Athletics feast as Offaly indoor championships are held in Athlone

Offaly Athletics News

On Sunday last, all roads led to the TUS Midlands Indoor Arena in Athlone for the Offaly Juvenile, Junior, Senior and Masters Indoor Championships. This year’s event featured a new format, with Laois and Westmeath athletes also competing, adding an extra layer of competition as each county extracted results and determined its own medal winners.

The morning session saw approximately 600 juvenile athletes in action, filling the stadium with excitement and energy. The afternoon kicked off with the field events, including shot put, long jump, and weight for distance (WFD). Meanwhile, on the track, the championships commenced with the highly competitive 200m races featuring athletes from all three counties. This was followed by the 400m, 800m, and 3000m races, culminating in the relay event.

A huge thank you to all involved — the competing club athletes, parents, and enthusiastic supporters. A special mention goes to the dedicated officials, who worked tirelessly throughout the long and demanding day.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of numerous volunteers. These individuals, who give their time and energy freely, are the backbone of athletics events. From overseeing competitions to managing registrations, setting up equipment, and ensuring everything runs smoothly, their hard work is truly commendable. Their commitment ensures that athletes have the opportunity to compete in a well-organised and professional setting.

Gratitude is also extended to the organising committee, who put in weeks of effort to ensure the event ran smoothly. A sincere thank you to MC Thomas Dunne, starter Joe Walsh, timekeepers, result recorders and the numerous officials whose contributions made the day a success.

Offaly Athletics also appreciates the support of TUS Midlands for providing the venue, Offaly Civil Defence for their assistance, and everyone else who played a role in making the championships a fantastic day of athletics. Offaly results as follows.

200 metres

Junior Ladies - 1 Sinead Greene (Ferbane AC) 29.21; 2 Aoife Farrell (Naomh Mhuire AC) 37.81. Masters ladies O40 - 1 Susan Cleary (Birr AC) 35.11. Masters Ladies O45 - 1 Ash Farrell (Naomh Mhuire AC) 43.89. Masters Ladies O50 - 1 Sandra Busteed (Tullamore Harriers) 39.78. Masters Ladies O60 - 1 Olive Mannion (Tullamore Harriers) 39.29. Masters Ladies O70 - 1 Mary Walsh (Tullamore Harriers) 43.95. Junior Men - 1 Daniel McDonald (Ferbane AC) 26.26. Senior Men - 1 Billy Corrigan (Tullamore Harriers) 22.54; 2 Tom Perry (Birr AC) 24.47. Masters O40 - 1 Shane Origan (Tullamore Harriers) 27.01. Masters Men O45 - 1 Stephen Byrne (Tullamore Harriers) 25.09; 2 Tom O'Rourke (Naomh Mhuire AC) 44.39. Masters Men O50 - 1 Mark Conway (Ballyskenach AC) 29.81; 2 Patrick Hill (Ferbane AC) 30.82; 3 Kevin Brazil (Ferbane AC) 34.5.

400 metres

Junior Ladies - 1 Sinead Greene 1.16.58; 2 Aoife Farrell 1.32.12. Senior Ladies - 1 Sorcha Dempsey (Kinnitty AC) 1.24.88; 2 Lisa Lamir (Kinnitty AC) 1.25.11. Masters Ladies O40 - 1 Denise Coghill (Ferbane AC) 1.22.84; 2 Susan Cleary 1.24.58. Masters Ladies O45 - 1 Denise Egan (Ferbane AC) 1.10.29; 2 Ash Farrell 1.45.23. Masters Ladies O60 - 1 Olive Mannion 1.43.28. Senior Men - 1 Tom Perry 53.02. Masters Men O35 - 1 David Hollywood (Tullamore Harriers) 1.04.01. Masters Men O40 - 1 Kevin Looby (Naomh Mhuire AC) 1.01.1; 2 David Staunton (Clara AC) 1.02.11. Masters Men O50 - 1 John Carroll (Tullamore Harriers) 1.12.71; 2 Kevin Brazil 1.16.89.

800 metres

Junior Ladies - 1 Sinead Greene 3.03.81. Senior Ladies - 1 Lisa Lamir 3.27.82; 2 Sorcha Dempsey 3.41.01. Masters Ladies O45 - 1 Denise Egan 2.29.47. Senior Men - 1 Stephen Rosney (Kilcormac Killoughey AC) 2.12.03. Masters Men O40 - 1 Ken Hume (Clara AC) 2.34.06. Masters Men O50 - 1 Kevin Brazil 2.51.62; 2 John Carroll 3.03.89; 3 Noel Horan (Ferbane AC) 3.07.88.

3000 metres

Junior Male - 1 Darragh Hynes (Ferbane AC) 9.16. Senior Men - 1 Darragh Carroll (Tullamore Harriers) 10.53. Masters O35 - 1 David Hollywood 11.35. Masters O45 - 1 Michael O'Brien (Tullamore Harriers) 10.16. Masters O50 - 2nd Mark Conway 14.08.

Long Jump

Junior Ladies - 1 Bláithin Egan (Ferbane AC) 2.99; 2 Aoife Farrell 2.02. Masters O40 - 1 Denise Coghill 2.82; 2 Annemaria Egan (Ferbane AC) 2.41. Masters O45 - 1 Edel Waldron (Ferbane AC) 2.98; 2 Ash Farrell 2.01. Masters O50 - 1 Hilary Duncan (Tullamore Harriers) 2.05. Masters Men O45 - 1 Conor McGrath (Tullamore Harriers) 4.14; 2 Tom O'Rourke 3.24. Masters O50 - 1 Noel Horan 3.08.

Shot Put

Junior Ladies - 1 Marie Shanahan (Ballyskenach AC) 8.18. Senior Ladies - 1 Claire Kennedy (Birr AC) 8.27. Masters O40 - 1 Denise Coghill 6.21. Masters O45 - 1 Edel Waldron 5.91. Masters O50 - 1 Hilary Duncan 6.16; 2 Sandra Busteed 5.61; 3 Zara Cordial (Birr AC) 5.26. Junior Men - 1 Daniel McDonald 9.82; 2 William O'Meara (Birr AC) 6.46. Masters O35 - 1 Joseph Mulligan (Tullamore Harriers) 9.06. Masters O45 - 1 Kevin Waldron (Ferbane AC) 8.77; 2 Conor McGrath 7.58. Masters O50 - 1 Michael Guinan (Ferbane AC) 6.67; 2 Noel Horan 5.61. Masters O60 - 1 Michael Kenny (Birr AC) 6.58.

Weight for Distance

Junior Ladies - 1 Marie Shanahan 5.58; 2 Aoife Farrell 2.54. Senior Ladies - 1 Claire Kennedy 7.04. Masters O45 - 1 Ash Farrell 2.93. Masters O50 - 1 Zara Cordial 4.12; 2 Hilary Duncan (Tullamore Harriers) 3.69; 3 Sandra Busteed 3.55. Masters O60 - 1 Olive Mannion 4.59. Junior Men - 1 Evan King (Birr AC) 5.45; 2 William O'Meara 5.39. Masters Men O35 - 1 Joseph Mulligan 4.91. Masters Men O45 - 1 Tom O'Rourke 2.78. Masters Men O50 - 1 Patrick Hill 4.92; 2 Michael Guinan 4.91; 3 Noel Horan 3.27. Masters O60 - 1 Michael Kenny (Birr AC) 4.61.