We held our Sports Awards as part of our last training session on the 9th December 2019. It gets harder and harder each year to select Athlete of the Year, this year was no exception.

In the Under 10 section we had two wonderful athletes Louis Nolan and Sadhbh Del Bello, both represented the club at Cross Country and Track and Field this year. Louis also made it to semi final in 60m sprints

In the Under 11 age group we had Grace Morgan and Sean Scanlan, two brilliant athletes. Both athletes have competed in a number of events over the year with an outstanding performance in the 600 m races on the track and then Cross Country Dublin Championships. Both Sean & Grace were part of great relay teams that were one place off making the indoor finals.

Adam Kerr and Ava Holmes in the Under 12 age group were awarded for their outstanding performances this year, their attendance at training but more importantly the effort put in at training each week.

Two athletes who really stood out for their continued improvement, determination and most importantly PB’s set during the year are Aaron Brady and Erin Brink in the Under 13 age group.

Both Lara McEvoy and Robert Hussey have been with the club for many years and each year the continue to improve, achieve their individual goals but better than that succeed in achieving PB’s year on year. They have represented the club at both Cross Country and Track and Field. Two outstanding athletes who so deserved their award in the Under 14+ category.

We must not forget our amazing Under 12 Girls Relay team, Ava Holmes, Ellen Morgan, Abigail Smyth and Sinead Oketah. These girls didn’t just finish 4th in the Dublin Championship relay, they went on to represent the club at Nationals in Tullamore. They had a wonderful performance and should be very proud of themselves.

Finally we have the overall Sports Award for 2019. This was a very difficult decision, and a decision that has taken me some time to arrive at. In fact there are two people for this award and to be honest they cannot be separated. They both are with the club since its founding and each year the excel and set new targets, new pb’s and are an inspiration to all young athletes in the club. The two boys are Charlie McKeever and James O’Connell. Both these athletes have represented the club at both indoors and Outdoors with their greatest achievement this year being at Nationals. Charlie made the indoor shot put and hurdles finals and went on to qualify for the nationals after a super performance in the 100m hurdles in the Dublin outdoors. James won gold for long jump in the indoors and silver medals in long jump and 400 m hurdles in the outdoors - he came 7th in long jump and 4th in the 400 m hurdles at the nationals and made it on to the Leinster performance squad again this year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian Rock who has been with the club for a number of years. He has been a super coach who related really well with the athletes and always went the extra mile. This was extremely evident this year when the Under 12 Girls Relay team made Nationals. Brian did extra training sessions with the girls and travelled with them to Tullamore to see their super performance. Many many thanks Brian, you will be sorely missed.

A huge thanks to each of the coaches who helps, supports, encourages and gives of their personal time each week.

Lorraine