LVAC Annual General Meeting
The 2025 Annual General Meeting was held on the 13th January in the Les Jones Room, mary Peters Track. There was a good turn out from the club and together we celebrated the success of the outgoing season and planned ahead for the year to come. The annual trophies were also presented to this years deserving winners.
Details of the prize winners are below:-
Mini Girl of the Year – Georgina Garland
Georgina had a very busy and successful 2024 season representing the club at all of their Fab 5 events, the Club Championships, NI Age Group Championships, Schools Championships as well as 33 Parkrun appearances!!!
Georgina showed her class achieving Personal Bests in 8 separate events and topping the NI Age Group rankings in the 600m as well as a top 2 ranking in both the 800m and 1500m.
Not content with her excellent performances on the track Georgina also had a great run on the grass to lead the LVAC girls team home to victory in the team event at the NI and Ulster Age Group Cross Country Championships.
Mini Boy of the Year – Charlie Hume
2024 was Charlie’s debut season on the track and he showed brilliant enthusiasm across a range of events both on the track and in the field with some great performances.
In the LVAC Championships Charlie came away with the gold medal in the boys Long Jump as well as a silver in the 800m. He also had strong performances in a number of the LVAC Fab 5 Meetings.
As well as his success in the Track Charlie had a really strong run in the NI and Ulster Age Group across Country where he helped the U12 Boys Team to a top 5 finish.
Charlie consistently gives 100% in training and racing and has a bright future ahead.
U13 Boy of the Year – Oliver O’Dowd
Oliver had his debut season in 2024 ending with PBs across all the throwing disciplines. Whilst he achieved some great distances particularly in the hammer and shot it was his commitment and outstanding effort to training that made him the standout winner for this award.
Oliver gives 100% in every session whether that be on the track with the Junior Sprints Squad or in the circle with the throws squad. His attention to detail and drive to perfect his technique in the throws doesn’t go unnoticed by his coaches and fellow athletes and is really paying off with him showing big improvements week in week out.
U13 Girl of the Year – Sophie Wylie
In only her second year of competing Sophie made her mark on the U13 sprinting scene finishings ranked in the top three in Northern Ireland in both the 100m and 200m as well as a top 5 finish in the Long Jump.
Sophie achieved an excellent Silver medal in the Ulster Schools mini girls 100m with a personal best of 13.80sec. She also went on the achieve a silver in the NI and Ulster Age Group 200m and was a key member of the gold medal winning 4x100m girls relay team.
Not content with her sprinting success Sophie also made strong appearances in Cross Country qualifying for the Irish Schools Championships in Tallaght.
U15 Girl of the Year – Katie Keown
Katie continued her strong form in 2024 with top 10 NI Age Group ranking performances in the 800m and 1500m.
She achieved a silver and bronze in the 800m and 1500m respectively at the NI and Ulster Age Group Championships and was selected to represent Northern Ireland at the London Mini Marathon.
Katie also made her mark internationally having been selected for the Irish Schools Cross Country Team where she helped the mixed team secure a fantastic bronze medal in the School International event.
U15 Boy of the Year – Roman Mooney
Roman made his debut for the club in 2024 and throughout the season proved himself to be of the top U15 sprinters in the country.
Roman finished the season ranked 2nd in the U15 NI Rankings in the 100m with a personal best time of 11.80sec which he achieved in the Ulster Schools Final.
After strong performances in the NI and Ulster Championships, Roman qualified for the Irish Age Groups where he represents the club brilliantly achieving his second fastest time ever in the 100m. He also assisted the U16 Boys 4x100m to the silver medal in the Irish Championships.
U17 Girl of the Year – Olivia Morgan
Olivia had an outstanding 2024 season with performances on the track, road, cross country and in the mountains. She made her Irish debut at the start of the year having been selected for the U17 Irish Development Squad that travelled to Renfrew, Scotland where she helped the team to the podium. She continued her success in the mountains by being selected for the Irish U18 team to travel to Spain for the International Mountain Running Cup.
Olivia also was picked for the Irish School Cross Country Team, the NI Mini Marathon Team.
As well as her international success Olivia medalled the NI and Ulster Age Group Championships as well a number of brilliant runs at local races around the country and was also a key member of the LVAC Ladies 4x400m relay team who secured a bronze medal at the Irish Senior Indoor Championships.
U17 Boy of the Year – Noah Harper
Noah has a breakthrough season in 2024 with personal best performances in 8 separate events.
Noah topped the U17 NI rankings in the 800m with a brilliant time of 1.58.98 and 2nd in the 1500m rankings. All the more impressive considering he had another year in this age group.
Noah made his international debut in January 2024 having been selected to represent the Irish Development Squad in Scotland where he helped the team to a podium finish.
Noah medalled in the 800m and 1500m in the NI and Ulster Championships qualifying for the Irish Championships were he again represented the club to high level.
He had been a valuable team member in both training and competition throughout the season with his hard work resulting in great success.
Most Improved Female – Hayley McAteer
Hayley has has an outstanding season and has consistently represented the club at a wide range of events across the country ensuring that the sky blue and navy vest is ever present on the podium.
Throughout the 2024 season Hayley achieved Personal Bests in the 5k, 10k and 10 mile distances. Her PB in the 10min event was by nearly 5 minutes.
Hayley secured senior medals at a number of events such as the GR8 Dundrum Run, Belfast Airport Runway Run, Feile 10k, Sea 2 Sky 5k, The Walled City 10 miler and the NI and Ulster Novice Cross Country.
All of the above was in addition to 31 Parkrun performances!!!!!
Most Improved Male – Adam Harrison
Adam Harrison has had a fantastic 2024 season and was definitely one of the busiest members of the club having covered 16 different events ranging from 60m to 5k, the High Jump to the Shot Putt and everything in between. He achieved personal bests in 14 of these 16 events and recorded 44 performances throughout the season.
Adam claimed 3 NI and Ulster Championship Medals including the gold in the U16 indoor 1500m.
He also brought home an Irish Age Group Silver Medal as part of the Boys U16 4x100m relay team.
Adam also ensured the club was well represented in the combined event Championships, qualifying for the Irish Schools Championships where he had some very strong results.
Mills Cup for Sprinting – Andrew Proctor
Andrews 2024 season proved that hard work and consistency really does pay off. He finished the season with a brilliant 400m personal best of 52.16sec and well as excellent performances in the shorter sprints.
Andrew was once again a key team member securing vital points for the men’s team in the Team Trophy and National League and was willing to step out of his comfort zone for points in other events when asked, and always did so with enthusiasm.
Andrew was instrumental in securing a bronze medal for the Mixed 4x400m Relay team at the Irish Senior Championships and the Gold for the Men’s 4x100m relay team in the NI and Ulster Senior Championships.
Shirlow Cup for Throws – Oliver Taylor
Oliver had a breakthrough season in the throwing circle, with PBs and medals across a variety of the throwing events. He PB’d in five separate events/weights and showed great resilience and determination in moving up to the Senior Men’s weights in both the Shot and Hammer when required.
Oliver was crowned Ulster Schools Champion in the Shot Put with a personal best throw of 12.32m and also achieved a silver Medal in the NI & Ulster U18 Championships in the Hammer. Oliver went on to represent the Club at the Irish Age Group Championships where he finished a fantastic 4th place in a very strong field and in doing so achieved a massive PB of 43.07m. This distance placed him top of the 2024 Northern Ireland U17 Rankings.
Oliver displayed outstanding commitment to LVAC and was willing to step in where needed. He assisted the Men’s team to a bronze medal at the Irish Club Championships and silver in the NI Team Trophy.
Rogers Cup for Hurdles – Rebekah Abbott
Rebekah Abbott had another strong season showing great determination to overcome injury and finish the season leading the NI U15 Girls rankings for the 75m Hurdles.
Rebekah started the season in winning fashion with a gold medal in 60m Hurdles at the NI & Ulster Indoor Championships and continued her medal winning ways with a silver in the longer 75m Hurdles at the Outdoor Age Group Championships and a bronze in the Ulster Schools Championships. Rebekah represented the club at the Irish Age Group Championships and put in a brave performance finishing her heat despite injury.
As well as her prowess over the flights of hurdles Rebekah also had some great performances in the Multi Events with top 5 finish in the Ulster School Combined Event Championships.
McCorkell Cup for Jumps – Jude Glover
Jude had a fantastic 2024 season making massive improvements particularly in the High Jump with a PB of over 35cm. Throughout the season Jude achieved PB’s in 14 separate events!
In the NI & Ulster Age Group Championships Jude won the silver medal in the U17 High Jump and went on the represent the club at the Irish Age Group Championships where he had a fantastic performance resulting in a bronze medal. Jude also won bronze in the NI & Ulster Indoor High Jump Championships and silver in the NI and Ulster Combined Event Championships where he achieved a 1.72m PB in the High Jump placing him 2nd in the 2024 NI U17 High Jump Rankings.
This is all the more impressive considering this is his first year in this age group. As well as his individual performances Jude assisted the Men’s Team to their silver medal position in the NI and Ulster Tram Trophy.
Female Masters Athlete of the Year – Laura Frey
Laura Frey only entered the Masters Category half way through the 2024 Track Season yet in that short space of time managed to cement herself as one of the Worlds top Master athletes.
In August Laura travelled to Gothenburg for the World Masters Athletics Championships where she showed the true level of her class winning a bronze medal in the W35 400m Hurdles and achieving a PB in the heats on the way.
Not content with a World Medal Laura also was part of the Irish Ladies 4 x 800m Team who broke the World Master Record in Dublin in July. To go with her world record Laura also set National Age Group Records in the 100mH and 400mH.
Besides from her amazing performances on the track Laura was instrumental in leading the Ladies Team to the Final of the Irish National League Championships and well as the clubs gold medal in the Mixed 4x400m relay.
Male Masters Athlete of the Year – Ian Bailey
Ian Bailey once again had a great 2024 season with some brilliant performances in the Masters Categories and was an ever present representative for the club both locally and around the world.
In addition to the Belfast Half Marathon and a top 5 age category finish in the Hillsborough Half Marathon, Ian also completed two of the world’s major marathons in New York and London. In the New York Marathon Ian finished in the top 80 in his age group which consisted of over 1300 runners. He was also the 4th GB athlete in this category.
As well as his success on the roads, Ian had a strong cross country season with top a 10 finish in the NI and Ulster Masters Championships.
Club Woman of the Year – Linda Craig
Linda has been instrumental as a coach within the Sprint and Throws Squad, guiding our junior throwers to a range of successes. Linda’s commitment to organising the groups training is next to none and her support through the season as coach, official, supporter, organiser and parent really standout.
This year Linda took on the daunting task of assisting with the entry system for the Fab 5 Meetings and her input was invaluable, massively contributing to the smooth and successful running of the events.
There is rarely a day throughout the season that Linda is not assisting the club in some shape or form and always does so with a smile or encouraging word for those around her.
Clubman of the Year – John Glover
Johns commitment to the club has been unwavering throughout its 34 year history and 2024 was no different.
Having founded the Thursday Night Young Athlete Series over 40 years ago he once again organised the LVAC Fab 5 Series which proved to be the most successful year yet with record entries across all the events. The time and effort that goes into planning, organising and running these meetings is endless and without his drive and passion they could not take place.
There was rarely a race or meeting in 2024 where John was not present supporting the club in some form or other, whether that was as a coach, athlete, official, administrator, parent, announcer, photographer, course measurer, president… the list goes on!!!
John was rewarded for his commitment to the sport at the NI Athletics “Celebration of our People Awards” where he was presented with the “Services to Athletics Award”.
Special Award – Tommy Arthur
Despite as season hampered by injury Tommy he has been an invaluable team member and asset to the club in 2024.
Tommys enthusiasm and support he shows to his club mates is next to none, both in training and at races and competitions.
Despite his injury he has continued to travel to team events and training to assist and cheer on the club and has acted as a role model for the younger athletes coming through.
Whilst he wasn’t able to race as much as he would have liked Tommy did still manage to secure a bronze medal and brilliant PB in the Irish U20 Championship Steeplechase as well as the gold medal in the NI and Ulster Age Group 1500m and 3000m. He also secured maximum club points in the Steeplechase at the National League Final which was instrumental in the men’s team securing Team Bronze. The Highlight of Tommys season came when he traveled with his teammates to Albufeira for the European Club Cross Country Championships where he again represented the club with pride finishing in 66th place in a very strong field of runners.
John T Glover Founder Award – Best All Round Track and Field – Isabella O’Dowd
Issy once again had a fantastic and extremely busy 2024 season. Issy registered performances in 15 separate track and field events and if that wasn’t impressive enough she gained personal bests in all 15!.
Isabella was crowned the NI and Ulster Age Group Champion in the Indoor High Jump and the Outdoor Hammer Throw which is a combination not often seen. She also won a silver medal in the NI and Ulster Outdoor High Jump and went on the represent the club in the Irish Age Group Championships where she had a top 5 finish in the High Jump and a top 10 finish in the Hammer throw.
Isabella was ranked in the top 10 in 7 events in the NI rankings and leads the U15 Girls Pentathlon ranking after a gold medal performance in the NI and Ulster Combined Events Championships.
Billy Black Memorial Coaching Award – Jim McKeown
Jim has once again been instrumental in the success of the clubs endurance athletes and teams throughout the 2024 and has cemented himself as one of the country’s leading endurance coaches.
Jim’s commitment to his athletes and attention to detail is outstanding and has earned him the upmost respect as a coach and person.
Jim was awarded the 2024 Athletics NI Pathway Coach of the Year Award after his phenomenal success in leading the Junior Boys XC Team to a National Championship Victory qualifying them for the European Club Championships.
Under his guidance the 2024 season was undoubtedly the most successful XC season in the clubs history with the club taking 7 team medals at the NI XC Championships, 6 National Team Medals and two teams qualifying for the European Club Championships in Portugal next month.
Brian Downing Endurance Award – Junior Boys XC Team
The Junior Men’s Cross Country Team made club history when winning the National Junior Cross Country Championships Title on a very difficult course in Gowran Demense, Co.Kilkenny.
This was only the 3rd occasion in the Championships 60 year history that the title had been brought back to the North so was a momentous achieved for our Junior Men.
With the title came the qualification for the European Club XC Championships in Albuferia, Portugal in Feb 2024. The team represented the club with distinction finishing in an incredible 9th Place at these Championships.
LVAC Parkrun Challenge 2025
1st – Fred Hammond
2nd – Trevor Wilson
3rd – Bobby Hanna
1st – Shileen O’Kanbe
2nd – Kate Montgomery
3rd – Catriona Donaldson
