On Saturday and Sunday last the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Athletic Championships

Were held in Belfast attracting international athletes from the British Isles, the US, Kenya, Germany, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well as the cream of the crop from Ireland. Kerry had a significant number of competitors, with Laura Crowe, Riocht Ac running an impressive 2.15.43 in the women’s 800m to finish 3^rd in the event and 2^nd at national level. Jer O’Donoghue, also Riocht AC, ran 6.95 to make the final of the mens 60m, but was forced not to start the race due to an injury. Philip Kearney, Tralee Harriers put in a fine effort in both the 60m hurdles and the 400m, while Colm Lynch, Iveragh AC also took on two events competing in the men’s 200m and 400m with respectable times in both. (photo of Laura Crowe courtesy of Riocht AC)

At the AAI Senior Combined Events in Nenagh on Saturday 19^th January Phillip Kearney, Tralee Harriers, secured gold in the men’s multi events, winning the shot, high jump, and 1000m to finish with a total of 3228pts. This in addition to his 2007 outdoor decathlon title.

The Munster senior and junior Indoor Championships were also held in Nenagh on Sunday 20^th January and the Kingdoms athletes at both levels came home with a wealth of medals.

Claire Fitzgerald, Tralee Harriers, won the shot with a championship best performance putt of 12.86m despite still being a junior for another two years! James Nagle, Farranfore/mainevalley, set a new national u23 record with a throw of 6.92metres to finish 1^st in the senior 56lbs WOF and followed this up with 2nd place in the shot.

Phillip Kearney, Tralee Harriers was out on the track again on Sunday and took 1st place in the 60m hurdles with relative ease.

Other track seniors were Laura Crowe and Jer O‘Donoghue, Riocht AC both achieving 1^st in the 400m and 60m respectively with times of 59.86secs and 7.02secs. Colm Lynch, Iveragh AC also came home with a silver in the 200m.

Other senior field winners out in force included the ever present Patsy O’Connor, Tralee Harriers who finished 1^st in the shot and 2^nd in the 56lbs weight for distance and Thomas Griffin, Riocht AC who jumped an excellent 6.20m for 2^nd in the long jump; both these athletes are masters by the way!

The juniors athletes were not to be outdone and on the track Dara O’Carroll, Tralee Harriers ran a great race to pick up silver in the 400m and his team mate David Boyd sprinted to a blanket finish bronze in the 60m in which there were four Kerry athletes in the final! Eimear Tangney, Spa-Muckross also won bronze in the 3000m and Thomas Bradley, Riocht AC also finished 3rd in the 800m. In the junior men’s 4 x 200m relay a formidable looking Tralee Harriers quartet of David Boyd, Ben McGilton, Dara O'Carroll and Cian Foley ran well to come home in 2nd position with Lios Tuathaill AC taking third place with Padraig Whelan, Brian Murphy, Jamie Barry and Paul Hayes.

In the men’s high jump Kerry took gold, silver and bronze thanks to Andrew Kearney,Tralee Harriers with a clearance of 1.80m, Padraig Whelan, Lios tuathaill, and Michael Kelliher, Tralee Harriers. Daniel Clifford, FF/MV then topped the medal tally for the field athletes with a silver in the shot putt. Well done to everyone who competed.

Kerry AAI 2008 AGM

The Kerry Athletics association AGM that was held in the An Riocht clubrooms on Monday night 14th January at 8pm.Chairman Martin Fitzgerald began proceedings with a minutes silence for the late county president Denis P O'Sullivan stating that he will be sadly missed. In his address he praised the efforts of the board and all the clubs and their athletes within the county. He gave special mention to Gillian O'Sullivan who retired in 2007 and Denny McSweeney who was stepping down as county secretary after seven years in the position, they will both be hugely missed! Others to be thanked included any land owners who offered their land for fixtures especially the Tralee racecourse committee for the use of their track for the Munster cross country. He also emphasised that even though athletics was going very well in Kerry that the fixture congestion would have to be sorted out as soon as possible at Munster and national level as the grass root athletes are sufferring.To finish his address he once again emphasised the importance of each club putting the new child protection policy in place as "We must protect the children and ourselves".

The secretaries and Pro's all gave their yearly reports with many outstanding athletes and their achievements mentioned. Treasurer Paddy O'Donoghue outlined that income exceeded expenditure for the first time in a number of years and that we were in a reasonably healthy position but of course if there is any sponsors out there we would be delighted to hear from you.

Surprisingly there were no motions or recommendations to be discussed but the election of officers made up for the time not used hear. Only two committee members decided not to stand for their positions; they were the already mentioned Denny McSweeney as county secretary and Breda Barrett as newspaper Pro.The following is the full list of officers-

President-Paddy O'Donoghue

Chairman-Martin Fitzgerald

Vice chairman-Michael Godley

County secretary-Shane Delaney

Juvenile T+F secretary-Damien Mcloughlin

Cross country & minutes secretary-Michael Mangan

Juvenile cross country secretary-Paddy O'Donoghue

Treasurer-Paddy O'Donoghue

Coaching officer-Michael Godley

Radio Pro-Tom Joe O'Donoghue

Newspaper Pro-Gill Austen O'Sullivan

IT officer-Michael Godley

Registrar-Angela O'Shea

Child protection officers-Helen Fitzgerald,Denny McSweeney

To finish the chairman thanked everybody who attended and wished a good year upon all the clubs, athletes and volunteers within the county.

Contact details for Gill Austen O’Sullivan - Newspaper Pro Tel. 087 7870833 email pro@kerryathletics.com .

Fixtures in the next month include

AAI Juvenile B Cross Country February Sun 3rd .

Scottish U13/U15 Indoor Championships Sat 9^th. Scottish U17/U20 Indoor Championships Kelvin Hall Sun 10th Feb

AAI Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Wexford Sun 10th Feb

AAI Masters Indoor Championships Nenagh Sat 16th Feb

AAI Junior Indoor Championships Nenagh Sun 17th Feb

Munster Juvenile Indoors U10-U14Nenagh Sat 23rd and Sun 24th Feb

Munster Juvenile Indoors U15-U19Nenagh Sat 1st and Sun 2nd Mar