Dublin Athletic Board Track and Field Open Sports Competition
(by Ray Fitzsimons)

Tallaght Athletic club juvenile athletes took the Dublin Athletic Board Track and Field Open Sports Competition by storm on Sunday last at Morton Stadium. 

This event attracted entries from the North-east, Dublin, Midlands South East with medals and trophies awarded to the top three finishers in each events.

First on the podium for the club was Jade Johnston who won the silver in the U8 60M and then took Gold in the U8 Ball Throw while Blair Mandiangu took gold in the U8 60M and then took bronze in the U8 Ball Throw. The Boys U9 60M was dominated by Tallaght athletes with Alan Hudson taking the gold, Adam Prior silver and Simon Roche taking the bronze medal. Alan Hudson also won bronze in the U10 500M.  Lauren Power won bronze in the U9 60M as did Carol Jones in the U10 60M.

Tallaght Athletes stole the show in the shot putt with Claire Murray 1st in U19, Fiona Mc Carthy 2nd (U19), Ger Purcell 2nd (U19), Johnathan Smith 2nd (U17), Darren Byrne 3rd U17, Robert Fitzsimons 2nd (U15), Brian Gregan 3rd (U15) and Niall Forrester 3rd (U13).

Tallaght also enjoyed success in the jumps events with Jeffrey Sheridan taking Gold in the U17 Long Jump with Derek Ritchie in 2nd and Darren Byrne in 3rd. Darren also won the U17 High Jump with Jeffrey Sheridan taking silver. Luke Coleman secured the bronze in a very competitive U15 Long Jump.

The girls were not to be outdone and Stephanie Game did the double winning Gold in the U18 Long Jump and also the 100M with club mate Lariche Mandiangu also taking silver in both events. Ger Purcell led from the start to storm home with Gold in the U19 100M as did Jeffrey Sheridan in the U17 100M with Darren Byrne staying on well to take bronze. Sean Bolger showed real class to burst clear from a packed field to win the U15 100M title.

In the middle distance events, Aisling Johnston got the ball rolling with Gold in the U13 500M. It was Tallaght 1and 2 in the Boys U15 800M with Robert Fitzsimons taking gold and Luke Coleman the silver while Sarah Bodie who is improving with every race won Bronze in the U15 800M. Orla Nugent made a pleasing return to the track with a solid 2nd place performance in the U18 800M and Lariche Mandiangu won bronze in the U19 800M.

The final events of the day were the 4x100M mixed Relays and again Tallaght were well represented with
U11 – Silver – Anne Marie Mc Clean, Zara Gaynor, Alan Hudson and Robin Reece.
U13 – Bronze – Aisling Johnston, Fiona Byrne, Ciaran Dunne and Paul Hudson.
U15 – Silver – Sean Bolger, Brian Gregan, Sarah Bodie and Laura Finlay.
U17 – Bronze – Catriona Redmond, Emer O Neill, Jeffrey Sheridan and Johnathan Smith.
U19 – Gold - Fiona Mc Carthy, Stephanie Game, Ger Purcell and Derek Ritchie.
Also Bronze – Karen O Neill, Lariche Mandiangu, Chris Healy and Darren Byrne.

The club would like to wish Stephanie Game and Ger Purcell the best of luck as they compete in the European Youth Olympic trials next weekend.