Norwich Union Ulster Sportshall Finals at the Valley Leisure Centre, Belfast

Congratulations to Aoife O'Connor, Louise Harvey, Kelly McGrory and Ema Brady who were part of successful Donegal Under 15 and 13 teams that qualified for the UK Finals in Birmingham on April 12th. The Ulster Finals held in the Valley Centre, Newtownabbey had the incentive of winning teams going onto to represent the province. Aoife O'Connor also won the top athlete award in the Under 15 age group.

George Bunner (Sportshall Founder) & Aoife O’Connor (Donegal)

Fermanagh Boys Under 13 and Under 15 and Donegal Girls Under 13 and Under 15 were impressive team winners when the Ulster Sportshall finals were held at the Valley Leisure Centre, Belfast on Tuesday last, 26 Feb. Following qualification heats in Larne and Enniskillen, during early February, six teams from various counties/regions in the province battled it out over two hours of exciting and very well organised programmes of team competition.

All four teams will represent the province in the UK finals on the 12th April at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

Many of the athletes on view compete in Athletics Northern Ireland/Ulster club and school competition. The overall Under 15 Boys Award Winner Ciaran Dolan, Fermanagh, had bests of 8.36m in the Standing Triple Jump, and 12.80m in the Shot Putt while Under 15 Girls Award winner Aoife O’Connor, Donegal, was a victor in the Standing Long Jump,2.34metres and in the 2 Lap sprint.

Sportshall founder, George Bunner, was in attendance and was most impressed with the standard of competition. He complimented the local Ulster Sportshall committee led by Barry Holmes on their outstanding work in promoting and organising an ideal introduction to athletics activity. He indicated that the vast majority of the G.B. International athletes we watch on TV e.g. Mark Louis Francis, Kelly Sutherton and indeed local International Ulster/Northern Ireland athletes, Anna Boyle and Mary McLoone all experienced and were part of successful Sport shall Athletics teams.