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Running, Jumping & Throwing at Athletics Training Weekend in Cork

29th April 2008

Irish Blind Sports held a very successful Athletics training weekend in Cork last weekend, led by IBS Athletics Coordinator, Daragh McDaid. Participants from Sligo, Dublin, Navan, Mullingar and Cork all joined together to enjoy a fun weekend of athletics. The group also joined up with the Cork Sports Partnership Sports Ability Day on the Saturday where a number of participants from other disability sports were enjoying a range of sports activities.

A successful discussion forum was held on the Saturday morning in Cork IT with the latest issues in athletics for visually impaired being discussed by the participants. The athletes were then given an introduction to the discus and shot put throwing events by Coach Eamonn O’Ceallaigh, from Ballincollig Athletic Club. Eamonn went through the correct technique for throwing and the participants all had a go at each event. They were also joined in the shot put by All Star Cork footballer Nicholas Murphy, and it must be noted that participants Jamie Bluett and Rahim Nazarali were well able to out throw the towering midfielder from Cork!

Next up, the athletes were put through their paces by guide runners Daragh McDaid and Tony Lilley in running events of their choice which ranged from 100m, 300m and 1 mile. Each participant set their own individual target before each run and they were timed, with Amanda Crotty and John Goldrick in particular showing great determination in the 300m and 1 mile run events respectively, cheered on by a large trackside contingent! The Saturday evening was brought to a close with an enjoyable dinner and look back at the day’s activities.

The Sunday morning activities at the Mardyke Arena began with participants trying out their jumping skills. The Long Jump and the High Jump were introduced by Coach Eamonn O’Ceallaigh. After some fun jumping into sand pits and on to high jump mats, the attention then turned to the running events on the track again with runners focusing on a series of 150m runs with Michael Clarke showing his counterparts how it’s done!!

This capped off a wonderful training weekend which was blessed by good weather, with the participants returning to all corners of Ireland with a renewed interest in Athletics. This should set them up well for the IBS May Games which take place in ALSAA, Dublin on Saturday 10th May, and this will be followed by the Metro Games in London on 14th June. If you are interested in attending either of these events, contact Irish Blind Sports on 01 2020118