The Ferrybank Open Sports surely one of the most prestigious in the country took place last Sunday, 8th April in the RSC and was supported by a huge number of clubs. Clubs from all over Leinster and Munster from Dunboyne to Carlow and New Ross to Liscarroll and many clubs in between gave an almost National feel to this event.
Race numbers were large with heats required for all sprints and Hurdle competitions with starting numbers of 30 to 40 not uncommon. With the cancellation of the Kilmacow Open Sports being postponed because of the weather this event became the curtain raiser for the Outdoor Track and Field season. Thirteen Clonmel athletes travelled and those that did will surely reap the benefits as the RSC is the location of the Munster Outdoor Championships in June.
We had three Gold medal performances, firstly Grainne O Connor in the 1500m Walk who lead from the whistle and came home a convincing winner. Then we had Erin O Keeffe in the 500m who tucked in well for 350m and when she kicked for home no one could live with her pace and finally we had Conor O Gorman in a nearly identical race when he kicked for home with 150m to win the boys u13 700m, his brother Cathal came up through the field to take the bronze medal in the same race. Killian Whelan came through the 80m sprint heats to finish 3rd in the final and collect Clonmel’s 5th individual medal.
Clonmel had one relay team on the day the boys u13 4 x100m and the combined performances of Cian Flaherty, Conor and Cathal O Gorman and Killian Whelan were good enough to take the Silver medals only beaten by a very strong Carrick on Suir team and finishing ahead of Gowran in 3rd.
As well as medals winners we had some very good performances from Sarah Whelan in the Long Jump, Rachel and Katie Coffey in the sprints, Conor Flaherty in the 800m, Conor O Loughlin in the sprints, Tristan and Kyle O Connor in the 500m.
Clonmel AC would like to thank the athletes and parents that travelled to represent their club and also to Ferrybank Athletic Club for hosting this fabulous event.