St Peter’s AC make history with Louth Senior Ladies win

The biggest day in the local athletics calendar, the Louth senior and even age juvenile championships took place in the fantastic setting that is Bellurgan Park.

The St Peter’s Athletics Club women’s team made history for their club when they took the team honours in the senior competition for the first time.

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The team was led home by current national novice cross country and senior steeplechase champion Abbie Sheriden, her second time in three years to be senior county champion.

Niamh Brady had a really strong run following on from her recent solid performance at the Irish Universities Championship to take silver, next in was Dearbhla Allen in fourth place.

Dearbhla led the race for two of the four laps, but this was her first race back following a recent illness and just wasn’t able to keep her usual relentless pace going and had to settle for fourth place, the final scorer for the team was Niamh Kelly.

Niamh is a dedicated club coach and with a little persuasion joined the three girls as they attempted to make club history and she more than obliged with a top ten finish. The four girls romped to an emphatic victory, creating club history.

The juvenile championship was preceded by U8 runs, which were hosted by Glenmore AC, and St Peter’s had a strong showing in each. The Championship races commenced with the U10 girls' race, which was run over an 800M distance.

St Peter’s were well represented with strong runs from Emma Clarke, Ava Englishby, Ellissia King and Saidhbh Lennon.

The boys under ten enjoyed great success with the team managing to take home the bronze team medals with really strong runs from all of the lads, with James Murphy leading the charge, with Patrick McKeown in hot pursuit.

Next in was Jack Flanagan, closely followed by Tom Smyth and Lorcon O’Donoghue. The girls under twelve race, which is run over a 2000M course, also had the St Peter’s girls among the team medals.

Aoibhe Kelly, Bella Cumiskey and Ellen McCourt really packed well as they practically crossed the line together, closely followed by Abbie Murphy. Aoife Foley, Alexia King and Naoise Lennon also had strong runs in the same race.

The boys U12 race was led from gun to tape by Colm Duff in a very impressive display of front running, completing a personal double having won the under thirteen race earlier in the season.

Colm also led his team home to team bronze medals with teammates Lorcan Campbell, Ross Campbell and Fionn O’Donoghue all giving their all for their team.

The girls under fourteen race, which is run over a 3000M course, had just two St Peter’s athletes: Ella Murphy, who has made massive improvements in the last year, continues to impress and is definitely one to watch for the future.

Anna McDonnell has returned to athletics recently and will have gained valuable experience from a strong showing.

The boys under fourteen show what cross country is all about, although the athletes were not competing up front for individual medals, they battled hard for each other and packed well to take home the team silver medals led home by Cian Campbell.

Closely followed by Donal Foley, Liam Lennon, James McCourt and Logan Devlin. The girls under sixteen and under eighteen races are run over a challenging 4000. The races are run together.

Sadhbh Sheelan gave her all and managed to finish just outside the medals in fifth place. Laura Duff also gave her all and took home the gold medal in the girls under eighteen.

Next up is the Leinster Uneven and Senior Championships, which will take place next Saturday in Killbeggan Race Course, Co. Westmeath.