Athletics- New club Nuenna making great strides

From early on Friday morning they arrived in droves at Pairc Lachtán in Freshford for the inaugural North Kilkenny Schools cross-country gala.

The event was hosted by the newly-formed Nuenna Athletic Club, formed by a group who were determined to introduce more sporting attractions for local children.

Spearheaded by chairperson Caoimh Nolan, Colette Phelan took on the task of club secretary while Julie Kavanagh embraced the responsibilities of treasurer. The committee comprised people like Lyane Kelly, Cora and Peter Bennett, Lucy Lowry, Imelda Kelly and Colin Byrne, Regional Development Officer with Athletics Ireland.

From the get-go, the boys and girls who gathered around the pitch for the races fizzed with excitement. There were pupils from Lisdowney, Galmoy, Clinstown, Urlingford, Johnstown, Conahy, Gathabawn, Freshford, Clontubrid, St Canice’s and the Gael Scoil, all ready for races for boys and girls from infants to sixth class. The distances varied from 300 metres to 800 metres.

Every competitor took to the course determined to do their very best. Every competitor was presented with a commemorative medal, all proud as peacocks as they left the presentation podium with the medals dangling from their necks.

The exercise was a resounding success for the hard-working committee and the many teachers who got their charges into the starting line.

Colin Byrne whetted the youngster’s appetite - if in fact it needed whetting - by providing all-weather long jumps, step over barriers, and a reaction mechanism to which every child in the Park was attracted like bees to a honeypot.

Present to watch the action unfold was Irish international runner Brian Maher.

“This is the format to encourage kids to get interested in athletics,” said Brian.

“From a very early age youngsters are athletes. They can run. They can do it on their own. They can develop their skills, physical and psychologically on their own. Efforts like this - and credit to the Nuenna Club for organising it - are so important in creating the interest, and developing it,” he said.

Committee member Rita Campion outlined the progress of the club to date. Starting about 12 months ago, the interested gathering underlined the need for an athletic club within the parish.

“The response was superb with over 120 members in a very short time showing interest,” she said. “It was amazing the number of parishioners who were involved in the field of keep fit, and athletics. Many others were addressing the obesity problems, while the younger juveniles just wanted to run, jump, skip, swing and generally embrace activity.

We also spoke to Cora Bennett (nee Dowling), who told us that their facilities were divided into two locations.

“All of our juveniles do their training in the Threecastles GAA pitch for which we are appreciative,” she said. “Our adults train in Páirc Lactáin, and we also have the all-weather indoor facility made available to us in the Moyne Templetouhy facility.

“For the juveniles the concept of athletics is very much a fun issue, although many of them compete in county and provincial competitions,” said Cora.

We also met up with a man who knows all there is to know about fitness, exercise, young athletes and health. Bríain Ryan is a man well familiar with the concept of organised training in his position as games manager with the Kilkenny County GAA Board. He had more than a passing interest in the exercise as his two children, Siorcha and Fionn, were competing.

“This is a terrific idea, getting the youngsters involved in an athletic mindset,” he said. “It’s fun for a start which is of paramount importance no matter what sporting ethos you are involved. The enthusiasm is infectious, as you can see all around the place. You see the boys and girls in the various races and they could be a long way back, but once they come into view of the finishing line they burst a gut to finish with gusto,” he said. “It’s a great idea, and the Nuenna Club should be highly commended for their ambitious efforts.”