Updated February Squad Dates 08/02/2011

Please find below the updated dates for February squads.

Feb 12th-
Long Jump/Triple Jump/High Jump-12-2.30pm-Rosie Daniels
Pole Vault-11.30-2.30pm Advanced,2-4pm Beginners-Eamon Flanagan
Shot/Javelin-12-2.30pm-Alan O Connor

Feb 13th-
Sprints-12-2pm-John Carew
Hurdles-12-2pm-Denis Finnegan

Feb 19th-Hammer-11am-Brian/Rachel Akers
Feb 20th-Distance-11am-Freda Davoren/Frank Conway

Feb 26th/27th-Munster U14-U19 Indoors

Shane :)

Middle Distance-Freda Davoren

TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR INDOORS JANUARY-MARCH 2011 (Kerry squad)

800M/1500M

JANUARY

Fri 28-25 min run or rest if tired

Sat 29-On grass 5 x (2min hard, 1min easy, 1min hard, 1min easy)

Sun 30-Long Run 35-60 mins

FEBRUARY

ʼ11

Mon 31-25min fartlek on grass (60sec easy, 30sec fast)

Tue 01-Rest

Wed 02-Track 2 x (3 x 400m) Rest 90sec/reps, 5min/sets

Thu 03-35 min easy + 6 x 60m strides.

Fri 04-Hills 3 x (200m, 100m, 50m) v fast. Jog back recovery

Sat 05-Rest.

Sun 06-Long run 40-60 mins

Mon 07-Tempo run 2 x 10min hard with 2 min rest on grass.

Tue 08-Rest.

Wed 09-Track 5 x 600m with 3 min rest

Thu 10-Easy 35 mins. 6 x 60m fast strides.

Fri 11-Day off

Sat 12-On grass 3 x (3min, 2min, 1min) 1 min jog rest/reps 2 min/sets.

Sun 13-Long run 45-60 mins + 5 x 80mstrides

Mon 14-35 min run easy

Tue 15-Rest

Wed 16-Track (200m,300m,400m,300m,200m)v fast.

(run these slightly quicker than your 800m race pace

Rest 4,5,6,4min

Thu 17-Day off

Fri 18-Long run 40-60min

Sat 19-Track 2 x (4 x 300m) with 2 min rest/reps, 4 min/sets

Sun 20-35min easy and 6 x 100m uphill

Mon 21-Fartlek 20min (15sec fast, 45 sec easy)

Tue 22-Day Off

Wed 23-Track 500m, 400m, 300m, 200m, 100m fast

90sec rest (800m race pace or better)

Thu 24-Day off

Fri 25-25min relaxed run and 6 x 80m fast strides

Sat 26-

Munster Juveniles Indoors, Nenagh

Sun 27-Munster Juveniles Indoors,Nenagh

MARCH

ʼ11

Mon 28-Easy run 30 mins

Tue 01-Day off

Wed 02-Track (3 x 400m v fast) 8 min rest. (

pretty much flat out. last 400 will be v tough)

Thu 03-Easy run 35 min + 6 x 60m strides

Fri 04-Track or grass 6 x 200m fast.in 28 sec or better. Rest 3 mins

Sat 05-Long run 40-60mins.

Sun 06-Day off

Mon 07-20 min run + 6 x 80m strides

Tue 08-

Munster Schools Indoors, Nenagh

Thu 10-Day off

Fri 11-30 min run . Drills and 6 x 80m fast strides

Sat 12-On grass (4 x 2min, 4 x 1min). I min rest

Sun13-Long run 40-60min

Before all sessions (track, fartlek, tempo, intervals, hills etc,) do 10-12 min v easy run

warm up, swings and 4 x 60m fast strides.

After each session do 10-12 min v easy jog warm down and easy stretches.

Try to do some of your long runs/ fartleks on a hilly loop if possible

Ensure you get plenty of fruit and veg in your diet and plenty of fluids

Try to get 8 hours sleep every night

Kerry AAI AGM

The Kerry AAI AGM was held in An Riocht AC clubrooms on Monday January 24th at 8pm.AAI president Liam Hennessy was in attendance and addressed the meeting on the current activities and policys of AAI followed by questions from the floor.Following the officers resports on the season gone the election of officers took place with no real suprises which in turn was followed by debate on the motions up for discussion.Find below the 2011 officers and end result of Kerry motions.

President-Paddy O’Sullivan

Chairman-Martin Fitzgearld

Vice Chairman-Michael Godley

Hon Secretary-Shane Delaney

Juvenile Secretary-John Browne

Treasurer-Paddy O Donoghue/Mary O Sullivan

Cross Country Secretary-Tessa Dennisson

Juvenile XC Secretary-Paddy O Donoghue

Registrar-Helen Fitzgearld

PRO’s-Tom Joe O Donoghue/James Nagle

Coaching/Development Officer-Shane Delaney

Childrens Officers-Helen Fitzgearld/Denny McSweeney

Munster Delegates-Martin Fitzgearld/Joe Clifford/Michael Godley/Helen Fitzgearld/Shane Delaney

IT Officer-Michael Godley

Motions/Recommendations-Kerry

1.The Kerry Sportshall Games consist of two qualifying rounds and a final with a venue rotation system drawn up.[St Brendan’s]Reffered to juvenile review

2.The Kerry Sportshall Games shot putt landing area be increased at least double its existing size.[STB]Reffered to juvenile review.

3.A Kerry Sportshall Games "A" competition also be organised to coincide with the existing competition to provide competition for these athletes during the months January to March.[STB]Reffered to juvenile review.

4.A speedbounce competition be introduced in the Kerry Sportshall games.[STB] Reffered to juvenile review.

5. That the county board establish a training fund for the development of athletics in the county. This training fund to be financed by an annual contribution from each club in the county based on their number of registered members. The amount of this contribution is fixed each year at the county convention.[County executive]Passed.

6.All athletes at the Kerry juvenile track and field championships will use their own age group throwing weights in the current year of competition regardless if they have moved up an age group to compete due to the event not being in their own age group.[STB]Reffered to juvenile review.

7.That for ages 17-19 allow competitors to throw weight at the age specified for that athlete.[Kerry J Review] Reffered to juvenile review.

8.That athletes be restricted to a maximum number of events at the Kerry Juvenile Track and Field outdoor championships;4 events for ages 13-15 and 5 events for ages 16-20.-[Kerry Juvenile Review]Defeated.

9.That U19 be decoupled from U18 age group and an U19/Junior age group be created instead.[KJR]Passed.

10.That a Steeplechase be introduced for boys and girls. The ages and specifications to be decided.[KJR]Passed.

11.That a minimum standard be introduced for inter club points to be decided.[KJR]Defeated.

12.[a]That a graded division structure similar to Cork Senior Graded Meets be introduce and incorporating IAAF Scoring tables.

U13 upwards

All events to count including Open Sports (Tartan tracks only with electronic timing)

Some mechanism for recognition at annual awards

The system would be introduced on a phased basis to be decided[KJR]Reffered to Juvenile review.

[b]That a best overall athlete based on IAAF scoring tables be introduced.[KJR]Passed.

[c]That a Inter clubs points system based on IAAF scoring tables be introduced with format to be decided .-[KJRDefeated.

13.[a]That the primary school sports be enhanced with field events with exact events to be decided and implemented on a trail basis for 2011.[KJR]Passed.

Recommendations

Inter school scoring (small, middle and large school)

School allocation among clubs to be reviewed

Relays suit bigger schools so some mechanism so smaller schools can come together for relays

Talent ID programs to be run on the day-[KJR]Reffered to Juvenile Review.

14.That clubs submit entries Online\electronic entries .[KJR]Passed.

15.Bylaws, code of conduct and motions to be consolidate into one document.[KJR]Passed.

16.Breaches, fines and punitive action need to be defined .[KJR]Passed.

17.Officials training and mentoring needs to be set up within the county.[KJR] Passed.

18.That a Championship Best Performance be introduce for the county starting at 2009.[KJR]Passed.

19.[Recommendation] That a Kerry juvenile track and field team be organised for some sort of inter county match with the team picked from the Kerry juvenile track and field championships.[STB]Passed.

Shane :)

Munster/National Indoors so far!

My apologies for neglecting the blog a little of late.A few trips to Nenagh have already been made by many athletes of late with the Munster junior & senior,National juniors and AAI games.At the National juniors Kerry squad athlete Peter O Brien St Brendan's in only his second competition in the 35lb wfd took gold to add to his Munster gold with 7.98m.PJ Galvin again showed his consistancy clearing 1.85m again to finsih 3rd and is coming closer to clearing 1.90 every time he jumps thanks to the technical work done by squad coach Rosie Daniels.Other squad athletes to perform well included Dylan Roche 4th 200m PB,Luke O Keeffe 6th 400m PB,Ailbhe Courtney 4th 60mH PB and 6th 400m PB,Ben Dennessen 5th 60mH PB all St Brendan's.


Eoin O Carroll Tralee harriers took gold in the triple jump and silver in the long jump with his team mate Sinead O Connor finishing in third place in the triple jump.Emma Prendiville Farranfore Mainevalley finished in second place in the 3km racewalk where it took a new national record to beat her.

Kerry athletics probably had their strongest ever performances at the Munster junior/senior indoors.The standout performance was the championship best perfromance by the St Brendan's AC junior mens 4x200m relay when they won in 1.37.2.As there are too many other performances to mention below are the Kerry results-


St Brendan's-
Junior-
PJ Galvin 1st high jump 1.85m
Peter O’Brien 1st 35lbs weight,3rd shot putt
Ailbhe Courtney 2nd 400m
Una Marley 3rd pole vault 
Dylan Roche 2nd 200m 24.01,3rd 60m 7.35,
Edward O’Carroll  3rd 60m B Final 7.62

Ben Dennesen 2nd 60m Hurdles 9.92

Eoghan Courtney 3rd 200m 24.3

Luke O’Keeffe 3rd 400m 52.8

David Hogan 3rd 800m 2.11

Erik Feitshans 3rd 35lb wfd

Mens 4x200m-1st-Dylan Roche,Luke O Keeffe,Eoghan Courtney,Ben Dennessen

Senior-

Amy Phelan 1st High Jump & Pole Vault,3rd triple jump

Mens 4x200m A-1st-PJ Galvin,David Hogan,Shane Delaney,Edward O Carroll

Mens 4x200m B-2nd-Jack Cahalane,Peter O Brien,Erik Feitshans,Eogan O Sullivan

Womens 4x200m-2nd-Amy Phelan,Una Marley,Katie O Riordan,Ailbhe Courtney

Michael Grimes 3rd Triple Jump & Pole Vault

Eogan O Sullivan-3rd Pole Vault

Tralee Harriers-
Junior-
Eoin O’Carroll 1st Long Jump 6.67,2nd 60m 7.32
Michael Godley  3rd Triple Jump 12.56m
Laura Lynch 3rd triple jump
Senior-
Sinead O’Connor 1st Long jump & Triple Jump 
Patsy O’Connor 2nd 56lbs wfd 6.75m,2nd Shot
Womens 4x200m 1st-Laura Lynch,Louise O Connor,Sinead O Connor,Hannah Ryan


Farranfore Mainevalley-
Junior-
Jack O’Sullivan 2nd 1500m 4.30
Jonathon Foley 2nd Pole Vault 3.80m
Senior-
Daniel Clifford 1st Shot 13.04 

James Nagle 1st 56lb wfd 7.02m, 3rd Shot

An Riocht-
Senior-
Ger Cremin 2nd 60H
Jason Lynch 3rd 200m. 
Laura Crowe 1st 1500m 4.39.60


Estuary-
Junior-
Darragh McDonnell-2nd long jump

Last but not least below are the results from the AAI Games/Combined Events held on January 22nd in Nenagh.
Ger Cremin An Riocht-1st Senior mens pentathlon-2528pts
Eilish Fitzpatrick Gneeveguilla-3rd 60m-7.79
Sinead O’Connor Tralee Harriers 2nd Long Jump 5.28m,2nd Triple Jump 10.89m
Laura Crowe An Riocht AC 2nd 1000m.
Patsy O’Connor Tralee Harriers 2nd Shot 12.08
Michael Godley Tralee Harriers 2nd Triple Jump 


Well done to everybody,keep up the hard work.


Shane :)

"RUN KERRY RUN" 5km Road Race & Fun Run/Walk

The Date for the inaugural "Run Kerry Run" 5km road race has been announced for Saturday April 16th in Killarney Demense.This is the frst mass participation road race & fun run that the Kerry county board has organised and is already expected to be a huge success with huge enthuasism coming from all corners of the county.I would hope everybody who reads here will support the race and encourage anybody they know to run,jog or walk the event.
Start time is 11am with registration open from 9.30am at e10.

http://www.runkerryrun.com/Shane :)

Updated January Squad Dates 16/01/2011

Sat 22nd-
Distance-12-2pm-Freda Davoren
Long Jump/Triple J-12-2pm-Niall Counihan
Shot/Disc-12-2pm-Alan O C/Jerry H


Sun 23rd-
Sprints-12-2.30pm-John Carew
Pole Vault-12-3pm-Eamon Flanagan


Sat 29th-
Distance-11-1.30pm followed by a Coaches Q&A with Frank Conway
Hurdles-11-1pm-Shane Delaney
Hammer-11-2.30pm-Rachel Akers

Shane :)

Schools Athletics-Jerry Horgan

The health of any sport is best judged by its strength at underage level and using that barometer it’s fair to say that Kerry Athletics is flourishing. Underage Athletics is bubbling with talent certain to make an impact at home and abroad in the coming years.  This is highlighted by the fact that no fewer than 6 Kerry Athletes representing 4 Clubs were selected on The Irish Schools Team for The SIAB International at Scotstoun,Scotland in July.

   In an era when team sports have an iron grip on the sporting imagination of most of our young people,we also need to celebrate the dedication and spirit of the athletes who compete week in, week out for personal fulfillment and a love of the sport rather than the prospect of medals or international selection.These runners, their parents, coaches and club volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport.

   Unlike the AAI structure which has an age group for every age between 13 and 19 only 3 categories

exist in Schools competitions which brings the best athletes from 3 AAI categories together.These are Junior – under 15, Intermediate – under 17 and Senior – under 20.

Munster Schools

CIT was again the venue for this years Munster Secondary Schools championship held on 31.05.2010.In the Senior Girls category Ailbhe Courtney of Presentation Tralee collected double gold in the 400m and 400m hurdles.The Pres had more medals as Sinead O’Connor easily won the Triple Jump and was second in the Long Jump while Katie Rodgers was 3rd in the 800m.Mary Fitzgerald of Coláiste na Sceilge was 2nd in the 1500m,Niamh Joy of Intermediate School Killorglin was 3rd in the 3000m.Karen Flynn of Presentation Milltown took silver in the Hammer.

In the Senior Boys Denis Hayes of Presentation Milltown won the hammer from his Farranfore Maine

Valley club mate Shane Hand, representing Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne, with just 30cm separating

them. Shane also picked up a bronze in the Discus while Eoin Ó Muircheartiagh of Chorca Dhuibhne

won the Walk.Cian Foley of Tralee CBS was 2nd in the 100m and 3rd in the 400m.Mercy Mount Hawk performed strongly in the Intermediate Boys section with Clarence Kennedy

winning the Triple Jump with 13.01 and narrowly missing out on a second gold when finishing second

in the 100m hurdles.Eoin O’Carroll won the Long Jump and finished second in the Triple Jump while

Philippe Barnett  won the Javelin. P.J. Galvin came within 3cm of a gold medal in the High Jump and

Michael Godley finished second in the long jump.Jonathon Foley of Pres Milltown won the pole vault with a jump of 3.40m while Sean McCarthy of Currow, who’s on a rugby scholarship to Rockwell, won the shot putt.

All Ireland Schools

The All Ireland Schools Championships is the most prestigious track and field competition in the juvenile calendar. Without doubt Kerry’s top performer of the weekend was Eoin O’Carroll of Mercy Mount Hawk whoput in a series of stunning jumps to take gold in both the Intermediate boys Long Jump (6.63m) and Triple Jump(13.64).Mount Hawk athlete Clarence Kennedy was 3rd  with 12.94m behind Eoin in the Triple Jump. In the intermediate boys High Jump PJ Galvin of Mount Hawk continued to build on his recent fine performances finishing  2nd in a very close competition with a jump of 1.80m. Jonathon Foley of Presentation Milltown was 3^rd  in the Inter Boys pole vault with 3.40m in only his second competition of the season after recovering from illness.Hannah O’ Sullivan of Boherbue Comprehensive performed brilliantly to retain her Junior Discus Title with a huge throw of 36.13metres which was almost 8 metres ahead of her nearest challenger.

    Kerry’s only other gold medallist at this competition, showing their scarcity, was Emma Prenderville of PS Corcha Duibhne. Recently returned from the European Youth Trials in Moscow Emma showed no

sign of jet lag when taking the Senior girls 3000m walk title in 14.37.66. Mairead O’ Neill of Colaiste Treasa , competing for Gneevguilla was just denied the gold medal in the Inter Girls Hammer event after throwing a superb 42.16 metres.Presentation Tralee athletes Sinead O’Connor finished  2nd in the Triple Jump with 10.63m and Ailbhe Courtney picked up a double bronze in the 400m sprint and 400m hurdles. The Pres team then went on to pick up a bronze in the 4x100m relay.The Mounthawk intermediate boys squad also won best overall intermediate boys school.

Tailteann Games Interprovincial

The Tailteann Games Interprovincial Finals at Tullamore on the 28^th June marked a return to Schools

competition for some athletes in the Intermediate age group after the recent Irish Schools Championships.The prize at stake was a place on the Irish Schools team for the Home Countries

International three weeks later in Scotland. Two athletes would be selected in each event.

Kerry has had a strong tradition of qualifying athletes to the International in the past with many of the

counties top athletes getting their first taste of international experience on this trip.

  Without doubt  Eoin O’Carroll was one of the first names to go down on the team sheet. While unable to repeat the double he pulled off at the Irish Schools Championships, he defended his long jump title with 6.60m and was narrowly overtaken in the triple jump jumping 13.06 metres.He was joined by fellow Mount Hawk Tralee students PJ Galvin who took  the silver medal in the High Jump on 1.75m, just 5cm off the lead, and also Una Marley who’s 2.30m in the pole vault would have been good enough for 2nd but an off day produced a few misses which saw her placed 4th.This was taken into consideration however and when compared to her results at nationals and provincials saw her selected.Jonathon Foley of Presentation Milltown was joint first with 3.60m in The Pole Vault and was duly selected for the 2^nd year in succession.Mairead O’Neill of Colaiste Treasa in Cork, competing for Gneeveguilla, easily won the girls hammer at 40.72m having more than 6 metres to spare over the 2^nd placed athlete.Hannah O’Sullivan representing  Boherbue Comprehensive School moved up two years to compete in The Discus event and won a brilliant silver medal with a throw of 33.06 metres. Louise Flynn was 4^th in the hammer with 33.19 metres but is eligible to compete again next year.

International Schools, Scotland

The SIAB International at Scotsoun,Glasgow, was marred by gale winds on Saturday where six Kerry athletes made up the ranks of the Irish team for the annual quadrangular match between the schoolsassociations of the home countries. The Kerry Sextet was Eoin Carroll (Long and Triple  Jump) Tralee Harriers ,PJ Galvin ( High Jump) St. Brendans  and Una Marley (Pole vault) St. Brendans  all representing Mercy  Mount Hawk, Tralee, Jonathan Foley (Pole Vault), Presentation Milltown,Hannah O’ Sullivan (Discus) of Boherbue Comp and Mairead O’ Neill of Colaiste Treasa competing in The Hammer event are both members of Gneevguilla A.C.Though none of Kerry’s athletes bought home a medal they all ranked highly in a competition which isgenerally dominated by the much better funded English team. This was especially marked in that all Kerry’s athletes were competing in the highly technical jumps and throws events.

   Eoin O’Carroll was one of the select few Irish  athletes chosen to compete in two events at these

Championships, producing and excellent jump of 6.64m to place just outside the medals in fourth.  He was slightly back from his best in the triple with 12.84m. His fourth in the long jump was equalled by Jonathon Foley whose 3.70m jump in The Pole Vault  was a new Personal Best in poor conditions.Both of the above athletes are underage again next year..Mairead O’Neill had a solid throw in the girls hammer of 39.45m which placed her in 6^th place, only slightly back on her recent throws and Hannah O’Sullivan also threw very well in the discus with 32.95m.PJ Galvin showed his consistency  with a 1.75m in the High Jump.Una Marley produced a new PB of  2.50m jump in the pole vault, only 20cm off of a bronze but again the ability of coaching and training shone through with England’s top vaulter setting a new record of 3.71m.Overall a wonderful experience for all 6 athletes.

 To finish off the schools season Eoghan Courtney was selected on the Irish Schools multi events team for the schools international in Glasgow on February 6th,

 With a long off season ahead hopefully these leading lights of Kerry athletics will return next year with even greater performances!!

Cross Country and Road Round Up 2010-Denny McSweeney

The past 12 months have seen many fine performances from Kerry Athletes at County, Munster and National level.It was encouraging to see numbers increase in most events but especially in the Juvenile Championships.

Niamh O Sullivan An Riocht and Cian Murphy Iveragh continue to dominate the county scene, with both recording senior road and cross-country doubles in Kerry as well as having very good performances outside the county. The emergence of some very exciting Juvenile athletes gives us plenty to look forward to over the coming months and years.

We will begin this round up with a look at the county juvenile even age  and Novice cross-country which as usual for this fixture was hosted and very well organised by Gneeveguilla A.C in Killarney. The re-emergence of Kenmare A.C added greatly to the numbers taking part and indeed the overall atmosphere at these events.

   The U10 Girls winner was Kaitlyn Moriarty Kenmare with Kenmare winning the team section. Emma Dineen Spa/Muckross proved best in the U12 event with Kenmare winning the team event.The U14 Girls went to Muireann McKenna Lios Tuathail with Kenmare again the team winners.Muireann’s teammate Vanessa Dineen was the U16 Champion with Bridget Dennehy Iveragh having a great run when taking the U18 crown.

   In the U10 Boys race Conor O Brien Kenmare was first and also led his team to the gold medals. Fiachra Clifford won an exciting U12 race with Farranfore/Maine Valley the team winners.The U14 gold medallist was Kevin Donoghue An Riocht with Iveragh winning the team event.Cillian O’Donovan Iveragh was very impressive when taking U16 gold and leading his club to victory also. Aodhan Burns Spa Muckross was the impressive U-18 champion.

   In the novice men’s championship Simon Mangan Gneeveguilla who had mainly been known for his road running marked his arrival on the cross-country scene with a great front running performance to win it from Niall Prendiville Farranfore/Maine Valley who has been most prominent as a race walker over the past couple of years, Jonathan Leinston of Gneeveguilla won the Bronze medal, Gneeveguilla were the team winners. Annemaria Costello of Gneevguilla won the Novice women’s race from Katie Rodgers St.Brendans and Sorcha Prendiville Lios Tuathail.

The action moved to Beaufort on October 10^th for the County Intermediate, Masters and uneven age juvenile championship. As always the course was excellent and the event was well hosted by Star of the Laune A.C.The girls to claim individual gold in the juvenile’s were Ciara Kennelly Gneeveguilla U9,Sophie Lynch Lios Tuathail U11,Christine Cooper Spa Muckross U13, Vanessa Dineen Lios Tuathail U15 and the Iveragh duo of Bridget Dennehy and Grace Lynch winning the U17 and U19 events respectively.

  In the Boys events Jack O Connor Kenmare was the first U9,the U11 champion was Darragh Louth St.Brendans, U13 Michael O Leary Iveragh,U15 Cillian O’Donovan Iveragh,his club mate Aaron Quigley winning the U17 and Jack O Sullivan Farranfore/Maine valley the U-19 Champion.Kieran Reid and Niamh O Sullivan both of An Riocht were the overall winners in the masters event with category wins being claimed by Mary O Connor, Brid Stack and Joan O Sullivan in the woman’s section and Seamus Murphy, Michael Mangan,Patrick O’Shea and Mike Brown in the men’s.James Doran An Riocht was a very impressive Intermediate Champion from his club mate Kieran Reid and the Novice Champion from the previous week Simon Mangan Gneeveguilla. An Riocht were the team champions. Mary O Connor An Riocht was equally impressive when taking the women’s intermediate title from Brid Stack and Caroline Murphy both Gneeveguilla with An Riocht again winning the team gold.

An excellent course in Currow was the venue for the County Senior, Junior and Juvenile relays on October 31^st.Gneeveguilla, Lios Tuathail, Kenmare and An Riocht shared the juvenile girls relay’s with Gneeveguilla, Star of the Laune and Iveragh sharing the boys titles.Kenmare AC won best overall juvenile cross country club for the first time with Lios Tuathaill winning the division 2 overall.

Jack O Sullivan Farranfore/Mainevalley was crowned Junior Men’s champion with Grace Lynch Iveragh winning an exciting junior women’s event from Mary Fitzgerald An Riocht and Niamh De Hora Farranfore/Mainevalley. In the senior Women’s 5K race Niamh O Sullivan An Riocht shook off the long time attention of her team mate Laura Crowe to win the Nora Bronsan memorial cup. Laura was the silver medallist with Novice champion Ann Marie Costello Gneeveguilla taking the Bronze. Niamh and Laura were joined by Mary O Connor to win the team section for An Riocht.

 The senior mens race was exciting as usual. A group of four runners broke away early on but at the halfway mark Cian Murphy moved clear to win his sixth senior title and the JJ Crowley memorial cup from his Iveragh clubmate Brian Murphy and An Riochts James Doran. With great support running from Donal O Callaghan, Tim O Connor and Kieran Reid An Riocht regained the team title.

Kerry athletes had a very successful Munster Cross-Country championship.The first Munster event of the current season was the Novice and evenage juvenile championships in Macroom on October 10^th.  Cillian O’Donovan had a brilliant win in the Boys U16 and led his County and Club Iveragh to team gold.The other scoring members of the County team were Conor O Mahony, Tralee Harriers who was an excellent 3^rd ,David O Keefe, Gneeveguilla  5^th,Andy Quigley 13^th,Liam O Connell 14^th both Iveragh and David Kavanagh Tralee Harriers 18^th.Brian Sugrue joined Killian, Andy and Liam to win gold for Iveragh.Another great performance came from Grace Lynch Iveragh in the Girls U18 5000M, being well  placed throughout she finished very strongly to take 2^nd position.Niamh Clifford Star of the Laune also ran very well to finish in 7^th position.The boys U12 team won the silver medals thanks to some fine runners from Adam Donoghue Riocht 4^th,Michael O Leary Iveragh 5^th,Patrick Warren Gneeveguilla 9^th, Fiachra Clifford Star of the Laune 13^th,Sean Galvin Lios Tuathail 18^th and David Kenny Farranfore Main Valley 24^th.Other good performances came from Aaron Quigley Iveragh U18, Kevin Donoghue Riocht U14, Muireann McKenna Lios Tuathail U14, Helen O Sullivan Kenmare U12 and Kaitlyn Moriarty Kenmare U10. 

   Ed Murphy Gneeveguilla had a very good run in the Novice when finishing an excellent 3^rd in the Big Field.Ed also led Kerry to bronze medals.He was well supported by James Doran Riocht 8^th,Simon Mangan Gneeveguilla,Tim O Connor Riocht, Fergal Barry and Jonathon Leniston both Gneeveguilla.  Ann Meria Costello was our leading athlete in the womens race when being placed 7^th. 

The unevenage Juvenile and Intermediate Championships were held in Charleville on November 7^th.  Again Cillian O’Donovan was the star when the promising Iveragh athlete made it a Munster Double when adding the U15 title to the U16 gold medal win of a couple of weeks previously.The U15 race was unique from a Kerry viewpoint in that we had a clean sweep of the top three positions.David O Keeffe Gneeveguilla was an excellent 2^nd with Liam O Connell Iveragh having a fine run in 3^rd place with Liam Carey Star of the Laune in 12^th position and the Iveragh Pair of Brian Sugrue and Ronan O’Shea running strongly  Kerry won the team gold.Cillian, Liam, Brian and Ronan combined to win club gold for Iveragh.Conor O’Mahony Tralee Harriers had an excellent run to finish 3^rd in the boys U.17.Niamh Clifford Star of the Laune was 6^th in the U19 event with Mary Fitzgerald Riocht 7^th; Bridget Dennehy Iveragh was 10^th U17.

   In the Intermediate Mens race we had the biggest field of runners for many years when almost 90 went to the start line.  From the beginning James Doran Riocht was in the leading group and finished strongly to take 3^rd position.  Other Kerry Athletes to perform well were the An Riocht Trio of Donal O’Callaghan, Tim O’Connor and Milosz Wojcik. 

The Munster Masters and Juvenile B championships were in Dungarvan on November 21^st.Niamh O’Sullivan An Riocht and Patrick O’Shea Iveragh were again category winners with Niamh being placed 2^nd overall.Niall O’Shea Iveragh won the Boys U13 race and led Iveragh to club gold.The other team members being Cathal O’Donovan,Stephan O’Connor and Ciaran Clifford.

   Cillian Tierney Spa Fenit Barrow was placed 4^th and Jack McKenna Lios Tuathail 26^th to combine with the Iveragh Boys to win team Silver for Kerry in the county section.  The An Riocht pair of Katie Reidy and Aisling O’Connell both had excellent runs to finish 2^nd in the Girls U13 and U15 respectively.  Other good performances came from Katelyn McCarthy Spa Fenit Barrow 6^th U13,Vanessa Dineen Lios Tuathail 4^th U15,Liam O Donnell Spa Fenit Barrow U11,Tadgh McKenna Lios Tuathail U9 and Ellen Brown Riocht U13. 

Kerry athletes have also been successful at many National Fixtures with Niamh O’Sullivan 4^th place finish at the National Senior Inter clubs being perhaps the stand out performance.Niamh also won her category at the National Munster Cross-Country in Boyle Co. Roscommon in February.Kerry teams were very successful also at this venue in the National Inter Counties Cross-Country Relay.We had Gold medal winning performances from our U12 and U14 boys teams.The boys team comprised of Adam Donoghue, Patrick Warren, Dean Crowley and Niall O’Shea.The U15 team were Cillian O’Donovan,Adam King,Jack Daly and Mitchell Holland.The U12 girls teams won bronze medals with a team of Christina Cooper,Katelyn McCarthy,Beatrice Casey and Ellen Browne. 

The first All Irelands of the current season were held on a snow covered course in Derry on November 28^th.Many Kerry Athletes made the long trip in treacherous driving conditions and aquitted themselves very well.The U12 boys team did brilliantly to win coveted silver medals for the County.The scoring team members were Adam Donoghue Riocht 11^th,Fiachra Clifford Star of the Laune 15^th,Patrick Warren Gneeveguilla 16^th,Michael O Leary Iveragh 17^th, David Kenny Farranfore Main Valley 28^th and Sean Galvin Lios Tuathail 59^th.Cillian O’Donovan Iveragh led the U16 boys home in 6^th position and they also won inter county bronze medals.The other team members being David O Keeffe in 12^th,David Kavanagh Tralee Harriers 26^th and the Iveragh Trio of Andy Quigley 44^th,Liam O Connell 48^th and Brian Sugrue 76^th.Bridget Dennehy had an excellent run when being placed 6^th in the girls U.18.We had other good performances from Niamh Clifford Star of the Laune,Kevin Donoghue Riocht,Grace Lynch Iveragh and Muireann McKenna Lios Tuathail.

 Patrick O’Shea and Niamh O’Sullivan finished 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in their categories at the home Countries Masters Cross-Country in November.

The county road championships were hosted by Iveragh A.C on an excellent course in Caherciveen on April 11^th.Local man Cian Murphy delighted his home supporters with a great display of front running to win from his club mate Brian Murphy and their namesake Ed from Gneeveguilla making it a clean sweep for the Murphy clan.

   In the Senior womens section An Ríochts Niamh O’Sullivan continued her dominance of distance running within the county with an emphatic victory from the Gneeveguilla pair of Caroline Murphy and Breeda Barrett.  The novice sections were won by James Doran An Riocht and Abina O Sullivan Gneeveguilla while Stephen Walsh St. Brendans and Bridget Dennehy Iveragh were the Junior Category winners.  Masters category winners were Billy O’Brien An Riocht, Brendan King and Louis Collins both Iveragh, Michael Mangan Star of the Laune, Mike O’Connor Farranfore Main Valley and Mike Browne Gneeveguilla.

Rathkeale in Limerick was the venue for the Munster Masters Road championships in March.Niamh O’Sullivan was again dominant when winning the overall race.John Barrett Gneeveguilla was 8^th overall and 2^nd in his category as was Patrick O’Shea Iveragh in the M.50 category.Mike Browne was also category gold medallist. 

   A couple of weeks later Ballyea in Co. Clare was the venue for the Senior and Novice event.Niamh O’Sullivan was a silver medal winner in the senior event as was Annemarie Costello in the Novice section. 

   In the senior mens race Kerry were led home by former winner Cian Murphy in 5^th position, good support from Brian Murphy, Arthur Fitzgerald, Frank Mangan,Ed Murphy and John Barrett was enough for Kerry to win the Inter County Section.In the Novice event Brian, Arthur,Frank and Ed were joined by Sean Cahalane and Cian Hogan to win Inter County Novice Silver.

   At the Munster Half Marathon which was held in Blarney on September 12^th Billy O’Brien was Kerrys top finishes in 6^th place.Tom Shanahan An Riocht and Willie O’Riordan St. Brendans won their Masters Sections. 

   Cian Murphy was Kerrys top athlete at the National 10K round championships when being placed 23^rd in a time of 32 minutes 44 seconds.James Doran was 30^th in 33minutes 17 seconds.

Great credit is due to all who helped in any way with the cross-country and road fixtures over the past year.A special thanks to Lorcan Murphy who took on the position of cross-country and road secretary and did an excellent job. Credit also to clubs who hosted events and landowners who made their lands available for cross-country.