Shercock Athletic Club celebrates remarkable year
Shercock Athletics Club marked a hugely successful year with a celebratory awards night on Saturday, April 25, honouring the outstanding achievements of its athletes across local, national, and international competitions.
From juvenile beginners to international competitors, Shercock AC continues to go from strength to strength. The club’s success reflects not only the talent of its athletes but also the dedication of coaches, volunteers, and supporters who play a vital role in its development.
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Another very successful year as the medal winners at Shercock Athletic Club receive their awards on Saturday evening last. Alex Coleman.Image 2 of 6
Overall Male Athlete of The Year Thomas Williams receives his award from his father and coach Neil Williams. Among his wins this year was winning a gold at the National U20 Championships. Alex Coleman.Image 3 of 6
Brian O'Reilly presents Female Athlete of The Year Sarah Kate Liggan with her Award. Alex Coleman.Image 4 of 6
John Joe Rogers presents Abby Smith with a special award in recognition another fantastic year including breaking Ciara Mageean’s long standing Ulster School 1500m record and once again representing Ireland on the global stage. Alex Coleman.Image 5 of 6
John Joe Rogers presents Dylan O'Reilly with his medals including an Ulster Star Award among his list of achievements. Alex Coleman.Image 6 of 6
Brian O’Reilly presents Hammer Thrower Thomas Williams with his medals including an Under 18 Win at The Halle Throwing Days in Germany along with wins in the National Under 20and Under 23 Outdoor Championships. Alex Coleman.With a growing membership and a track record of nurturing talent, Shercock AC is firmly establishing itself as one of the region’s leading athletics clubs.
The club’s Male Athlete of the Year award was presented to Thomas Williams, while the Female Athlete of the Year accolade went to Sarah Kate Liggan, recognising their dedication and exceptional performances throughout the season.
Special recognition was given to Abby Smith, whose year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Among her many achievements, Abby broke the long standing Ulster Schools 1500m record previously held by Ciara Mageean and set a new championship record in the 3000m at the National Track & Field Championships.
Grace Gormley also received a special award after an impressive season that saw her break the club’s senior discus record and claim a silver medal in the Schools Senior Girls Discus.
A Summer of National and International Success
Shercock AC enjoyed a stand-out summer season, with athletes excelling across a wide range of competitions.
At the All Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships, Thomas Williams claimed gold in the Senior Boys Hammer, while several other club athletes delivered strong performances across events. Abby Smith continued to shine, securing podium finishes and record breaking runs.
On the international stage, Abby represented Northern Ireland at the International U18 Mountain Running Cup in Slovakia, competing against elite athletes on a challenging mountain course, an achievement that reflects the club’s growing presence beyond Ireland. Meanwhile, Mark Kearns earned international honours after winning the 3000m at the Tailteann Games, going on to represent Ireland at the Schools’ International Championships in England.
National Titles
At the National Juvenile Championships, Dylan O’Reilly emerged as one of the club’s brightest talents, claiming double gold in the U14 800m and 1500m. Abby Smith added to the medal haul with gold in the U17 3000m and bronze in the 1500m.
Thomas Williams continued his dominance in the hammer throw, winning gold at the National U20 Championships, while also narrowly missing out on a medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival, finishing fourth in extremely challenging conditions.
Shercock AC also demonstrated remarkable depth in cross country running, with strong performances across all age groups at Ulster and National Championships.
At national level, Abby Smith secured selection for the Irish team and went on to compete at the European Cross Country Championships in Portugal, contributing to a strong Irish team performance an exceptional achievement for such a young athlete.
As the awards night celebrations showed, the future is bright for Shercock AC and the club warmly welcomes new members of all ages and abilities to be part of its continued success story.