Shercock [Saturday] and Finn Valley [Sunday] were the venues for the 2nd series of Ulster/N.I.A.F. squad sessions. Fifty eight invited young athletes from Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan assembled at Shercock Athletics Club's well appointed facility on Saturday morning. The weather was kind for the event specific section when expert coaching was delivered in Sprints, Middle Distance, Walks, High and Long Jump and Javelin, Hammer and Shot. As the conditions deteriorated all moved inside and an excellent local specific conditioning session was explained and led by Coaches John McGeever, Hugh Fitzpatrick and Eamon Harvey. The importance and benefits of using Medicine Ball work, Hurdles Drills and Core work to supplement the overall training/conditioning programme of the young athlete was enthusiastically received by athletes, personal coaches [19 present] and parents. On Sunday sixty invited athletes from Derry, Tyrone and Donegal braved the storms, which had 20 meter waves recorded off the Donegal coast, to be present for a 10.30am start at the Finn Valley Centre. The weather dictated that the event specific coaching part of the day had to be cancelled. However plan B, thanks to the creativeness of the coaches and a spacious indoor facility, was well received by all. Coaches Michael Black and Tony Robinson explained and led an extensive dynamic 30 minutes warm up which was followed by event specific conditioning group work. Group 1 - Medicine Ball work led by former International Javelin athlete Damien Crawford assisted by David Doherty and George Gallen. Group 2 - Hurdle Drills and Plyometrics led by Coaches and former International athletes Sean Carlin and Mrs. Shauna Carlin. Group 3 - Core work led by Coaches Eamon Harvey and Tony Robinson. The young athletes spent 20 minutes in each group and all expressed satisfaction at the conclusion Dates and venues for the 2008 Ulster/NIAF sessions will be announced shortly and the athletes and their personal coaches notified. A sincere thanks to athletes, coaches and clubs/schools for enthusiastically supporting the 2007 sessions and to the squad coaches for insuring that the coaching content and delivery was so well received. The Ulster Squad in Shercock on Saturday.Sprints crew in action.Richard Tsang, Monaghan Phoenix, at the long jump.Eamon Harvey leads the middle distance group.Aidan O'Neill strides out.Middle distance group in action.