Club Stories: Gowran AC

Gowran AC

In this week’s club focused series, we are shining the lights on Gowran Athletic Club after their very own youth member Andrew Cooper won his first senior title a few weeks ago at the National Indoor Championship!

Gowran Athletics Club was founded in 1982 with the aim of offering both juveniles and adults the opportunity to be involved in a welcoming, friendly club. The club is based in Gowran village catering for members from a wide area including Kilkenny city, Clara, Castlewarren, Paulstown, Goresbridge, Skeoghvosteen, Borris, St. Mullins, Ballinkillen and beyond.

The Kilkenny club train to compete in a wide variety of events including track and field, road running, race walking and also at the cross-country events nationwide.

Catering for all ages of runner, male and female, the Seniors and Masters squads cover all ages from 19 – 70+, the club has regular meet and train groups and are always encouraging of participation in the team events.

The juvenile squads are divided into 2 sections, Gowran AC Academy for kids within the ages of 6-9, and the Gowran AC Juvenile Squad for ages 10 plus.

The club has been in the headlights since the National Senior Championships after their very own youth member Andrew Cooper bagged his first senior title!

At just 17 years of age Andrew, who was competing in his first ever senior All-Ireland competition, took the national senior shot-put title. His winning throw of 14.53 came in the fourth round and was victorious ahead of Sam Vines and Callum Keating. To add to this phenomenal story, it was Coopers first time throwing the heavier 7.26kg shot – put compared to his previous throwing weight of just 6kg, which makes his achievements all the more remarkable. It was a wonderful day for the Andrew, his family and the whole of Gowran AC and will definitely be one that will be written in the history books for the Kilkenny Club!