With the cross country season kicking off imminently, the young McVeighs are hard at work testing the legs on all terrains to try to give themselves an extra edge this season.

With Maisie at the North Coast for her final session with the NI Flavahans Endurance Squad over the Portstewart sanddunes, the boys took the opportunity to test their legs on the first beach Parkrun worldwide which is run entirely on sand.
Nine year old Harry, set off as if he had been running on sand his whole life. Emerging from behind men and women at least twice his size, to gracefully glide across the sand at a phenomenal speed, followed by Daddy Connaire who was heard in coach mode, encouraging the youngster on.

Crossing the line, smashing the long standing Junior Under 10 course record by over a minute in 20.20.
There was whispers heard across the finish line of the North Coast destination of who was this little boy. They knew they had witnessed something special from a young athlete destined to achieve great things. This year he will get the opportunity to line up with his brother at the Flavahans School Cross Country League where he will finally get to make his mark on the big stage and for the club he’s off to Armagh next week.

Older brother, Connaire Og knew he was on holiday and took the opportunity to part take in a bit of a dualathlon by literally testing the water on route several times. Even with his easy pace and embracing a more scenic and wet route he crossed the line in a very respectable 25.21.

One reporter and coach has a feeling that this year she will be writing a lot about the great achievements of these young boys across all competitions and will also enjoy the positive energy, dedication and smiles that both boys bring to training each week. Their enthusiasm is infectious and rubs off on those around them.

They even found time to build sandcastles after their achievements this weekend whilst little sister Tilly showed her ability to move just as fast as her big brothers and make a clean break for the water.

Report by Siobhan Grant

Report by Phil Hodge

Back to Ambleside two years in a row, though last year was for the scaled back Home Countries International U18.

No complaints from us, Duncan Richards puts on a great event with the help of Niki Rylance, treating the team to excellent accommodation and a fantastic course.

Four Newcastle AC athletes had been selected to represent NI & Ulster, Tom Crudgington, Ethan McMullan, Ciara Savage, all for another representation on the team, but joined this year by Yasin Brannigan, making his International Debut taking one of three Development Athletes spots on the squad.

In a two race format, the U17s started first, with Yasin Brannigan running steadily throughout the fantastic course. Going sub 30, this was an excellent run, giving Yasin an insight into the standard at this level, and something to train for next year, when he tries out for selection to the team. Continue reading →

As a club, Newcastle AC has created a name for itself as a successful running club. Yet the name clearly indicates that Newcastle is an Athletics Club and it is a club that has nurtured the track and field talents of its members from an early age and has been represented by athletes at the highest levels.

Yet this nurturing of talent all begins on a Monday Evening, in the grounds of Shimna Collage with our junior squad.

As a club dedicated to its members, it equally invests in its coaches with regular opportunities to complete certified coaching courses and attend various CPD events to ensure that our members, young and old, receive the best possible training available across all disciplines.

On Friday, 38 Junior members attended a joint coaching day in conjunction with the Athletics NI, StarTrack Programme. We welcomed Eilish Ward and her team of Athletics NI coaches to Newcastle where the groups had the opportunity to embrace a multi event programme across the day. Continue reading →

Report By Siobhan Grant

As June came to a close and we look forward to what will hopefully be a wonderful summer of laughter and fun, the Newcastle AC Junior Squad reflected back on what has been a very eventful year, from our youngest to our oldest members.

Tentatively returning to training this year with a change of venue at the start of the year to facilitate the Covid-19 restrictions, the Junior Coaches set up camp every Monday Evening at the Flood Lit grounds of Donard Park instead of their staple venue of Shimna Integrated College.

It was lovely to have some form of normality return to life and although the coaching team was always very cautious, our junior members relished the opportunity to get together with their friends and club mates, embracing each and every session. The Year 8 and over Saturday endurance training in Tollymore Forest rolled out again also under the watchful eye of Ian Brannigan.

The Junior training is broken up into three groups each week. Ian Bailey leads the Year 8 and over mountain runners. This year they have utilised every track, trail and pathway in every sort of weather up, down and along Donard Wood from the Granite Trail to Drinnahilly and as far up Donard you can go in 40minutes! This has without a doubt led to notable performances in competitions at home and as far away as Italy with both the girls and boys impressing in all events. Continue reading →