Boyne AC athletes did themselves and their club proud at last weekend’s Leinster Indoor championships in Athlone and the all-Ireland schools cross country race in Tallaght.
The wet dreary weather on Saturday did nothing to stop the mighty Jack Garvey giving his best ever performance to help his team mates win gold at the all-Ireland schools cross country race.
The going was heavy in places with plenty of steep hills thrown in for good measure. The continuous wind and rain ensured only the fittest would prevail.
The race was stacked with talent and Jack Garvey is no stranger to running at top level. The training and hard work paid off and Jack lifted the Cup to a massive cheer, bringing the highlight of his cross country career to a season high.
Over in Athlone, Boyne AC had one athlete taking part in the shot putt, Hannah Newman, who was competing out of age for the first time in the Leinster Indoor Championship.
With nerves of steel Hannah remained calm and collected despite the buzz of all the action going on around her. Her fine throw of 8.18 metres saw her take a well-earned bronze medal which is her ticket to the All Irelands. Hannah is also a talented footballer, and this superb athlete is certainly one to watch.
Two Boyne AC teams participated in the indoor Leinster relay championships on Sunday with coach Richard was on hand to calm everyone’s nerves!
The Boyne athletes are no strangers to this state of the art venue and hopes were high for a good medal position but nothing can be taken for granted as racing the tight turns, handovers, on this banked track is fraught with danger.
Luke Spellman, Will Gow, Sean Clarke, Cillian Hickey, and Harry Kingston were the first athletes to compete for the U12 relay team. These guys went all out, winning their heat in style and moving on to the final.
The tight turns caused havoc and the team finished sixth despite having an early lead. For these young athletes who are eager to return, it was an incredible experience to be running up against the best of the best.
Seamus Keenan, Ryan McMahon, Evan Gamble, and Sam Doyle were the next athletes in the u16 boys relay team. Ryan Mc Mahon won the gold medal in the 60-meter Leinster championship the previous weekend and went on to win bronze in the 200m later that same day.
Despite a challenging relay heat, this formidable team persevered to qualify for the final. And what a final it was, competing against the best runners in Leinster. Despite their outstanding effort, they were unfortunate not to take home a medal.
It was a fantastic performance all around, and there can be no doubt that these athletes have much more to offer and they cannot wait for their next competition.
