Secretary’s Report 2006
2006 has again been a very successful year for our club and
I am very pleased to report on our successes.
The most exciting performance was from our senior mens team when they
won the Hibernian National League on 20 August.
The year has not been without its frustrations regarding the
track repairs which we expected to start in May. This in turn has meant that some of our
younger athletes did not return this summer as they expected the track to be
closed. I would like to assure members
that the committee and officers are in constant communication with North Down
Borough Council to ensure that we are fully informed of the repair situation at
each stage.
Our first promotion of 2006 was the New Year Cross
Country relays held on Saturday 14 January.
This is always a good friendly, fun event, which clubs look forward to,
to start the year. Congratulations to our own Men’s team, Simon Seaton, Francis
Marsh, James Budde and Charlie Sanson who won the Open event. The boys U15
Team of Darren Kelly, Mark Armstrong and Jack Kelly were also 1st.
The U20 ladies team Jessica Craig, Lauren Scott, Kerry
Iveston, Katie Hewitt and Nicola Simpson won the Cross Country
Championships in
On the weekend of 18 & 19 February we assisted as kit
carriers at the Indoor Championships of Ireland at the Odyssey,
providing 20 kids in shifts to cover the 2 day marathon event.
We followed
Eva and Brendan’s progress at the Commonwealth
Games closely thanks to the web. We
were devastated to learn of Brendan’s ankle injury after his years of careful
preparation, planning and his excellent results in competitions in
Our annual Club Handicap to contest the Smith Shield was
held on 25 March around the 5k course in
Geoffrey was part of the most successful
The following club officials have received awards during
2006: Claire Scarth received the
Bruce Mulligan award for Service to Sport at the NDSAC Awards evening. This was a much deserved tribute to Claire
for her work and commitment over many years and fitting that it should be
presented to Claire by Bruce Mulligan who had dedicated so much of his life to
sport and who passed away during the summer.
We held a very positive coaches meeting on 11
April. We discussed the options for
alternative training arrangements for when the track repairs commenced.
Heather Beattie, Richard
and Kris Lockhart
are completing their UKA level 3 Coaching awards.
The successful Primary School Sessions changed
venue to St Columbanus College this year due to the pending track repairs. We
had 55 kids enrolled for the six-week session from 22 May – 26 June. We
received very positive feedback from parents on the quality of the coaching
provided.
Jeremy Harper was appointed as North Down
Athletics Development Officer, based at the Sportsplex. This post is jointly funded by North Down
Borough Council and the Northern Ireland Athletic Federation.
The Crawfordsburn 5k Trail race was held on 23 August
with 135 competitors enjoying the course through the
The mens’ Track and Field team has retained the Team Trophy for the sixth successive
year.
The boys team finished 3rd
this year in Young Athletes League NI.
Regent House were the
winners and we wished them well in the final in
The Club Championships were held on 15 August with
over 50 members competing. This was a
fun night for all participants and well supported by parents in the stand on
the track and out in the field.
BBQ and Track and Field Prize Night was held on Friday 9 September with
over 60 attending. Everyone enjoyed the
evening, which as usual ended with a quiz.
Awards were made to the following: Kerrie Craig, Jessica Craig, Hannah
Lewis, Amy Foster, Vicky Clegg, Lauren Scott, Nicola Simpson, Niall McGrattan,
Michael McComb, Mark Patterson, Niall Robinson, Matthew Hamilton, Glen Willis,
Jamie Wickens, Conor McGrattan, Jeremy Harper, Robin Brown, Kris Lockhart,
Michael Patterson, Thomas Simpson, David Keys and John Carlisle. We had also
invited our 3 Commonwealth Games representatives Brendan McConville, Eva Massey
and Alison Moffitt to present them with a club tracksuit to mark their
achievements. Unfortunately Eva and
Alison were unable to attend but Brendan proudly accepted his tracksuit.
For the second year with sponsorship from North Down Borough
Council we hosted the
On November 12 Bobby Rea, Chairman of NIAF and
founding member of Abbey AC passed away after a short illness. Bobby who was team Manager for Athletics
Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year will be sorely
missed in the sport. He will be
remembered for always doing things his way but no one could fault his
commitment to his “kids” as he referred to his athletes, or his club.
A special thanks to Barry
Scarth who keeps the website updated with results and photographs appearing
sometimes the same day of the event. Much credit should go to Francis Marsh
for continuing this very critical work whilst Barry was in
I would like to give a special mention to Michael Moffitt,
who has been writing our reports in the Spectator each week, helping keep the
club’s name to the forefront within the Community. Mike has decided to that his
pen has run dry and has handed this task over to Barry and Francis who
in this electronic age can more easily provide the Sports desk with word
processed information.
We are grateful to our sponsors who help to keep the club in
a strong financial position and we acknowledge the support given. This year we received sponsorship from North
Down Borough Council for the Bangor Classic. Each year we receive a grant
from South Eastern Education and Library Board, Youth Services, for help
towards running costs. Phoenix Gas also gave us a contribution for
running costs towardss the Primary Schools sessions.
Best Wishes to Ben Reynolds and Katie Hewitt
who will compete in the British Schools Combined events International in Kelvin
Hall,
The club Christmas
Dinner will be held on Monday 18 December at Carnalea Golf Club. Names should be given to Brian Smith before
Monday 11 December.
The Ken and Lynn Hawtin Christmas Handicap race will
be held on Saturday 23 December at
The Monday night
group continues to be the fastest growing area of the club and we are
having some talented athletes coming through.
Thanks to Brian Smith who has
taken the group under his wing and ensures they are kitted out with track suits
and club vests.
Our club
continues to have more elected NIAF officials than any other club. Barry has been re-elected as YAL Chairman,
with Rodney Brown as Treasurer. Tony
Wall has been re-elected as Hon Assistant Secretary, NIAF. Geoffrey has been
re-elected as Chairman of NDSAC and Assistant Treasurer of NIAF and David
Seaton continues as Cross-Country Chairman & NDSAC Executive Council
member, John Saulters has been elected onto the Track and Field Committee.
Once again I thank all our coaches who are dedicated to the
athletes giving their time and knowledge freely in a selfless manner to ensure
that the athletes reach their full potential
Finally,
I would like to thank our outgoing committee who carry out their duties with
enthusiasm and commitment. I would like
to thank our Chairman, Pat for his support throughout the last three years in
the Chair and to thank Geoffrey for his continued work with the NDBC on behalf
of the club. I would also like to thank Ian Atkinson who assists me with
administration work, thus easing the burden of the ever-increasing workload
(which I refer to as my second job) that comes with running a successful club.
I look forward to working with our new Chairman Norman and the new Committee in
2007.
Brendan McConville -
Decathlon
q
Commonwealth
Games Selection – had to withdraw due to ankle injury
q
Western
Australian Championships 1st HJ and 3rd 110mh
q
Commonwealth
Games 11th 14.95m
q
Indoor
Championships of
q
AA1 Champion
q
Scottish
AAAs indoor champion
q
Loughborough
Indoors champion
q
NI
Champion Discus & Shot
q
AAAs
Championships 2nd
q
SINI
Selection
q
UK
Final Sportshall 1st 4 lap race
q
Selection
for
q
Ulster
Schools Champion LJ & 200m
q
Irish
Schools Champion LJ
q
Age
group champion 200m & LJ
q
Schools
interprovincial 1st LJ, 2nd 200m
q
Schools
international selection
q
Celtic
Games champion LJ
David Keys – Throws
q
Age
Group Champion Discus & Hammer
q
Irish
Schools Discus champion, 2nd Hammer
q
AAI
juveniles champion hammer & Discus
q
Celtic
Games Selection – 3rd both hammer & discus
q
Indoor
Championships of Ireland 60m 7.71, 200m 24.90 (Both new NI Junior records)
q
U20
AAA indoor championships 200m 2nd (NI Best), 60m 3rd
q
Ulster
Schools Champion 100m & 200m
q
Inter
Counties
q
Irish
Schools Champion 100m & 200m
q
NI
Champion 200m &2nd 100m
q
EAP
meeting
q
AAI
U20 champion 100m & 2nd 200m
q
AAI
Senior Championships 3rd 100m
q
World
Juniors
Kiki Malomo-Paris -
Event 100m
q
Celtic
Games Selection
q
Schools
Olympics 100m 8th
q
Selection
for
q
Ulster
Schools Champion 100m
q
Age
group champion 100m
q
Celtic
Games Selection – 2nd 100m
q
q
2nd
NI female at the Knockdhu international
q
Indoor
Championships of
q
Selection
for
q
Age
group champion 300mh & 3rd 80mh
q
Schools
Interprovincial 1st300m 3rd 80mh
q
Schools
international selection
q
Celtic
Games Selection
q
Schools Multi event 1st
q
Irish Schools Multi events 4th
q
Selection for British Schools Indoor Combined events
q
Indoor
Championships of
q
Selection
for
q
Irish
Schools Champion 200m
q
Age
group champion 300m
q
Schools
international selection
q
Celtic
Games Selection
q
Irish
Universities Champion Discus and Shot & 3rd Javelin
q
British
Universities 2nd discus
q
AAI
Games 1st shot, 2nd discus
q
NI
champion Discus & 2nd shot
q
AAI
U23s Winner discus, shot & 35lbs weight
q
Irish
Universities Indoor Championships champion weight for Distance (new record
9.29m) and PB in Shot 14.13m.
Ryan Kerr
q
Selection
for
q
Selection
for
q
Ulster
Schools Champion 100m & 200m
q
Irish
Schools Champion 100m
q
Age
group champion 200m
q
AAI
juveniles champion 100m & 200m
q
Celtic
Games Selection
q
Schools Olympic day 100m 1st
Kim Shaw
q
Ulster
Schools Champion 300m & 300mh
q
Age
group champion 400m
q
Celtic
Games Selection
Conor McGrattan
q
Age
group champion Javelin and 3rd Shot
q
AAI
juveniles champion Jav & shot
q
Multi
events 3rd
q
Indoor
Championships of
Peter Glass
q
Age group champion 110mh, Shot & Javelin
Ben Reynolds
q
Schools Multi Events 1st
q
Irish Schools Multi events 3rd
q
Selection for British Schools Indoor Combined events
Gillian Weir