Dec 18th - Dublin Winter Racewalking Challenge

The Phoenix Park provided the venue today for the second winter racewalking challenge which took place under ideal conditions. Shercock was represented by seasoned walkers Peter Muldoon, Paul Fitzpatrick and Bernadette Muldoon in the older age groups and by four first-time walkers in the younger juvenile events. Peter came off his winter conditioning programme only recently and was looking forward to his first race of the new season. Working of a negative splits approach, he completed the first 5km of the junior 10km race just outside his 24 minute target in 24:11 in the company of junior international Ann Loughnane (left) Peter then increased pace steadily, hitting even 4:42 kilometer splits up to 8km before letting loose a strong surge over the closing 2km. Completing the second half of the race in 23:25 minutes, Peter crossed the line in 47:36, knocking more than a minute off his previous best mark, to win the race from Michael Doyle (48:59) and Brendan Boyce (52:45). Peter was delighted with his early season form which he hopes to build on in the New Year with the European Racewalking Cup in May as his main goal for 2005. Paul Fitzpatrick (right) was also showing the benefit of some strong winter training as he also knocked chunks off his 3km best to take the under 17 gold in 15:26. Paul was the only competitor in his age group, however the group start, which had all the walkers start at the same time, gave him the chance to work off some of the stronger juniors and seniors to achieve his new PB. Bernadette Muldoon started the under 17 3km with the hope of breaking the 19 minute mark, a challenge which she achieved with plenty to spare as she was helped all the way by veteran Bernie O'Callaghan who paced her to a very useful time of 18:12. Bernadette, like Paul, was the sole competitor in her age group, however she was nonetheless thrilled to accept the gold medal. The younger age groups saw some new faces feature for Shercock - Barbara Ward won the under 11 1km while team mate Darina Fitzpatrick was third in the same race. In the boys under 13 1km Micheal Gargan finished second and Daniel Muldoon was not far behind in third place. 

Bernie Muldoon pushes for home at the end of her u17 3km race.	Barbara Ward enjoys her racewalking debut, taking first place in the under 11 1km.	Darina Fitzpatrick shows good form to take 3rd place under 11.	Daniel Muldoon keeps up the family tradition to finish third in the under 13 1km.

July 11th - AAI Juvenile Championships

The Shercock racewalking squad produced some sparkling performances at the Irish juvenile championships in Tullamore. Irish junior champion Peter Muldoon (right) was up against strong opposition from Irish schools winner Michael Doyle in the under 18 5000m. In a classic battle between the endurance specialist and the sprint finisher, Peter used his superior fitness to hammer out a relentless pace at the head of the field. After 3km Peter had established a 40m lead, however rather than settle for the gap, he cranked up the pace for the final 2km and the the gap opened up further to over 200m by the time he crossed the line to win the title. There was a double reward for Peter when he dipped under the 23 minute mark to record a new personal best of 22:57. Doyle struggled in the closing stages and was eventually passed by Milford's Brendan Boyce, who was competing concurrently in the under 19 age group. Shercock's Hugh Fitzpatrick finished cautiously in third place after picking up two warnings on the first kilometer. Hugh's younger brother Paul Fitzpatrick never looked troubled, however, as he won the under 16 3km racewalk comfortably to complete a double of Irish indoor and outdoor titles. Paul conserved his energy in the closing stages as he was also competing in the pole vault which was being held at the same time. 

James Muldoon won his third medal of the championships when he finished second to Paul Murphy from Dooneen in the under 17 3000m walk. James and Paul (left) will represent Ireland at the schools international in England on Saturday following their performances at the Tailteann Games.

July 4th - AAI Junior & Under 23 Championships

Peter Muldoon produced his best 10km walk to date in Tullamore today when he set a new PB of 48:45 on his way to winning the Irish junior title. In the same event club mate Hugh Fitzpatrick tied up in the closing stages after a strong start however he held off the challenge of Milford's Brendan Boyce to take the silver medal. Peter and Hugh are pictured left with AAI president Michael Heery.

June 27th - Shercock Juniors Contest Dublin Grand Prix of Racewalking

The annual Dublin Grand Prix of Racewalking provided a great day's sport as leading racewalkers from throughout the world gathered to try to achieve the qualifying times for the Olympic Games. Shercock's Peter Muldoon, Hugh Fitzpatrick and Michael Muldoon had less lofty ambitions as they tackled the junior international 10km event however all three acquitted themselves well. Peter crossed the line in second place behind Sweden's Ato Ibanez, covering the distance in 50:20 minutes, his second fastest time for the event. Hugh got off to a slow start but increased his pace over the closing 5km, which he covered inside his 5km PB, to finish third in a new PB of 51:04. The medalists are pictured above with AAI President Michael Heery and Shercock coach John McGeever. Michael Muldoon was attempting to complete his first 10km race and was happy to reach the finish line in 62:37. Michael was accompanied for the distance by Irish veteran racewalker Sean Pender (left). 

James Muldoon and Paul Fitzpatrick were in action in the under 16 3km walk. Both were feeling the effects of the previous day's race at the Tailteann Games however James achieved his second best time for the distance when he finished second to Paul Murphy in a time of 14:47. Paul Fitzpatrick had a great race, finishing in fourth place in a time of 15:58 - more than 20 seconds faster than the PB he had set the day before in Tullamore.

Peter Muldoon and Hugh Fitzpatrick took part in the opening event (literally) when the AAI Games were held at the new track in Sligo to mark its opening  today. Competing in the 5km racewalk, which included visiting athletes from England and Germany, Peter finished seventh in a new PB of 24:22 and Hugh also broke into new territory with another PB of 24:57 when finishing eighth. The race was won by Ireland's Robert Heffernan, who has already qualified for the Athens Olympics in the 20km racewalk.

May 22nd - International Racewalking Match, Denmark

Peter Muldoon achieved a podium position in his first international appearance for Ireland when he finished in third place in the 5km Youth racewalk in Vallensbaek, Denmark on Saturday. In the men's 20km match, David Kidd finished third and Pat Ryan finished sixth to leave Ireland in second place overall in the five nations competition.

Click here for report and photographs

March 27th - AAI Senior Indoor Relays

Cavan Racewalkers turn Silver into Gold

The Cavan team in the inter county 3x1km racewalk at the national indoor relay championships has shown steady progress in recent years, finishing third in 2001 and second in 2002 & 2003. This year the team trained with renewed determination in the hope of challenging national champions Carlow for the title. The team was strengthened by the addition of James Muldoon to the experienced pairing of his brother Peter and Hugh Fitzpatrick. The trio were surprised when Carlow failed to appear on the start line to defend their title leaving Bernie O'Callaghan's resurgent Donegal team as the main challenge to Cavan's title ambitions. The first leg saw a contrast in experience as Cavan's youngest walker, James Muldoon, went head to head with the impressive Gabriel O'Donnell from Donegal (left). James matched O'Donnell for the opening laps until the Donegal man's longer stride carried him clear of his young opponent. James battled on with a determined effort and recorded an impressive split of 4:33 for the opening kilometer before passing the batton to Hugh Fitzpatrick (right). Hugh set off in pursuit of Donegal's Nicola Alcorn who had a 50m advantage at the start of the second leg. With a strong purposeful effort the Shercock man bore down on Alcorn and passed her on the second lap. Hugh then set to work to increase the lead as Cavan were carrying a 30 second handicap for entering an all-male team instead of the recommended two male an one female format. At the end of the second leg Hugh passed the batton to Peter Muldoon having covered the kilometer in an impressive time of 4:23. Peter was well clear of the rest of the field as he entered the final leg however his pace was as relentless as it was effortless as he cruised around the indoor circuit with his characteristic smooth technique to cross the finish line well clear in first place after recording a very useful time of 4:10 for the kilometer. Cavan's overall time was 13:08 to which the 30 second handicap was added for an official total of 13:38. Despite a characteristically strong finish by Bernie O'Callaghan for Donegal he was unable to close sufficiently on the Cavan men who secured their first gold at senior level with Donegal second and Clare third. It was a fitting reward for four years hard work by the young racealkers from Shercock (right).

March 20th - Peter & Hugh Represent Ireland at Leamington Racewalking Grand Prix

Peter Muldoon & Hugh Fitzpatrick, right, who hold the Irish junior indoor & outdoor titles between them, made up the Irish junior team at the Leamington Grand Prix of Racewalking in England on Saturday. Despite gale force winds, the pair successfully completed the 10km race in 11th and 12th place leaving Ireland in 5th place overall in the team standings. The Shercock pair both finished outside their PBs in the windy conditions and will be looking forward to more favourable conditions for their next 10km race in Dublin in June. (Photo by Tim Watts)

AAI Senior Indoor Championships - Belfast

Peter Muldoon and Hugh Fitzpatrick led the men's 5km walk in Belfast for the first 20m (left) before the impressive Robert Korzionisky from Poland took over and produced an electrifying race to win from Ireland's Robert Heffernan. Peter finished in eighth place after a tough race which saw several athletes fall foul of the judges and be disqualified including his Shercock team mate Hugh Fitzpatrick. 

Feb 1st - AAI Junior Indoor Championships

Peter & Hugh Win Junior Medals

The Irish junior championships proved a rich hunting ground for Shercock's track and field athletes as they returned from the trip to Nenagh with four titles under their belts. The men's 5km walk proved to be an absorbing race as Peter Muldoon moved gradually up the field to challenge for the lead. Peter and Michael Doyle from Cushinstown closed down a large gap to overtake early race leader Brendan Boyce from Milford and then battled for the lead until Doyle fell foul of the judges and was disqualified. Peter was left out in front on his own and kept his form all the way to the line to secure the title. Hugh Fitzpatrick was visibly in discomfort for much of the race due to blistered feet however he showed characteristic determination and eventually worked his way into third place to take the bronze medal.

AAI Indoor Games - January 4th

Shercock Walkers in Action

The indoor season got off to its annual cold start today at the AAI's Winter Palace in Nenagh, where even the officials got in the seasonal mood with their padded jackets and woolly hats. The athletes competed gamely despite the chilling temperatures, demonstrating the true grit that makes Irish athletics so special. There were some great races, though times and distances were clearly affected by the temperatures and the early stage of the season.

Peter Muldoon and Hugh Fitzpatrick took part in the men's 3km racewalk and competed well in a strong field to finish fifth and sixth behind race winner Colin Griffin from Ballinamore. Both Peter and Hugh raced cautiously in their first race of the season and were happy to finish without receiving any warnings from the judges.