An Cosantóir April 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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by COMDT NOEL CONWAy, CHAIRMAN DF ATHLETICS COMMITTEE
PhotoS by SGT KARL ByRNE & ARMN ADAM MURPHy
O
n 27th February last, the Defence Forces Indoor
track & Field championships (and new entrants
Grand Prix) were held at the state of the art indoor
athletics facility in Athlone Institute of technology (AIt).
Close to 150 DF personnel took part in the competitions,
which included 17 track events and three field events across
four competitor categories including a special category for
new entrants to the DF. Although the numbers attending
were smaller than in recent years (probably due to the high
operational and training tempo throughout the DF), the
atmosphere in the compact stadium was electric, particu-
larly during the 4 x 200m relays - the relays are always an
exciting event at the close of any track and field meet.
Notable performances included superb running by Cadet
Brian Kelly – he won the Defence Forces senior men's 800m
(time: 2m 10s) and also won the DF senior men's 3,000m
and the new entrants 1,500m as well as being the anchor
man on the Cadet School's 4 x 200m relay team – he cer-
tainly earned his "day off" from cadet training that day. Pte
Doyle (1 Mech Inf Coy) showed his sprinting ability by win-
ning the senior men's 60m and 200m championships.
The men's field competitions included the 35lb weight for
distance event – the first time this event has been part of a DF
championships. Comdt Tom Bouchier (MTS Air Corps) won this
specialised event (which is unique to Ireland and Scotland).
Brig Gen Joseph Mulligan, GOC DFTC was in attendance
and presented prizes to the winners. The event was hosted
by 2 Bde and supported by the DF Athletics Committee.
DF Indoor Athletics
