Action Packed Day of Competition at GloHealth CE’s Championships

An action packed day of competition unfolded at the GloHealth Indoor Combined Event Championships in AIT International Arena, Athlone. Ireland’s best multi-events battled it out for the coveted GloHealth National title on Saturday, 17th of January.

Senior & Junior

Reigning champion Michael Bowler was back to defend the title he impressively won at last year’s event. Bowler made his intentions known from the start with a clear cut victory in the 60m hurdles in a time of 9.01 seconds. From there he produced a consistent set of results to dominate the competition and win the title with a score of 3,198 points. Kevin Grant (Limerick AC) placed second on a score of 2,900 points with Sean Gill (Raheny Shamrock AC) third on 2,836 points.

The senior women’s event was a head to head battle between Roisin Howard (Bandon AC) and Karen Dunne (Bohermeen AC). Howard was the more consistent of the two athletes over the five events to capture the title with a score of 3,251 points with Dunne second on 2,831 points.

Keith Marks (Cushinstown AC) was a popular winner of the junior men’s competition. After a confident start to the competition which included an 8.74 second run in the 60m hurdles and a big leap of 6.59m in the Long Jump. Marks then moved onto to the High Jump where he cleared 2m to accumulate an overall point’s score of 3,544 points. Mark Rogers (St Peter’s AC) placed second on 3,331 points with Tim Bowler (Enniscorthy AC) third on 3,018 points.

After placing second last year Grace McKenzie (Belgooly AC) was out for redemption in the Junior women’s event. McKenzie cleared 1.69m in the High Jump and recorded a time of 9.24 seconds in the 60m Hurdles to achieve an overall point’s score of 3,410 points. Laoise Bennis (St Marys-Limerick) placed second with a score of 2,261 points.  

Youth & Master

Pre-event favourite Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown AC) had to pull out injured of the Youth women’s competition after a blistering start in the hurdles where she recorded a time of 8.67 seconds. Club mate Shannon Sheehy stepped up to the mark to record an impressive set of results to win the title. Sheehy scorched to a fast 60m Hurdles time of 8.74 (965 points) and cleared 1.68m (830 points) in the High Jump. After the completion of the final event (800m) Sheehy was deemed the winner with a score of 3,567 points ahead of Alannah Gannon (Aughagower AC) second on 3,078 points and Niamh Kelly (Boyne AC) third on 3,052 points.

Daniel Ryan (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) dominated the Youth men’s event with a score of 3,668 points. Ryan was the quickest over the Hurdles (8.36) and also launched the Shot out to an impressive 13.58m to bag important points on his way to the title. Ryan demonstrated his all-round talent with a 6.50m+ long jump and sub three minute 1,000m at the end of the competition. David Dagg (DSD AC) placed second with a score of 2,843 points with Thomas Connolly (Le Cheile AC) third with a score of 2,744 points.

Isabella Breslin (Lifford AC) and Finola Moore (Celbridge AC) won the respective 35+ and 50+ nationals titles with scores of 2,155 points and 1,563 points.  Joe Gough (West Waterford AC) won the M50+ title with a score of 1,581 points. This was largely down to recording a fast time of 3.02.94 in the final event the 1,000m. Ger Cremin (An Riocht AC) won the M35+ event with a score of 2,574 points. 

Juvenile Round Up

The Meredith sisters made it a family affair in the U14 and U15 girl’s event with respective wins for Sophie in the U15’s and Holly in the U14’s. Sophie produced an impressive set of results to set a new championship best performance (CBP) of 3,416 points. The score smashed the old mark held by Vicki Cusack (Liscarroll AC) of 3,051 points set last year.  Younger sister Hollly had a much tougher task as she battled it out with Mullingar AC athlete Shauna Leydon. Holly did just enough to capture the title with a score of 2,645 points, 3 points clear of Leydon on 2,642 points.

Katherine O’Connor (St Gerards AC) dominated the U16 girl’s event accumulating a score of 3,311 points putting her over 200 points clear of her nearest rival. David Ryan was equally impressive in the U16 boy’s event as he claimed the title with a score of 3,426 points. Ryan showed particularly good form in the High Jump (1.73m) and Long Jump (6.01m). Darragh Miniter (St Mary’s (Clare) AC) and Brian Lynch (Old Abbey AC) battled it out for the U15 boy’s title with Miniter coming out on top with a score of 2,869 points with Lynch in second on 2,814 points. Old Abbey AC team mates Daniel Hurley (2,535) and Diarmuid O’Connor (2,274) placed first and second respectively in the U14 event.  

Get More With GloHealth

Don’t forget that Athletics Ireland members get more with GloHealth. kids and adults get €30 cash back on their Athletics Ireland membership with GloHealth’s Family & Kids’ Health package. Adults can also get this benefit on the Sports Cover package.