Monaghan [Saturday] and Finn Valley [Sunday] were the venues for the 3rd winter series of Ulster/N.I.A.F. Regional Development squad sessions. Fifty two invited young athletes from Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan assembled at a sunny Beechill College Track, Monaghan on Saturday morning. The weather was kind for the event specific section when expert coaching was delivered by Coaches Francis Shaw, Sprints; Paul McNamara, Middle Distance; Paul Fitzpatrick, Walks; High Jump David Doherty; Long Jump, John McGeever and Shot putt, Eamon Harvey. 
Some of the sprinters in Monaghan find their stride. Guest speaker Paul McNamara briefly outlined his own very successful career from introduction as a schoolboy with Athenry AC, to winning the schools International cross country, to a scholarship experience in the USA, to representing Ireland in numerous International events and winning a number of National distance titles. He offered advice on how to recognise and address the ‘pitfalls’ that young athletes experience e.g. proper training, overtraining, the importance of a coach, diet and setting realistic goals. During the question and answer session that followed he addressed numerous questions from athletes, coaches and parents. Concluding RDO Eamon Harvey, thanked all the athletes, parents and personal coaches for supporting the regional squad days, the local Monaghan Co Board and in particular Paul O’Neill for all their work behind the scenes – the hospitality and refreshments were most welcome. He wished all athletes success in forthcoming Ulster Schools CC, Ulster, Irish and Scottish Indoors. The next Ulster/Northern Ireland Athletics Sth/Sth. West Squad Day will be in Shercock on Sat 16th February 
Middle Distance athletes in action in Monaghan.North West Squad at Finn Valley On Sunday fifty invited athletes from Derry, Tyrone and Donegal assembled at the Finn Valley Centre. The weather was kind that the event specific coaching part of the day had he following coaches /disciplines - Sprints/Elaine McCafferty; Hurdles/Bernie Alcorn; Middle Distance/Aileen Morrison/Michael Black; Javelin/Damien Crawford; Long Jump /Shauna Carlin and High Jump/David Doherty; 
Elaine McCafferty, guest speaker in Donegal, on the left, and the coaches present in Donegal on the right. The guest speaker, International 400m athlete and current Athletics Northern Ireland RDO for the North West, Elaine McCafferty, in a interview and question and answers session involving athletes, coaches and parents outlined her introduction to the sport; her passage through school and university where she indicated that the highlight of her junior career was in winning the Senior All Ireland schools 400m title; her achievements and less positive experiences, the influences on her athletics life, and her competitive goals for the coming season. In the question and answer period she answered and advised the young athletes on planning, decision making, diet, enjoying the sport and on how to compliment training with study and social life. She concluded ‘it’s vital that you continue to train in the build up and through your examinations. Your athletics training will help relieve the stress of preparation and sitting examinations’ Organising R.D.O. Eamon Harvey, thanked athletes, coaches, parents for supporting the Squads in such good numbers and the Finn Valley Centre for use of their facilities. He welcomed International Coaches Maeve and Sean Kyle and Olympic Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle who were also present in a supportive role on the day. He concluded by wishing all athletes success at upcoming Ulster Schools CC and Indoor C/ships. The next Ulster, Athletics Northern Ireland Nth West Squad day will be on Sunday 20th February Photograph acknowledgments Thanks to Paul O’Neill, Monaghan and Kieran Carlin, Finn Valley
Some of the sprinters in Monaghan find their stride. Guest speaker Paul McNamara briefly outlined his own very successful career from introduction as a schoolboy with Athenry AC, to winning the schools International cross country, to a scholarship experience in the USA, to representing Ireland in numerous International events and winning a number of National distance titles. He offered advice on how to recognise and address the ‘pitfalls’ that young athletes experience e.g. proper training, overtraining, the importance of a coach, diet and setting realistic goals. During the question and answer session that followed he addressed numerous questions from athletes, coaches and parents. Concluding RDO Eamon Harvey, thanked all the athletes, parents and personal coaches for supporting the regional squad days, the local Monaghan Co Board and in particular Paul O’Neill for all their work behind the scenes – the hospitality and refreshments were most welcome. He wished all athletes success in forthcoming Ulster Schools CC, Ulster, Irish and Scottish Indoors. The next Ulster/Northern Ireland Athletics Sth/Sth. West Squad Day will be in Shercock on Sat 16th February Middle Distance athletes in action in Monaghan.North West Squad at Finn Valley On Sunday fifty invited athletes from Derry, Tyrone and Donegal assembled at the Finn Valley Centre. The weather was kind that the event specific coaching part of the day had he following coaches /disciplines - Sprints/Elaine McCafferty; Hurdles/Bernie Alcorn; Middle Distance/Aileen Morrison/Michael Black; Javelin/Damien Crawford; Long Jump /Shauna Carlin and High Jump/David Doherty; Elaine McCafferty, guest speaker in Donegal, on the left, and the coaches present in Donegal on the right. The guest speaker, International 400m athlete and current Athletics Northern Ireland RDO for the North West, Elaine McCafferty, in a interview and question and answers session involving athletes, coaches and parents outlined her introduction to the sport; her passage through school and university where she indicated that the highlight of her junior career was in winning the Senior All Ireland schools 400m title; her achievements and less positive experiences, the influences on her athletics life, and her competitive goals for the coming season. In the question and answer period she answered and advised the young athletes on planning, decision making, diet, enjoying the sport and on how to compliment training with study and social life. She concluded ‘it’s vital that you continue to train in the build up and through your examinations. Your athletics training will help relieve the stress of preparation and sitting examinations’ Organising R.D.O. Eamon Harvey, thanked athletes, coaches, parents for supporting the Squads in such good numbers and the Finn Valley Centre for use of their facilities. He welcomed International Coaches Maeve and Sean Kyle and Olympic Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle who were also present in a supportive role on the day. He concluded by wishing all athletes success at upcoming Ulster Schools CC and Indoor C/ships. The next Ulster, Athletics Northern Ireland Nth West Squad day will be on Sunday 20th February Photograph acknowledgments Thanks to Paul O’Neill, Monaghan and Kieran Carlin, Finn Valley 
