Boyne AC braved unpredictable weather at Lourdes Stadium on Sunday for the Pre Louth Championships and delivered an impressive collective performance on a superbly maintained track and field surface.

Twelve committed coaches oversaw a vast squad, many of whom were first-time competitors, ensuring each athlete found confidence through warm-ups, technical guidance, and unwavering support.  

The Under-9s set the early tone, sprints showcased a 4th-place finish for Norrie Judge and a determined run from Rory Cunningham, while long jumper Ruby Winters also placed 4th and sprinter Sophie Halligan took 5th.

Under-10 highlights included a gold for Cormac Brodigan and a silver for Stella Gow in the 500m, with strong efforts from runners Aaron Levins, Ellie Fay, Emilia Wheat, Kelton Bowler Stone, and Ronan Cunningham. In field events, Neasa O’Sullivan claimed 4th in the Long Jump and Una McEntee matched that in the Turbo Javelin.

At Under-11 level, 600m specialist Malachy Brodigan earned bronze while Conor Hughes secured 4th, and in the sprint, Heather Kingston also placed 4th.

The shot put saw a 4th from Rasmus Fangerau, complemented by enthusiastic runs from Amy Murray Sullivan, Beyla Bowler Stone, Masie Fay, Millie Bell (5th), Mollie Kelly, and Rhys Farrell.

Under-12 action produced a silver sprint for Jessica McMahon and a 4th-place 600m finish for Caitlin Hughes, with Finnbar O’Sullivan and Lauren Halligan also running superbly.

The Under-13 events saw sprinters Cillian Hickey (3rd), Sean Clarke (4th), and Cara O’Connor (4th), while Ashley Byrne placed 4th and Garvan Lundon 5th in the shot put. Will Gow finished 4th in the 600m, supported by performances from Amanda Okwarah, Charlie Kelly, Eben Stone, Harry Kingston, and Sebastian Stearn. Under-14s saw a 3rd-place shot put for Hila Raji and a 4th-place 800m from Isabelle Winters, with Laoise Black also running well.

The Under-15 group shone in the sprints, where Riley Byrne took gold and Aaron McMahon won silver in the 800m, Eoin McEntee finished 4th and Joe Bell 5th, while Mollie Fay sprinted to 4th and Ruadhan Fangerau placed 5th in the shot. Under-16 standout Dara Winters won gold in the 800m, with Jack Willis finishing 4th, as Zara Lee and Cillian Everett posted determined efforts.

Among Under-17 and Under-18 athletes, Hannele Raji secured three medals, gold in sprint and long jump, plus silver in the shot put—while Ryan McMahon notched sprint silver, Sam Doyle placed 5th, and Shauna Rice came 4th.

At Under-18, Aimee Rice earned two bronze medals (sprint and shot put), and Romeo Fomenky powered to gold in the sprint.

Throughout a day marked by shifting wind and occasional drizzle, Boyne AC’s unity never faltered. Athletes cheered each other on between heats, gathered around tables of treats, and lifted morale after every close finish or near miss, reflecting the club’s core values of dedication, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.

By day’s end, Boyne AC departed Lourdes Stadium with multiple podium finishes and a renewed sense of momentum ahead of the Louth Championships, where they are set to return with the same unwavering determination that carried them so successfully through the weekend.