Athletics – Technical Feedback Event

Technical Feedback Event

Saturday, 5th December 2020

Last Saturday, 5th December, Blackrock College and Belvedere College met in Distillery road to provide a group of second year students with a chance to compete and receive technical feedback for field events. Due to the nature of the past year, this served as the boys first athletics experience as secondary school students. Throwing events are ideally suited to socially distanced competition.

Blackrock and Belvedere have rich athletics traditions and this looks set to continue into the future with the commitment and hard work shown by both sets of athletes. Sami Bishti, Aaron Connolly, Andrew McConn Walsh and Michael Walsh (all 2nd Year) benefited from receiving feedback from 1972 Olympian Philip Conway (past -pupil of Willow Park, Rockwell). Philip recently received a lifetime achievement award for his commitment to coaching. He has prepared many athletes for the Olympic Games and World Championships over many decades.

The boys enjoyed the competitive experience and having the chance to record some of their marks in the Hammer Throw. Michael Walsh with a top mark of 24.60m was pushed right to the wire by Sami Bishti’s throw of 24.30m. Andrew McConn Walsh and Aaron Connolly have been largely involved in Discus for the past few weeks but had their first hammer throw experience with marks of 20.16m and 14.70m. All marks recorded were personal best performances and more importantly served as great encouragement for all involved. The day was the finished off with some technical training in a number of events.

We thank Mr Barry for his organisation and preparation of the boys and Belvedere for hosting us.