Kelly Proper of Ferrybank AC celebrates with her gold medal in the Senior Women's 200m Final (just pipping her clubmate Niamh Whelan), following on from the successful defence of her other title, the Long Jump, at the the Woodies DIY All-Ireland Senior Indoor Championships in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast last weekend.
At the Woodies DIY All-Ireland Senior Indoor Championships in Belfast last weekend, athletes from Waterford clubs were very much in the picture, and came home with four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.
Once again Kelly Proper, Ferrybank AC, had an outstanding event as she retained both of her titles. On Saturday she won the long jump for the fifth year in succession with a distance of 6.35m, which was some way below her record of 6.62m. Another up-and-coming Ferrybank athlete, Nicola Power, was third with a PB (personal best) of 5.70m.
Then on Sunday Kelly had to call on all her great competitive spirit to win the 200m final in 24.14 secs, but she was pressed all the way by another Ferrybank athlete Niamh Whelan, who was literally inches behind in second spot.
Earlier Niamh set a PB in the 60m semi-final of 7.48 secs and took the bronze medal in the final in a time of 7.50 secs. She was the holder of the title. Mairead Murphy, now with UCD, was second in the 60m hurdles final in 8.62 secs. Another athlete to take silver was Billy Ryan from Ferrybank in the B 400m final in 49.12 secs; he missed out on a place in the A final by just one place on Saturday.
