Big year ahead for Menapians
2025 for Menapian's Athletic Club was a busy and rewarding year as the club had members competing at various events including track & field, cross country and road races. As we enter 2026 and look forward to a whole new year of competition it's also important to look back and celebrate the club's achievements and successes.
On the track Fiachra Mehigan kicked off the year with a Leinster bronze in the U16 pentathlon. At Leinster Indoors Martin Kelly took 3 golds 800m/1500m/3000m and Siobhan Doyle taking bronze in 60m sprint race. Then at the National Masters Indoors Martin took home another 2 golds in 1500m/3000m.
Our throwing athletes were busy as Josh Nolan won 2 golds and Fiachra Mehigan a bronze at the Mr Oil County event. The Mr Oil Juvenile Track & Field saw Estee Lonergan, Fiachra Mehigan, Rory Henderson. Josh Nolan, Maebh McCormack, Daragh Mehigan, Orla Dolan and Lucas Page Redmond all claiming county medals in club colours including the U17 mixed relay team winning an impressive gold. Next up was the school's event and Josh Nolan, Elijah Page Redmond, Orla Dolan, Alex Lonergan, Lucas Page Redmond bringing medals back to their schools. Back to Leinster and Elijah Page Redmond won silver in U20 javelin joined by coach Catherine O'Connor who won gold in 3000m and silver in 1500m in her age category. The u12-19 Leinster Juvenile saw Lucas Page Redmond won silver in 100m and gold in long jump, Elijah Page Redmond won gold javelin, Josh Nolan silver javelin, Alex Lonergan gold hammer, all qualifying for national competition. Elijah was then selected to throw javelin at the Tailteann Games where he won silver and then being selected to compete on the Irish team at the SIAB Games in UK. In the Nationals Elijah took bronze and Josh 5th in a tough javelin competition.
Our masters athletes showed their versatility by competing at the County Track & Field where they got their hands on numerous medals most notably the men's 4x400m gold, women's 4x400m bronze and men's 4x100m silver medals.
Fiachra Mehigan won silver at the National Combined events. At the National Outdoor Masters Martin Kelly won another 2 golds in 400m & 800m M70.
In cross country events at the Leinster Intermediate Martin Kelly won gold M70. At the County Novice we had 4 athletes, 6 ran in the Intermediate with the ladies winning team silver, 2 at the Senior and finishing the year with 7 at the Masters with the women winning team bronze.
Our road athletes are a dedicated bunch who travel far and wide to race. Catherine O'Connor claimed a F60 gold and Martin Kelly a M70 gold at the Leinster Masters Road Race in Kilkenny. At the Mr Oil County Race series we had 19 competing at Masters, 5 at the Senior, 11 at the Novice where the women's team won team bronze, 11 at the Intermediate with the women winning team silver.
The National Marathon in Dublin saw 4 members running and every race in the county had a Menapian's member entered as members supported the counties club races and the many other races held. The half marathon distance is becoming more popular with our members running in 14 different events both locally, nationally and internationally.
Anthony Dowd pulled on an Irish vest and competed at the European Masters winning a team bronze medal in the M50 half marathon.
Our members also represented in a variety of events including IMRA, adventure races, trail runs, parkrun, ultramarathons, marathons, half marathons, triathlons and ironman using their club training to great effect.
The committee would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary with renewed vigour. Keep an eye on social media for updates. And remember to renew your membership!