Rosses AC Celebrates Medal Wins at Ulster Championships!

UPDATE: Rosses AC’s young athletes have triumphed at the Ulster Juvenile Even Age Championships, held in Dundonald, County Down, with multiple medal wins just announced! The competition saw talented teams face challenging courses, returning home triumphantly with medals in hand, showcasing the dedication and skill of these young competitors.

In the U10 Girls category, the team secured a stunning silver medal, led by Aine Doherty, who finished second overall. The impressive performances from teammates Mary Kate McDonald, Molly McCready, and Alanna Lynch contributed significantly to this success. Meanwhile, the U10 Boys team fought hard, finishing third in the team event, despite a scoring error that prevented them from receiving a medal. Notable runs came from Liam McGonagle, Xavier Gallagher, James McDonald, Ari Bonner, and Tommy Sharkey.

The U12 Girls displayed exceptional grit, finishing tenth as a team, with standout performances from Isa Bonner, Katie Sharkey, Lucy Brennan, and newcomer Seana Sweeney. For the U12 Boys, although lacking a complete team, Deacon Parker and Ruairi Lynch competed admirably out of their age group against top Ulster athletes.

In the U14 category, the Girls team of Shauna McGovern, Enya Logue, Claire Minnock, and Molly Sharkey faced tough competition, finishing strongly in a field of 118 athletes. Aidan Lynch represented the U14 Boys, finishing comfortably in the top half among 92 runners.

The U16 Girls saw Aileen Logue make steady progress, finishing in the top third during her 3.5k race, contributing to Donegal’s third-place county team finish. The U16 Boys also performed well, with Evan Ward, Odhran Lynch, and Joe Santiago competing fiercely, resulting in a third-place team finish for the county.

Next, all eyes will be on the Ulster Uneven Ages Championships in two weeks at Finn Valley, as Rosses AC aims for continued success.

Additionally, over the weekend, members of Rosses AC participated in the Dublin Marathon, demonstrating formidable determination despite challenging weather conditions.

Leading the women’s division, Helen McCready achieved a remarkable personal best of 2:51:09, placing 24th out of nearly 6,000 women. Following her, Teresa Gallagher set a new personal best with 3:23:15, while Bridget Molloy added to her medal collection with a time of 3:53:16. Shauna McGinley overcame knee issues to finish in 4:02:29, raising funds for charity alongside Claire O’Donnell, who completed the marathon with her nephew, marking a special family milestone.

On the men’s side, Patrick Trimble finished impressively in 2:49:02, closely followed by Paul McKelvey at 2:54:23. Gavin Ward celebrated a sub-3-hour personal best of 2:58:45, while James McGeehan also achieved a sub-3-hour time of 2:59:22. New recruit Fergal Rafferty finished in 3:01:22, and Edward Harkin defied injury to complete the race in 3:05:31. Ryan Wilson and Noel O’Donnell followed closely, achieving times of 3:09:02 and 3:09:17 respectively.

With a remarkable debut at 3:20:33, Neily McBride and seasoned marathoner Denis Boner added another medal to his collection with a finish time of 3:25:53. Finally, Niall Shiels celebrated his first marathon completion in 3:37:51.

A huge congratulations to all participants for their incredible dedication and performance! The hard work and commitment shown leading up to these events are truly commendable. Stay tuned for more updates as Rosses AC continues to shine in upcoming competitions!