With over 200 athletes the sixth in the graded series continues to be the most attractive track and field competition for senior athletes in the country with athletes from Galway, Ennis, Cork, Kildare, Meath, Waterford and Wicklow in action. The opportunity for athletes to compete at their own level makes it a very accessible competition for all comers.

There  was some very competitive races in the series of twelve 800 metres.

Clonliffes Eleanor Alexander edged out Meghan Ryan in 2.16.66 in the first of two "A" races  .The second one was equally close with Crusaders Niamh Boland just holding off Clare Brennan with Drogheda's Orla O;Connor close at hand.

Para Olympian Greta Streimkyte home straight surge saw her edge out Anna King in the "B" race.

Conor Duncan of Ratoath was a smooth looking winner of the first of the men's "A" races in 1.55.96. while Matthew Murnane of Leevale made it a worthwhile journey from Cork to win in1.56.71.

The men's 5000 metres was an interesting race with Andrew Connick , David Scanlon and Peter Arthur all involved at the front from the start. The Liffey Valley man Peter Arthur, who is having a fine season, disposed of the challenge of Rathfarnham's David Scanlon, back from training at Fort Romeau with 1000 metres to go and recorded a p.b. of 14.57.50 ahead of Scanlon's 15.17.39 with Neil O'Rourke finishing strongly over the last 400 to finish third.   

Wind and rain did not deter both Women's and Men's 4 x 400 teams qualify for the European Junior Championships at the 4th. Graded Meeting in Santry. Paul McKee a former 400m National Champion in his role as Development Officer and Relay Coordinator assembled the squads for the races and it proved a very worthwhile exercise.

The women's team of Ciara Deely, Ellie O'Toole, Nicole King and Duicia Patterson clocked 3.45.88 inside the 3.46.00 qualifying standard. They were pushed to the time by a squad that included Christine McMahon and Clare Mooney who pushed them all the way in 3.37.79.

The men's squad of Jamie Pender, James Holden, Shane Irwin and Chris O'Donnell clocked 3.13.76 comfortably inside the 3.18.00 standard. They followed the u/23 team of Brandon Arrey, Craig Newell, Paul White and Harry Purcell who won the race in 3.12.68 a tantalizing .68 of a second outside the standard.

The hard work of Paul McKee assisted by David McCarthy shows what can be done by utilizing a home competition rather than travelling out of the country. It is also an opportunity to show the emerging talent to home supporters.

Running into a minus headwind of minus was not conducive to fast sprinting but Catherine McManus edged out Sarah Murray to win the 100 meters in 12.08. Clonliffe’s Leo Morgan won the men's equivalent in 11.12.

Catherine was back on the track some 20 minutes later to run a P.B. in the 400 of 55.03 fine running in the conditions.

With the wind died subsided and the rain stopped the 1500 meters runners had ideal conditions for their races. Niamh Donnelly buoyed up by her recent P.B. set off at a brisk pace with an opening lap of 63.5s. Elanor Alexander was a little off the pace and it proved to be a better strategy as she hauled the early leader in to win in 4.34.37 ahead of the fast finishing Ide Ni Dhomhnaill who was one of many running personal bests in the race.

 Niamh Corry of Raheny took it on from the front in the women's "B" race and won in 4.54.36.

Waterford's Barry Keane took the field along in the men's 1500 with 62 and 63 second laps. It was however the more astute running of Joe Warne who produced his familiar sprint finish edging out Pierre Murchan in 3m57.03 with the early leader Keane in third. 

Irishtown Stadium was the venue for the third meeting in the series of Graded Meetings organised by Dublin Athletics Board and in Summer like conditions there were some competitive races. With athletes from as far apart as Derry and Waterford and all places in between it continues to be the most accessible track and field competition in the country. 

Ferrybank's Andrew Connick won the Men's 10000 metres in 31.53s ahead of Brian Kirwan of SLOT who clocked 32.20.1 with new comer Dylan Keegan from Templeogue A.C. finishing third in 32.26.2.continuing his good running to add to his 5000m win in the previous meeting. 

Brian and Andrew pulled away from the 12 man field in the early stages and established  a good rhythm and  at halfway the Ferrybank man started to open a gap on the Carlow man who did have the satisfaction of setting a new p.b.

The addition of a new "C" category to women's middle distance has seen the numbers increase with some 46 in action over the three grades.

Crusader's Mary Horgan  left no one in doubt about her intentions in the "A" race as she lead  the field around the opening lap in a lively 63 seconds without the aid of a pacemaker. There was almost a "traffic jam" as the remaining 11 runners were bunched together. They say that fortune favours the brave and so Mary hung on to win in 2.14.45 with Niamh Donnelly extracating herself from the chasing bunch to finish second ahead of her DCH clubmate Claire Brennan.

Another woman to take it on from the front was Denise Toner from Clones who clocked 2.18.74 to win the "B" race. This was in stark contrast to the "C" race where Aimee McGrath from Newbridge just held off the challenge of Ellen Cheung from Blackrock after a great battle down the home straight.  

Raheny's Eoin Strutt was a clear winner of the first of two Men's "A" races clocking 1.55.75 whilst Clonliffe's Cathal Doyle won the second one in 1.56.53. One of the closest races in the men's series was the "B" one where Shaun Conaghan of Clonliffe just held off the fast finishing  Civil Service man Neil O'Rourke  in 2.03.32.

Leah Bergin from Clonliffe ran the fastest women's 400 of the evening in 57.93. Rathfarnham's Lee Byrne was the fastest of the men in action clocking 51.30.

Clare Fitzgerald threw 51.40 in the women's Discus with Marco Pons best measured at 49.72. Grace Casey from Eire Og had the furthest throw in the Women's Javelin with 48.05 and Michael Jordan from Naas lead the Men's with 48.45.

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Nick Davis

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