Club AGM – Another Good Year

North Down AC held a well-attended AGM on Wednesday evening, the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer all reporting another successful year in 2008. Two important changes to the Committee occurred with Roy Kerr taking the Vice Chairman"s role and Kim Shaw taking over as Ladies Track and Field Captain with tributes paid to their predecessors Norman Lellyett and Gemma McAnirn. Norman Munnis was re-elected as Chairman for a third year and other officers were re-elected.

Two major highlights of the year featured in the Secretary"s report. The Senior Men"s team competing in Portugal at Monte Gordo on 24th/25th May in the European Champion Clubs Championships where they represented Ireland after winning the All Ireland League two years in a row. The team were a creditable 8th with several personal bests, thoroughly enjoying the experience and benefitting from the high level of competition. They were North Down Sports Advisory Council "Team of the Year". Not to be outdone three athletes made the standard for the Commonwealth Youth Games. Mark Patterson unfortunately missed out but Hannah Lewis and Ben Reynolds were selected for the event in Pune in India. Both did two events, a big ask as the high level track programme was compressed into three days. Hannah was outstanding, making the 200m final and winning silver at long jump where her 5.98m in qualifying for the final was the longest of the competition. As well as competing in the high jump, Ben reached the 110m hurdles final where he was 5th. Alison Moffitt was overall Team Manager of the 19 strong multi sports team which brought back 9 medals, winning the Belfast Telegraph Young Team of the Year as well as a Stormont reception.

The Senior Men"s team were 11 points short  in the All Ireland League Premier Division and finished second and won the Northern Ireland Team Trophy for the ninth yeat in succession. The Women"s team matced them by finishing secon in All Ireland League Division 1 and also won the Northern Ireland Team Trophy. The Juniors were fourth in the McCains Young Athletes League. The Senior Mens Cross Country team won the bronze medal at the Irish Championships in March where we had the biggest squad and the most successful team of the Northern Ireland clubs. The U14 boys team won the Ulster Championships in November and travelled to Waterford for the All Ireland Championship where Glen Will in 8th was top Northern runner. On the road the Senior Womens team won the team prize at the Bangor Classic 10K.

The Bangor Classic was held on 30th Sept and was sponsored by North Down Borough Council whose input was much appreciated. On a bright autumn day there were 600 or so entrants. Our January Cross Country Relay meeting was discontinued but other promotions were our Young Athletes Meeting on the track on 12th August and the scenic Crawfordsburn 5K Trail Race on 30th August.