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Newry Hockey Club have started their pre season training and welcome all new members.
The men's teams will be training every Tuesday and Thursday 7-9pm, with the ladies training every Monday and Wednesday also 7-9pm.
All past, present and new members are welcome.
The Club's Men's 1st Xl team is back in the Premier Division in Ulster.
The Club invite any new members to come along and join in this important up and coming season with training taking place at Newry Olympic Hockey Club premises on the Belfast Road.
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Senior
Our Senior team were comprehensively defeated by Keady in the Armagh Senior Hurling Championship. It was a big ask for Craobh Rua and was further compounded due to injury and non availability of key players. However the gritty first half performance of the side and in particular our young hurlers augers well for the future. Keady's experience and class told in the second half if the game particularly in the final quarter. We wish them well in the Championship.
Craobh Rua Senior Hurling team also wish to acknowledge the support of the Quays Shopping Centre Newry.
Summer Camp
Craobh Rua Camlocha ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP takes place from Monday 11th to Friday 15th August and runs from 10am to 1:30pm each day.
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 9:30am
The Camp is once again a joint week between Craobh Rua Camlocha AND Meabh O'Neills and girls and boys from UNDER 6'S upwards are welcome to attend the whole week.
Throughout the week the kids take part in a variety of games, exercises, competitions and trips away. We hope to again build on our great success within this area of the club and hope to see an excellent turn out for what should once again prove to be a great week for the club and community. Cost is £15 and a further £10 for any siblings thereafter.
Croke Park Trip
Those who travelled to Croke Park in our annual trip to an All Ireland semi final enjoyed the day. Many thanks to all those who helped ensure a good day was had by all.
Fund Raising Draw
Craobh Rua are holding an All Ireland Hurling Ticket
Draw. Tickets are £10 each and can be purchased from players or Committee members. First prize includes an overnight stay in Dublin plus two All Ireland Tickets. We thank all those who have helped our Club through financial sponsorship and purchasing tickets for the various fundraising draws.
Congratulations
Best wishes & congratulations to newly weds Dara and Beatriz Bradley from all here at Craobh Rua. The happy couple tied the knot in a ceremony attended by family and friends in Spain.
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Armagh Senior Football Manager Paul Grimley has tendered his resignation to the Armagh County Board management.
Paul was appointed to succeed manager Paddy O'Rourke in July 2012 and his departure follows Armagh's departure from the quarter final stage of the All Ireland Senior Football Championships after a one point defeat to Donegal on Saturday last.
Paul embarked on a development process with the team when he started and believes now is the time to progress to another level.
In a statement the Armagh County Board said "The Management Committee of Armagh County Board wish to acknowledge the contribution of Paul, in terms of his energy, commitment, loyalty, vision and selflessness, to Armagh.
"Paul joined Paddy O’Rourke as Assistant Manager before accepting the Manager’s position the following year. Paul served Armagh as a player, Assistant Manager for two terms and eventually Manager. Paul Grimley is big in stature and gargantuan in his commitment to Armagh. On behalf of everyone involved in Armagh we extend a hearty thank you to Paul and wish him well."
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Martin Patterson has the honour of being the only Newry triathlete to have participated for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games.
This was a massive honour for the Moorhill Road man as he was selected by Triathlon Ireland to travel to Auckland, New Zealand for the 1990 Games that was started by Prince Edward. The Olympic distance triathlon, then in the Games for the first time, had over 20,000 spectators lining the route to watch the race – and it was also beamed out live on television.
Martin was then part of an Irish team that also included Greencastle girl Mary McElroy, a member of the Newry Triathlon Club, and Belfast’s Eamon McConvey who is now living in our city with his wife Ann and family.
Martin, married to Fiona with children Ethan, Ryan, Pierce, Myles and Erin, earned his international call-up to New Zealand by winning the 1989 Irish National Series, as well as placing high in almost every triathlon in which he competed that year, including wins at Enniskillen and Ballymena.
Taking part Commonwealth Games was the major highlight in the sporting life of the hugely talented and athletic Patterson. But there were quite a few other notable occasions. For example he ran a blistering 31.38 for 10 kilometres on the road, did 14.48 for an accurate three-mile race on the Warrenpoint Road and completed a half marathon in 71 minutes dead. He also cycled 22.08 for ten miles, completed the Switzerland Ironman and represented Ireland in both the World Triathlon Championships in Wellington, New Zealand and European Championships in Trier Germany - in Trier he was joined on the Irish team by Newry men Kookie O’Hagan and Padraig Lynch.
Martin says: “The Commonwealth Games was high point in my career but my lowest moment came in the All-Ireland half-Ironman Championships in Sligo in 1990. I had trained like a demon all winter for Sligo and was in the shape of my life. I had a good swim that day and was lying fourth on the bike, with hopes of picking up another couple of places. But two punctures wrecked my dreams.”
Martin began his triathlon career in the mid-eighties when he won several Milk Triathlon series races – events akin to today’s Try-A-Tri.
He says: “It’s fantastic to see how the sport has progressed since I first started in the eighties. I had stopped doing triathlons for quite a few years but was brought back when I was asked by Catherine Murphy to help organise the first Crooked lake Triathlon (in 2003). For two or three years I was Race Director for Triathlon Ireland at the Camlough event.”
Martin continued: “I now train for just half an hour each day and did the Newry City Triathlon last year, really enjoying it. (He was 47th in 1.16.47).
“Incidentally I would like to thank former workmates at the Newry Swimming Pool and members of the Newry Shamrocks Running Club for their help and encouragement in getting me into the sport of triathlon.
“I’ve done triathlons all over the world and I’ll have to say that Newry’s Albert Basin venue is second to none. It’s a fast, flat and accurate course that has the potential to stage a top International Triathlon.
“And I’m really looking forward to testing myself again on Sunday, August 31 in the Firmus Energy Newry City Triathlon,” said Martin.
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The countdown is on to Newry City Council’s showcase event, the Festival of Water, on Sunday 31st August, which will finish with a real splash - the firmus energy Newry City Triathlon! And don’t worry if you have been treading water as there is still time to ‘dive in’ and sign up for the Triathlon.
Angeline Murphy, Firmus Energy main sponsor of the event and Paddy Duffy, Events Officer, Newry and Mourne District Council commented: “There are still spaces available to get involved in this great challenge, either as an individual entry or as a team entry. They continued ‘A Triathlon is a real test of endurance but the sense of achievement upon completing the course is just great.’
“Enthusiasm for the sport is at its peak around the area in the lead up to this event, especially after the recent successful Top of the Mournes Triathlon and we hope that many of the participants from this race will be keen to get involved in the Newry City Triathlon. If people don’t feel up to taking on the whole course, there is the option of putting together a relay team, a great compromise that makes sure participants who know their own limitations do not push themselves beyond this.
“The Triathlon begins with a 750-metre swim starting from the Albert Basin. Wetsuits are obligatory and this is an exciting element of our course as it is not every day that people get to swim in the Canal. Event organisers are holding practice swims every Thursday until the event to enable people to get in some practice and become accustomed to the ebb and flow of the water. Following the swim, wetsuits will be swapped for cycling helmets as participants race 20-kilotmetres on our even, level course taking in the Warrenpoint Road. The final aspect of the Triathlon is pounding the pavements in a five-kilometre route taking in the key landmarks around the City.
“This course offers participants and those taking part the very best as the flat landscape will make for dramatic speeds and the audience will have excellent vantage points throughout the City to cheer on their friends and family taking part.”
Participants can register to take part in the firmus energy Newry City Triathlon for only £20 which is a low cost entry fee with many Triathlons costing at least twice this. As well as securing a coveted place in the Triathlon, the £20 also includes a branded T-shirt and swimming cap, mementos of involvement in the event, as well as sandwiches and a drink post-race.
Angeline continued: “We are delighted to be supporting the Triathlon. We supply natural gas to homes and businesses in and around Newry and the Festival of Water, which includes the Triathlon, really does offer something for everyone!
“We have more than 1000 customers in and around the City and we are excited to be involved in this Council event for everyone in Newry. This innovative event is bringing sports such as swimming, cycling and running, to an even wider audience, as well as showcasing Newry as leaders in sporting excellence.
Mayor Daire Hughes concluded by saying “ I am particularly looking forward to the event and am very interested in the challenge that is set for the Iron Kid event, which is a dualthon type of event involving a run, cycle and run”
“Festival events will be taking place throughout the day including face painting, bouncy castles, a climbing wall, banana rides on the Canal and jet-ski and canoe races. It will be a vibrant, colourful spectacle, showcasing a unique mix of cultural and family events.”
Further information on the Festival and Triathlon, as well as registration details, can be found at www.firmusenergynewrycitytriathlon.com Each participant will receive a specially designed bespoke medal and air-tech T Shirt. There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male/Female overall.
There will also be a prize for the individual winner of each respective age group details as follows: 16-19; 21-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64 and 65-70.
Each individual prize winners will receive a trophy and free entry into the 2015 Newry City Triathlon.
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Summer Camp
The Craobh Rua Summer Camp continues to be one of the major highlights of the club year and 2014 proves to be possibly the most successful camp to date. With over 75 kids participating each day, those in attendance got great enjoyment from the many different drills, games and competitions they were involved in. On Thursday the whole group travelled to Kilbroney forest park where they enjoyed the excellent facilities on offer and this was followed up by a BBQ before returning home to Craobh Rua. On Friday each age group enjoyed an excellent coaching session under the tutelage of top hurling coach John Crossey and no doubt each child as well as their coaches will have picked up a number of tips throughout the day. The kids also had a visit from the Newry and Mourne Mayor Cllr Dáire Hughes who spoke to the children and their coaches and commented on the great attendance that was there to be seen. Our club sponsors The Quays was also represented by Michael Mc Avoy who himself has played a little hurling in his native county Cavan and he too had great admiration for the high number of children enjoying the game of hurling at the camp.
Many thanks to all from Craobh Rua and Meave O Neills who worked hard all week to ensure that all participants enjoyed the Camp.
Under 12s
The under 12s recorded an excellent win after their journey to Lurgan on Thursday night. It was a scintillating display of hurling from the Craobh Rua lads with ten different players registering scores throughout the game, the highlights being the long range points coming from the hurls of Parrick Quinn, Ronan Casey, Oisin O'Hare, Fionn Mc Cann and Ryan Shortt. These scores were backed up by an overall team performance from Tom Trainor, Fionn O'Callaghan, Sean Mc Verry, David Shortt, Feargal Cooney, Ethan Casey and Goal Keeper Oisin Devlin.
Training for U12/10/8 squads continue this Monday night 8pm
Under 6
Coaching continued for this age group on Saturday morning at 11am. All welcome
Under 14
The team travel to Middletown this Monday night to face the home side in the Championship.
Congratulations
All involved with Craobh Rua extend our heartiest congratulations to Cathal and Orla Cooney on the birth of their baby girl.
Hooley Around Cooley: The annual fund raising cycle "The Hooley around Cooley" takes place on Sunday the 26th of September.
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Sponsored Walk
Our Sponsored Walk takes place this Sunday 24 August 2014 at 11am. We would like all sponsor cards and money to be in by Friday. There is sample sizing of the training top available and will be given to Managers this week. Hope to see you all on Sunday Morning.
Senior Football / Peil Sinsearach
Thomas Davis v Pearse Ogs
Our senior players played well on Sunday past beating Pearse Ogs to take them into the next round of the Championship. The next game will be played on Saturday 23 August 2014 at 6pm, venue Whitecross. Thomas Davis v Belleek. Let’s all support the lads and cheer them on Saturday evening. Good Luck.
Killean Tournament
Also a big well done to the seniors winning the Killean Tournament for the second year running.
Many thanks to Killean for the invite and the great hospitality.
Pictured here is Captain David Lenaghan getting presented with a bouquet of flowers for PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT. Well done David.
Under 16 Ladies
The u16 girls travelled to Tullysaran on Wednesday past again missing a few players due to holidays. But the girls played with great determination and with a little more luck could have taken something from this game. This really was end to end with both teams going score for score. Danielle McClorey opened the scoring for the Corrinshego girls followed quickly by a point from Nicole Mc Cann. Tullysaran hit a score followed by a goal but this didn't deter the girls as they scored the next point and then Nicole McCann rattled the crossbar with a super shot before Siobhan McKinley found the net with her first goal of the night. Danielle added another point and Corrinshego went in at half time a few points down. On the re-start the girls hit the next four scores without reply with Nicole McCann adding another two and Danielle McClorey adding to her account. Siobhan McKinley hit another superb goal and the Thomas Davis girls were looking as if they could take something from this game. Colleen Loye was playing well along with Dearbhla Kearns in midfield and sadly Dearbhla had to come off injured which was a big blow to the girls. Tullysaran finished strong, adding a couple of goals and eventually ran out winners. This was a gutsy performance from the girls with some great performances including Aimeelee Mc Shane at corner back and Hannah Mulholland at centre half back. But two girls stood out and won joint player of the week. Young Siobhan McKinley and Laura Debrowska . Well done girls.
Under 12 Boys
Our U12 team were victorious in the Derrybeg festival tournament today. we were asked to enter two 5 aside teams to compete against the bosco A and B team and a team from derrybeg also. it was our A team that reached the final against the Bosco A team. we dominated the first half with goals from junior marron and Jamie Gaskin. And points from Ronan Casey. which left the score at half time 12-1. The Bosco stepped up their game and found an extra gear to get a flurry of goals to bring the sides level. with 5 minutes to go it left a tight game with both sides answering each other with points. with a stroke of fortune and some instinctive forward play from Jamie, gambling on a fumble from the keeper to toe poke the ball into the net to get us a 3 point lead. the bosco answered with a point from a free kick to leave it a two point game. but the lads put their bodies on the line to block the ball to prevent a late goal chance. the lads ran out clear and deserved winners. some great performances from junior in full forward causing havoc all day with his dominant presence. Ronan casey as per usual giving 100% in midfield and defence when called upon. Jamie gaskin had a great tournament getting on the score sheet in every game and finally showing a bit of heart and fight for the club. Sean Dowdall also had a great tournament holding the fort at the back and taking charge of any danger in the opposition attack. and finally a big thanks to conor cinnamond to converting himself into a goalkeeper today and keeping us in the game on more than one occasion.
The B team were also excellent. with having only played two games due to the way of the draw, they managed to push the bosco A team all the way to a cloe opening game. and drawing with their B team in a game in which we could of easily won. everyone in the b team played their part with the likes of ryan owens and Ethan Casey putting in a great shift with some excellent defensive work. caolan mallon was a constant threat all day in front of goal and jonjo cranney up to his usual self controlling the game. and Bradley Murray with some good saves and safe hands in nets.
Well Done to all Involved today and a big thanks to Derrybeg CA for a great tournament and for the invitation.
Player of the week - Junior Marron
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Gerry Patton is really looking forward to competing in the firmus energy Newry City Triathlon on Sunday week 31st of August.
He says last year a few people finished ahead of him who he feels shouldn’t have done; thus he’s hell-bent on making amends.
Gerry says the city course is a super flat one and perfect for racing triathlon. He says it’s ideal for both novices and experienced athletes.
Patton, married to Anita and with children Tom, Toni and Jude, is known to many as The General. He is without doubt Bessbrook’s most famous sporting icon and he has earned that moniker with sterling deeds (and perhaps some not so sterling) down through the years. In his time Gerry has competed in many, many sports, including football where he was a legendary figure and of course triathlon - as well as playing darts, pool, GAA for Carrickcruppen, badminton for the Bosco, squash and being involved in dog-racing.
Currently running, swimming and cycling are sports in which he excels but even last year, in the middle of the triathlon season, he turned out for Bessbrook United in the Carnbane League at the ripe old age of sixty. He also played against Newry Celtic in the Mother’s Pride cup final at the age of 47 - and had a stormer at centre half.
The General participated in the first Newry Triathlon, organised by Pauline Lamph of the Newry and Mourne District Council, way back in 1983 but thereafter concentrated on football – that is until Catherine Murphy began her series of Crooked Lake triathlons. And indeed Gerry is one of a select few who has finished all 11 races to date; and he has the T-shirt to prove it.
Although in the first Crooked Lake race things didn’t go as planned with both his legs seizing solid as he was cycling through Meigh. Mount Everest conqueror Banjo Bannon passed him and advised him not to get off the bike as he might not be able to get back on it. Thus Patton cycled the last five miles using his heels to turn the pedals.
On the other hand Gerry said one of the highlights of his triathlon career was beating both Mickey Mallon and Tony Bagnall in the tenth year of the Crooked Lake (2013) “It was a great memory for me,” said the General.
Other great memories including finishing half-ironman races in Weisbaden, Germany and Zurich in Switzerland. Also he won his age category in the Top of the Mourne Triathlon a couple of years ago.
A bad moment in football occurred when the then Bessbrook Wanderers’ manager Jamsie Feehan told him that he was over the hill – at a mere 35. Sure at that tender age Gerry was just starting out on his sporting career.
Meanwhile a few years ago Paddy Duffy presented Patton with the Bessbrook Hero Duathlon award and incidentally at that same awards ceremony, the late Ossie Bradley, who tragically drowned in Bessbrook pond a few weeks ago, also received an award.
In conclusion Gerry says: “I might not be the best swimmer, cyclist or runner in the Newry Triathlon Club but there’s no one can touch me in the fourth event - socialising.”
So on Sunday, August 31 if you’re competing in the Firmus Energy Newry City Triathlon and Patton doesn’t pass you in the swim, on the bike or on the run, he’s bound to get you in the last discipline!
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Almost 300 athletes have entered next Sunday’s 31st August Firmus Energy Newry City Triathlon.
The event promises to be a huge sporting affair and is scheduled to start at 2pm at the Albert Basin in front of the Quays Shopping Centre.
The distances for the Triathlon are a 750-metres swim in the Newry Canal, at the Albert Basin, followed by a 20-Kilometres Cycle to and from Warrenpoint and the race will finish with a three-lap 5k run around the City.
The Triathlon is just one of many sporting activities that will take place on Sunday 31st August. The Newry City Water Festival will commence at 10am. Activities will include kayaking, canoeing, Currach Boats and water-boat rides, Children participating in any of these water-based activities must be able to swim a minimum distance of 50-metres. There will also be the eagerly anticipated Iron Kids Duathlon which will cater for various age-groups. This event will begin at 12.15pm and will incorporate a short run, Cycle Ride and a further run. The Competitors must wear safety helmets during this Event.
Participating Children will require Parental consent and parents will be required to accompany the young Iron Kids at the event.
Newry and Mourne Council Mayor, Councillor Daire Hughes will take part in the Iron Kids race in a competitive spirit.
One of the Highlights of the Morning will also be the Chip and Dip where the Children will be brought out to the floating Pontoon on the Canal, with Dessie McMahon, of Pat’s Chippy, providing complimentary hot food and soft drinks.
Other sponsors include, O’Brien’s Sandwiches, The Quays. They will be supplying food and refreshments to the triathletes and Sainbury’s, also from the Quays, have provided water and juice for both Events.
The Brass Monkey will host the post triathlon celebrations.
Race Director Paddy Duffy, the Newry and Mourne Events Officer, stated “The Council have put an amazing amount of work into organising these Events and I have high hopes that the Newry City Triathlon will become one of the top Triathlons in Ireland . I would like to thank Firmus Energy who are the Principal Sponsor and hope that with the success of the event, Firmus will stay on board in future years.
I would also like to thank the other Agencies and Companies for their help in staging this high profile series of events, particularly the Newry Triathlon Club, East Coast Adventure, the Department of Social Development and Neighbourhood Renewal – who have funded the water-based activities. Members of Newry Shamrocks G.F.C. will act as marshalls on the day and members of Newry Fire Brigade will be on hand to ensure all the Athletes can avail of a Shower after the Race.
Furthermore I would like to thank Gerry Coyle and his hard-working Quayside Close / Dromalane Community Association for all their help and assistance,”
Paddy Duffy also advised, there would be some traffic Diversions in place in the city to ensure the safe running of the triathlon and he asks motorists to exercise patience.
It should be a very memorable day for all the competitors and no doubt the Event will attract a lot of Spectators to cheer on the Athletes in their Quest to complete this popular Triathlon.
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