NI Team Trophy Champions 2023
NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM TROPHY 2023 – REPORT WRITTEN BY JOHN T GLOVER
Sunday 7th of May – what a day for celebrations. Yes I know there were celebrations throughout the UK and beyond in relation to events the day before (no not my birthday!) but at the Mary Peters Track the cause of celebration was the great team performances by our men and women in the Northern Ireland clubs Team Trophy.
This was certainly the best combined effort by our teams for a long number of years and with competitors ranging in age from 16 to 76 and many prepared to take on events outside their comfort zone it would be invidious to pick out any individual athlete for their performance. The team spirit however was exemplified in Marianne Doherty who flew in from Newcastle upon Tyne to provide a valuable 9 points in the 3000 metres.
In the men’s competition club treasurer Joe Frey competed in four events and came away with a new Irish age group Triple Jump record. While not producing any winners the Lagan Valley men scored consistently throughout the day and were rewarded with, what we believe, will be third place once corrections are made. This placed the club ahead of North Down, City of Lisburn and Ballymena and Antrim.
The women’s competition turned into a thrilling battle between City of Derry Spartans and Lagan Valley with both scoring in every event and points fluctuating throughout the day. With three events remaining the team from the North West led by seven points but these events proved decisive as the Sky Blue and Navy finished ahead of the red vests of the opposition in all three to retain the trophy by four points.
Success is of course transitory and the next big challenge will be the All Ireland League.
