Some of the group on the first trip many years ago in 2008
Back row: Sue Joyce,Mike Tobin,Padraic Tobin,Cormac Dillon,Ruairi Finnegan,Niall Rooney,Cathal Coppinger,Triona Coppinger
Middle row: Julie Gallagher,PJ Kelly,Peter Treacy,Benny Gallagher,Ashley McDonnell,Orla McDaid,Laura Porter,Orla Ryan,Claire Ryder
Front row: Shaun Gallagher,Linda Porter,Debbie Kenny,Caoimhe Quill,Katie O’Donoghue

Over the last 10 years, the club have travelled to Glasgow most years for the Scottish Indoor Championships, having first gone there in 2008 with a group of around 50 athletes plus parents. Every year it has been a super trip with lots of enjoyment and camaraderie and plenty of success too with many Scottish national medals coming the way of our athletes.

The trip is mostly targeted at our older athletes, i.e. those in secondary school or older as it’s something for primary school athletes to look forwards to in the years ahead when they reach secondary school. The age groups are U13, U15, U17, U20 and Senior. The cut-off date is different to what we are used to in Ireland – it goes by the age you are under on 1 September next year, so if for example you turn 16 before 1 Sept you are an U17, but if you turn 16 on or after 1 Sept you are an U15.

The events available in each age group are:-

• All ages: 60m, 60mH, 200m, 800m, 1500m, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Putt
• Plus the following for U15, U17, U20, Senior: 300/400m, Triple Jump, Pole Vault

The dates of next year’s event are not confirmed yet, but it’s likely to be the last weekend of January (senior and U17) and the first weekend of February (U20, U15 and U13). Often times it has clashed with mock JC/LC exams making it difficult for those students to travel – this looks like it will happen next year too with the mocks on from 4-15 February. The dates are usually confirmed around the end of September at which stage we can book flights and make accommodation arrangements.

We have usually stayed in Jury’s Inn which is near the city centre. Accommodation has worked out around £170 sterling for a twin room for 2 nights and £190 for a triple room. We will look at other hotels also. Flights have varied between €40 and €100 for the return trip depending on how quickly we book them. So it’s important we move fast once the event dates are confirmed (but not too fast as some years they have changed the provisional dates). And transport to/from the airport and the athletics arena might add another €20 per person.

I am starting to compile a list of those interested in going so can parents email or text me if interested (tobinm1@yahoo.com or 087 6591879). A parent normally travels with the athlete but we can accommodate a small number of the older juveniles travelling without parents. Plus this time we hope to have a small senior group travelling too. People can email me if they have any questions.