already been pre-selected for.
This is the ninth Irish Indoors meeting in the North which has been made possible by the generous assistance of title sponsor Woodie’s DIY and funding partners Belfast City Council. Once again upwards of 1000 athletes will be participating at the landmark Odyssey Arena, which hosts Ireland’s only indoor hydraulic 200-metre running track.
Helping launch the event locally was Ireland’s national 100m champion Amy Foster (City of Lisburn). The young 22 year old has had her best season ever setting an NI 200m record and finishing 7th in the final at the World University Games in 23.53. She will be looking to take the indoor 60m title in February but will face stiff opposition from the current champion Ailis McSweeney who is returning from injury. Chloe Boomer (Lagan Valley) will also compete over 60m.
Adam McMullan (Mid-Ulster AC) is also an indoor and outdoor national champion winning the Long Jump easily in 7.13m ahead of David Quilligan of Leevale AC in the Odyssey last year. McMullan made the Irish team for the European U23 Championships last summer in Ostrava.
They were joined by Jason Harvey (Lagan Valley) who took an amazing 4 seconds off his 400m hurdles PB at the National outdoor championships to record a time of 50.65 which is inside the B standard for the European Championships in 2012. Harvey will be competing over the 400m in February.
Jason Harvey said:
“I have been working hard all winter with big aspirations for next season. I am especially looking forward to competing in the Odyssey as it is such a brilliant facility to compete in and the sheer scale is like nothing we have in Northern Ireland or Ireland for that matter.
I have a very busy season ahead this year as many opportunities have opened up. My main aim is to compete in the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki as I achieved the standard provided last year. I have one eye on the Olympic standard but I tend not to focus on times- I try to go out there and give everything to win and times will come.”
Funding partners include Belfast City Council. Speaking at the launch, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said:
“Belfast City Council is dedicated to the development of sport and – through our Support for Sport scheme – we are proud to support this event, now in its 9th Year.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with Athletics Northern Ireland and the Athletic Association of Ireland to deliver what is a recognised highlight in our city’s sporting calendar. 2012 will be a significant year for Belfast and with the London 2012 Olympics knocking on the door, I have no doubt this event will be a taste for what we will expect to see this summer”.
Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Athletic Championships is also sponsored by accommodation partner the Premier Inn who have three hotels based in Belfast- Titanic Quarter (120 rooms), Waring Street (171 rooms) and Alfred Street Hotel (148 rooms).
The event website, www.indoorathletics.net provides all competitors and spectators information on the event. Online entry is now open for the Seniors and the Juniors. Tickets are also available to purchase from Ticketmaster or through the Odyssey Arena.
Picture (above);
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile along with Amy Foster, Chloe Boomer, Jason Harvey and Adam McMullan. Tickets available to buy now at the Odyssey Box Office and full info on www.indoorathletics.net
