Bree Athletic Club's finest feted as awards are handed out
It was a great year for club member Lea Bolger, Bree AC's athlete of the year for 2023. She went on to represent Bree and Ireland in hammer throw in the SIAB Games in Wales in June 2024. This was a great experience for her and for her proud parents, Tom and Sinéad.
Incidentally, her grandfather, Michael, was himself a former Bree AC athlete of the year. Lea also represented Bree and her school, Loreto Wexford, in the Tailteann Games in Morton Stadium where she won the silver medal in hammer.
In 2024, a total of six national individual medals were won by Bree AC athletes. Ava Wilson (Under-14) won gold in high jump indoors and silver medals in both high jump and long jump (5.10m PB) in the track and field finals.
Sarah O'Brien (Under-15) won bronze in indoor high jump and a gold medal in the national 'B' track and field high Jump, and Kiera Wilson (Under-17) won bronze in the track and field high jump.
An amazing 14 Leinster individual track and field and indoor medals were won by Bree AC athletes in 2024, as well as one team medal.
Eoghan Ennis, Ava Wilson, Ruth Hassey, Sarah O'Brien, Lea Bolger and Kiera Wilson won individual medals and Hannah Carr won silver with the Wexford 4 x 100 relay.
In addition, 63 county track and field individual medals and 14 team county relay medals, one county cross-country individual medal and three county cross-country relay team medals were won by Bree AC athletes.
To end what was another great year for the club, Bree AC members received Leinster All Star awards and three county awards.
Ava Wilson was recently presented with a 2024 Leinster All Star award as well as the Co. Wexford 2024 Juvenile female athlete award and the Mr Oil athlete of the month award for July 2024.
Lea Bolger won an achievement award in recognition of her international selection on the Irish athletics team, and Ruth Hassey also received a Leinster All Star award.
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In September 2024, Ballyhogue NS, a local two-teacher school, was successful in their application, in conjunction with Bree AC, for a €146,000 grant for an all-weather pitch and state of the art long jump pit in their school grounds.
This project is very exciting for Bree AC as they plan to further extend the remit of this development to include a 50m two-lane tartan track, floodlighting and a storage unit for club equipment.
Fundraisers to this project have already taken place, with a massive scrap metal collection, Christmas raffle, Bree village Christmas lights event, and a table quiz on Holy Thursday night in Hammels.
It was a very sad day in June 2024, when Bree AC members learned of the passing of dear friend, club coach, county President and club, county, Leinster and national official starter, Pat O'Leary.
Pat had been with Bree AC from its very beginning in 1970. He was, in fact, our very first athlete of the year. To Margaret, Anne, Seamus, Mary, Paddy and Eamon, we extend our sincere sympathies.
Pat's loss to Bree AC is enormous and the club was so lucky to have had his guidance throughout the past 55 years. Bree AC is honoured to present a cup in memory of Pat. This cup was handed over to Pat's wife, Margaret, for presentation to Athletics Leinster at a later stage.
In January 2025, Bree AC also lost another great supporter of the club with the passing of John Godkin, former Co. Secretary. In 1982, John presented a trophy for the Under-13 Bree AC athlete of the year and he attended all AGMs until last year, to present this trophy. To Dorrie and John's family, deepest sympathies are extended.
After a minute's silence, as a mark of respect to Pat and John, the Chairman, William Spratt-Murphy, thanked everyone for their co-operation during the past year and congratulated everyone on another very successful year.
A big thank you was expressed to all coaches who assisted with athletes. The volunteerism of all coaches is greatly appreciated. Four new coaches were welcomed in 2024, namely Lesley Cosgrave, Bridget O'Leary, Emer Dunne and Avril Carr. The club would welcome new coaches at any time and for any age group.
William also acknowledged the wonderful support of parents who assist with training as required. Many thanks to everyone who supported Bree AC over the past year. They look forward to the 2025 track and field season.
Club officers for 2025 are: President, Rev. Michael Byrne PP; Vice-President, Dan Walsh; Chairman, William Spratt-Murphy; Secretary, Roseanne Murphy; Assistant Secretary, Caitriona Dempsey; Treasurer, Tom Byrne; Assistant Treasurer, Avril Carr; Registrar, Clare Doyle; PROs, William Spratt-Murphy (Facebook) and Clare Doyle (Notes, Newsletters and Website); delegates to county meetings are Jim Corcoran plus two parents/officers.
After the AGM, the annual presentation of awards took place followed by light refreshments.
Bree AC athlete of the year for 2024 is Eoghan Ennis (Under-13). Eoghan won gold in Leinster indoor long jump and gold in Leinster track and field high jump.
In the Mr Oil county track and field championships, he won gold in the 60m hurdles, high jump and shot, silver in 600m and long jump, bronze in 80m and 100m.
He also won a fourth place medallion in the national Community Games relay. Eoghan received his award from the club Chairman, William Spratt-Murphy.
Lea Bolger (Under-16) received a special merit award in recognition of her international selection for SIAB Games. She also won bronze in shot at the Leinster indoors, gold in hammer and silver in shot in the Leinster track and field.
In the Tailteann Games in Santry she won silver in the hammer. Lea was presented with her award by the club Chairman, William Spratt-Murphy.
Ruth Hassey (Under-15) received the Peter Byrne Memorial award. Ruth won gold in long jump in both Leinster indoor and track and field, and bronze in Leinster track and field 80m hurdles.
In the Mr Oil county championships, she won gold in 80m hurdles, silver in high jump, long jump and javelin. She also won the bronze medal in the national Community Games long jump and a gold medal in relay. Ruth was presented with her award by Peter's daughter, Clare Doyle.
Oscar Hughes (Under-10) received the Pat O'Leary Distance award. This was Oscar's first Bree AC award. In 2024, Oscar won bronze in the Under-11 Mr Oil county cross-country and was second in the county winter league in his age group. Oscar's award was presented by Pat's wife, Margaret O'Leary.
Ava Wilson (Under-14) received the Paul Kehoe award. In 2024, Ava won gold in the high jump in both Leinster indoors and track and field, silver in long jump in Leinster indoors and bronze in long jump in Leinster track and field.
She won the gold medal in high jump in the national indoors and silver medals in both high jump and long jump in the national track and field. In the Mr Oil county championships, Ava won gold in the 200m, long jump and shot.
She also won gold medals in the national Community Games in long jump and relay. Ava was presented with her award by Fr. Michael Byrne, club President, on behalf of Paul Kehoe.
Sarah O'Brien (Under-15) received the Tony Greene Memorial award. In 2024, she won the silver medal in the Leinster indoor high jump and bronze in the national indoor high jump.
In the Mr Oil county championships, Sarah won gold in the shot and bronze in 300m hurdles. She was injured for most of that track and field season but finished with a gold medal in the national 'B' track and field. Sarah was presented with her award by Tony Greene's daughters, Mary Stafford and Breda Kennedy.
Ruairí Byrne (Under-12) received the John Godkin Under-13 Athlete award. This was Ruairí's first Bree AC award.
In 2024, in the Mr Oil county championships, Ruairí won silver in the high jump and bronze in the turbo javelin. He also won gold in the county Community Games long jump. He was presented with his award by John Godkin's daughter, Vera Furlong.
Hannah Carr (Under-14) received the Bree ICA Parish award from Marian McCauley, President of Bree ICA.
This was Hannah's first Bree AC award. In 2024, in the Mr Oil county championships, she won silver in the 100m, high jump and javelin. Hannah won a Leinster silver relay medal with the county team as well as a gold relay medal in national Community Games.
Niamh Whelan (Under-10) received the Malachy Sheridan Memorial award. This was Niamh's first Bree AC award, presented by Malachy's brother, Donnagh Sheridan. At the Mr Oil county championships she won bronze in the turbo javelin.
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