[Not a valid template]The ESB National League got off to a good beginning with our mens and womens team off to a good and enjoyable start in Navan despite some heavy downpours and a million or so spiders. Both Team Captains led the way with Brendan McConville having a busy and compressed spell winning pole vault and 400m hurdles and 2nd in 100m hurdles as well as the usual two relays while Gemma McAnirn had a double at shot and discus. Both teams had a patched up look about them with a load of alternative events having an effect as well as the usual injuries and holidays but they coped well.
It is a bit early to broadcast scores given the frantic nature of the event and no doubt much checking remains. We have one or two queries as do probably other clubs but it seems clear that North Down were first in the Mens Premier League after a strong challenge from the two promoted clubs, Shercock and County Meath. Our other interest in Womens League Division 1 is a bit murkier as apart from Borrosokane getting off to a flyer, ourselves and City of Derry in our pool and the four effective teams in the other pool were much of a muchness. Results from the other round of the league in Cork indicate only Tullamore of the Division 1 women teams are ahead of those competing in Navan while in the Mens Premier Division Leevale and Menapians had a few points more than North Down.
[Not a valid template]The middle distance squad had a good day with a clutch of pbs. After his 800m race at the BMC Grand Prix in Watford the previous evening, Michael Dyer dropped down to 400m, plus the two relays, to replace John Saulters. James Budde took over the 800m spot which he won with a massive new pb of 1:55.5 min. Jordan Neil took over at 1500m and was 2nd but broke the North Down Senior 1500m record in 3:57.0 min. John Carlisle and Robin Brown guested at 1500m and had pbs of 4:07.4 and 4:20.1, Niall Robinson guested at 800m for 2:01.2 and in the womens 800m Lauren Scott had a pb of 2:25.7 min.
Two more pbs came from Peter Glass with 1.95m at high jump and 6.12m for the 56lb weight. The non-availability of Jeremy Harper, Tom Reynolds, Philip Browne and John Saulters meant the throws went to Ian McMullan and Michael McConkey, horizontal jumps went to Neil McArdle and sprints to James Niblock. The girls were bolstered by a very fit Caroline Hussey on leave from the RAF.
[Not a valid template]Apart from Brendan and Gemma event winners were James Budde at 800m, Peter Glass at high jump, Michael McConkey at javelin, both 4 x 400m squads, Alison Lavery at high jump and Kim Shaw at triple jump. 4 x 100m relays were done by Neil McArdle, Michael Dyer, Brendan McConville, James Niblock and Alison Lavery, Lauren Scott, Caroline Hussey, Kim Shaw. The winning 4 x 400m relays were Brendan McConville, Michael Dyer, Jordan Neil, James Niblock and an encore from Alison Lavery, Lauren Scott, Caroline Hussey, Kim Shaw.
Club results were
Men
100m James Niblock 5th 11.9
200m James Niblock ?
400m Michael Dyer 3rd 50.5
800m James Budde 1st 1:55.5: Niall Robinson 2:01.2 (guest)
1500m Jordan Neil 2nd 3:57.0; John Carlisle 4:07.4, Robin Brown 4:20.1 (gsts)
5000m Francis Marsh 4th 15:52.5
110mH Brendan McConville 2nd ?
400mH Brendan McConville 1st 57.9
3000m walk Robin Brown 5th 16:36.9
4 x 100m 4th 45.1
4 x 400m 1st 3:26.9
Shot Michael McConkey 2nd 11.81
Discus Ian McMullan 3rd 38.29
Javelin Michael McConkey 1st 5.04
Hammer Ian McMullan 5th 38.03
56 lb weight Peter Glass 2nd 6.12
Long Jump Neil McArdle 4th 6.02
High Jump Peter Glass 1st 1.95; Ben Reynolds 1.85 (gst)
Triple Jump Neil McArdle 3rd 12.52
Pole Vault Brendan McConville 1st 4.60
Women
100m Alison Lavery 2nd 13.6
200m Caroline Hussey 3rd 27.2
400m Kim Shaw 2nd 60.5
800m Lauren Scott 4th 2:25.7
3000m Stephanie Hambling 3rd 11:43.8 (club veteran record)
1500m Janine Munnis 4th 10:35.6
4 x 100m 2nd 52.5
4 x 400m 1st 4:12.0
Shot Gemma McAnirn 1st 8.49
Discus Gemma McAnirn 1st 23.55
Javelin Janine Munnis 6th 25.46
Hammer Janine Munnis 3rd 18.14
Long Jump Alison Lavery 5th 4.91
High Jump Alison Lavery 1st 1.50
Triple Jump Kim Shaw 1st 10.42