THE club AGM elected: Chair Margaret Dillon
Secretary – Ann Holohan & Andy Phelan; treasurer Pat Clarke;
PRO Mary Mealey; Child Officer position to be filled soon.
Coaches: Richard Connolly, Andy Phelan, Margaret Dillon, Ann Holohan, Bobby Gamble, Liam Hickey, Mary Bourne and Sinead McCool
Club athletes had a busy year with track and field competitions commencing only in June when Covid Regulations facilitated competition.
From U9 through to Senior there was much earnest endeavour decorated in some instances with medal winning performances.
Margaret Dillon noted that the club has seen a lot of new faces at juvenile, senior and Fit4life levels.
She said athletics is a sport that offers something to all individuals, and she appealed to all to continue to give athletics the same consideration given to other sports.
Margaret reminded of the many years of service to the club from some long standing coaches, and in thanking them she highlighted the need for new coaching personnel and also fresh faces as candidates for office.
In particular, the contributions of retiring officers Marie Stone and Mary Buggy were acknowledged and also those of Sinead Connolly and Maeve Connolly who have been part of the club coaching team for many years.
POSITIVE EXPERIENCES
Outgoing secretary Marie Stone too alluded to the many positive experiences; she also rued the opportunities for team results missed by an inadequate number of competing athletes on some championship days.
She said it is a source of regret for coaches and athletes alike when inadequate collaboration, requiring more athletes on the track competing, results in the loss of opportunity for team success.
In reflecting on issues raised at the AGM, it brought to mind that to some extent the relatively limited number of competitors compared to registered members arises from the minority sports status of athletics.
Another contributing factor is the perceived role filled by athletic clubs generally as providing opportunities for convenient healthy local recreational activity without embracing the broader competitive opportunities.
However, the broader issue of camaraderie built up at all club sessions cannot be overvalued. Within such inclusion many friendships are nourished.
The set days and times of athletic club training should make combining athletics with field sports possible for young members with a degree of liaising with other sports – it has worked on occasion; perhaps 2022 will witness a renewal.
