Carrick-on-Shannon AC: December 2017

Sunday, December 17, 2017

HISTORIC DAY IN WATERFORD

A happy Carrick AC crew in Waterford IT - Patrick, Brendan and Declan Kennedy with Lauren Reynolds

An historic day for Carrick-on-Shannon Athletic Club as, for the first time ever, we had two top five places in the one race at the All-Ireland Cross-country championships and, again, for the first time ever, a finisher in the top three in the Juvenile Cross-country.

Patrick and Declan Kennedy flew the Carrick flag with real style as they finished second and fifth in an incredible tough and competitive U11 race on a very testing but true cross-country course at Waterford IT.

Lauren Reynolds (U15 Girls) and Brendan Kennedy (U13 Boys) completed our crew in Waterford and brought the Club cross-country season to an end.

Patrick Kennedy chases the winner across the line

In the U11 Boys race, the two lads took off like rockets and were actually leading by about ten metres after just 200m and on such a tough course, with a huge hill that went up in two phases, the pace was always going to catch up with them.

The impressive Conor Liston of Mullingar Harriers caught and passed the two lads and looked to be building a huge lead but once they got up the big hill, Patrick took off in pursuit and was locked in a ferocious battle down the final straight that only was sorted in the final 50 metres.

Declan wasn't far off the third place, less than five metres behind the third placed athlete in an incredible result for the two lads.

Declan Kennedy crosses in fifth just behind third

Up to this, Padraig Farrell was our only National individual cross-country medalist with a silver in the National Junior Inter-counties back in 1994 and he went on to run for Ireland at U23 and University level while Daire Farrell had a few top ten places and a Celtic International vest over the country as well.

David Reynolds was another top ten finisher with seventh in an U13 race many moons ago while John Keenehan also cracked the top 10 in the National Novice and Valerie McGuinness also had a couple of top ten places while Lauren Reynolds, Richie Doran and Ellie O'Rourke have all finished top 20 down through the years.

Believe it or not, Cathal McElgunn did win a silver medal in the All-Ireland B Cross-country in Lough Key Forest Park while David Bruen also won an All-Ireland medal with a Connacht team.

(If I've missed anyone, mea culpa - the memory is going! Please let me know and it will be corrected)

Lauren starts the last lap

Lauren Reynolds looked as if she was going to have another top 20 finish in the U15 Girls, running a clever race as she moved up the field well and was well poised at the start of the demanding big hill. Unfortunately, an athlete fell right in front of Lauren, taking her to the ground and stopping her dead.

Showing great courage, Lauren fought her way back to finish 33rd but all her momentum was robbed by the heavy fall coming just as the start of the big climb and when she was moving so well.

Brendan pushes up the hill

Brendan Kennedy completed our crew in Waterford and finished 118th in his first ever All-Ireland in a race that had an incredible 164 finishers, a solid run and repeating his tenth place from the Regionals. Certainly there is more to come from Brendan who just took up running in September.

Thanks to Lorna and Ken Kennedy and Michael Reynolds for travelling with the athletes.

And special thanks to the Distance gang who worked so hard over the cross-country season - the good performances of the last few weeks wouldn't happen without the gang pushing each other along.

TRAINING TIMES

ADULT TRAINING GROUP
Meet at Aura Leitrim Leisure at 7pm on Monday & Wednesday. Contact Adult Group coordinator Graham Allen at 0860443305 for more details
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JUVENILE TRAINING GROUPS
Athletes born 2015: Tuesday 5 to 5.50 pm (Indoors Carrick Sports Complex)
Athletes born 2014: Tuesday 6 to 5.50 pm (Indoors Carrick Sports Complex)
Athletes born 2013: Tuesday 6 to 7 pm (Outdoors, meet at Sports Complex)
Athletes born 2012 & before: Tuesday 6 to 7 pm (Outdoors, meet at Sports Complex)
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Wednesday Indoor session 5.30 to 7 pm - For athletes born 2012 or before - only for athletes intending on competing at Regional & National level
Friday outdoor session 4pm - Wednesday Indoor session 5.30 to 7 pm - For athletes born 2012 or before - only for athletes intending on competing at Regional & National level

CODE OF CONDUCT

CLUB REGULATIONS
Parents must check if there is sufficient adult supervision at each training session. If there are less than three adults present, training WILL NOT be held. All athletes must be on time for training & warm-up.
All athletes must be on time for training. Warm-ups are vital to help avoid injury
Athletes must participate in all designated activities at training, unless injured
The use of bad language, spitting, physical assault, verbal abuse or name calling will not be tolerated and may result in a warning and/or instant dismissal from the club.
Athletes must wear appropriate training gear (runners, track-suit, shorts, t-shirt).
Athletes are requested to respect their fellow athletes, officials, competitors and coaches
Equipment is for club use and no abuse of it will be tolerated

Carrick-on-Shannon AC Safeguarding Statement

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON ATHLETIC CLUB is affiliated to Athletics Ireland and provides various sporting activities and opportunities for children and young people through participation in clubs, regional/provincial events and through to our national teams. Organised events involved the provision of athletic championships and games that involve in some instances require attendance at weekend events and overnight trips for clubs and their members. Athletics Ireland is a voluntary led organisation that provides its members with opportunities to participate in the sport of Track and Field Athletics across all age grades from Juvenile (u9 to u16), Youth (u18), Junior (u20), Senior (u35) and Master (35+). • Club Name: CARRICK-ON-SHANNON ATHLETIC CLUB • Sport: Track and Field Athletics, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking. • Location (National/Local level): Local and County. • Number of members in your club: 193 • Activities: Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking. Athletics Ireland is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of our Safeguarding Policies our staff, both volunteers and employed, working with our young people, throughout the organisation, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop within sport. The following set of principles should be adhered to: • Importance of childhood - The importance of childhood should be understood and valued by everyone involved in sport. • Needs of the child - All children’s sport experiences should be guided by what is best for children. This means that adults should have a basic understanding of the emotional, physical and personal needs of young people. • Integrity in relationships - Adults interacting with children in sport are in a position of trust and influence. They should always ensure that children are treated with integrity and respect, and the self-esteem of young people is enhanced. • Fair Play - All children’s sport should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair play. The principles of fair play should always be emphasised, and organisers should give clear guidelines regarding acceptable standards of behaviour. • Quality atmosphere & ethos - Children’s sport should be conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere. • Competition - Competition is an essential element of sport and should be encouraged in an age appropriate manner. A child centred ethos will help to ensure that competition and specialisation are kept in their appropriate place. • Equality - All children should be valued and treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age, gender, religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion. Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, (the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice). In addition to our Risk Assessment document described above, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our activities. Athletics Ireland has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding Policies: • Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities. • Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities. • Procedures for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm. • Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities. • Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons. • Procedure for appointing a relevant person (Club Children’s Officer). Please note that all procedures listed are available on request. Kieron Stout is the relevant person for Athletics Ireland, and he is also a mandated person as set out in the Children First Act 2015. Kieron can be contacted on 086 2450134. We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our club is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our activities. Please note the following: • That all volunteers and staff have been furnished with a copy of this statement. • This statement is available to parents/ guardians, the Agency & members of the public on request. • This statement will be displayed in a prominent place by the Club. The Athletics Ireland Child Safeguarding Plan including all policies and procedures is available on request or at the following webpage for download at https://www.athleticsireland.ie/juvenile/child-welfare You can also email childwelfare@athleticsireland.ie if you would like any information sent to you. Signed: Donnacha Holmes Date: January 1. 2022 Name: DONNACHA HOLMES Phone no: 0866000555 For queries on this Child Safeguarding Statement, please contact JOHN CONNOLLY 0879446961 OR connollyjohnb@gmail.com