IMRA Junior League
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Phil behan | Mar 25 2025, 5:25pm | Hi folks Some exciting news for IMRA juniors this season. We are trialing an IMRA Junior League this year for all our junior members. We are hoping that the Junior League might encourage more junior competitors into the hills, and perhaps allow for more competition between juniors at races. We are also looking to better align the IMRA racing calendar alongside the juvenile track and cross-country calendar to facilitate more attendance from some of our teenage competitors who also race at club level. We have chosen a geographical spread of Dublin and Wicklow races to get started, but we are hoping this also might take off in the other IMRA regions in the future. Most importantly, there will be decent end of league prizes for top 3 individual Male and Female competitors from the 2 category’s (M/F14 and M/FJ), so get the training in early ! Entry conditions below: • Must be a currently registered IMRA member. • Must hold a valid race entry for each event that you choose to race. • Must follow all IMRA com competition rules, race organisers instructions, and have the mandatory kit for each race you choose to enter. • Must complete a minimum of 4 races from 12 races doing the short course only to get a score (See my response to this thread below for 12 selected races) • Must be accompanied by an adult if aged younger than 10 years old on the day of the race. For those directing races, fear not! There will be no additional burden on you. The junior race can run as normal for each event as per IMRA competition rules. Individual prizes can be awarded as per previous race practices. The overall scoring system to decide the Junior League winners will be done by myself - taking the results data at the end of the season - so nothing further required on a results front. I will will also try to make a few of the races so will be able to assist with some of the junior races. If anyone has any questions, just shout here, and spread the word amongst your clubs if you can. Thanks all Phil |
| Phil behan | Mar 25 2025, 5:28pm | . |
| John Murphy74 | Mar 25 2025, 5:31pm | Great news. Is there a list of the 12 races.? |
| Phil behan | Mar 25 2025, 5:32pm | See 12 races from the calendar below with 4 races to score doing the short / junior course only. 1: Wed Apr 23 7:30 PM - Belmont and Little Sugar Loaf – Wicklow 2: Wed Apr 30 7:30 PM – Carrickgollogan - Dublin 3: Wed May 14 - 7:30 PM - Scarr – Wicklow 4: Wed May 21 - 7:30 PM - Prince William's Seat - Wicklow 5: Wed May 28 - 7:30 PM - Howth Summer - Dublin 6: Wed Jun 4 - 7:30 PM – Brockagh – Wicklow 7: Wed Jun 18 7:30 PM - Trooperstown Hill - Wicklow 8: Wed Jun 25 - 7:30 PM - Glen of the Downs - Wicklow 9: Wed Jul 2- 7:30 PM – Ballinastoe - Wicklow 10: Wed Jul 23 - 7:30 PM - Church Mountain - Wicklow 11: Wed Jul 30 - 7:30 PM – Seahan - Dublin 12: Wed Aug 6 - 7:30 PM - Bray Head - Dublin |
| Phil behan | Mar 25 2025, 5:39pm | Can the mods merge post 1 and 2 into 1 post ? Not sure why it came out in 2 separate posts. Thanks all. |
| Sean Forsyth | Mar 25 2025, 5:56pm | Well done Phil, that's an absolutely fantastic initiative and an exciting venture for IMRA. |
| Niamh O'Ceallaigh | Mar 25 2025, 10:34pm | Great idea! Is there a finisher prize for those who complete 4 of the races to help motivate those who might not be competing for the top spots? |
| Keelin Holmes | Mar 25 2025, 10:48pm | Great initiative! Really looking forward to getting the kids out on the hills! They already net a few buddies at the weekend! Thank you ! |
| Phil behan | Mar 27 2025, 9:25am | Thank all @Niamh not sure yet, will see how the league progresses as its just in a trial phase at the moment. If the numbers are not huge then I'll explore a potential 4 race finisher prize. Nice idea and good way to motivate the juniors who may not be at the front of the field. |
| Brian Kitson | Mar 27 2025, 1:35pm | Well done Phil. This is indeed fantastic news. I remember last year on the forum you suggested that a way to increase junior participation would be to create a league for juniors and what did you do? No requests for the Committee or others to follow up on your idea, you just made it happen yourself (I'm sure with some assistance from the Committee and others). This is IMRA at it's best. Good on you, hope your league it's a great success. |
| Peter O'Farrell | Mar 27 2025, 2:31pm | I whole heartedly agree with everything Brian has just said. All of it. Well done Phil and others on this great initiative. Juniors are the future of any sporting organisation. |
| Gareth Little | Apr 1 2025, 11:53am | Well done to Phil and any others, for making this happen this year. I think it is a really great initiative. I also think Niamh's idea is an excellent one. The cost v reward to implement that, would be well worth it, imo. |
| Phil behan | Apr 1 2025, 1:03pm | Thanks all, I'd like to take all the credit for this I really would, but I suppose I should mention Elizabeth Wheeler, the IMRA Junior's management group, the committee, plus loads of IMRA members who gave me feedback. All the help was greatly appreciated lads. We are still ironing out 1 or 2 issues including number limits at races etc, so yes Gareth / Niamh if we can swing a prize for those who finish the 4 races we absolutely will do it. Any who will be back in touch and thanks all again. |
| Miriam Maher | Apr 1 2025, 1:38pm | Fantastic initiative Phil! Well done on developing this with Elizabeth's support and making it happen. Will really add to the juniors involvement in the races this season. This along with the Junior Development Workshop that Elizabeth has organised for this weekend shows the great work being done within IMRA for our juniors. Much as we might like to pretend otherwise, none of us are getting any younger ;-) So anything to do with juniors within IMRA is always fully supported by the committee |
| Phil behan | Apr 20 2025, 11:59am | Hi all. Just a reminder that the first race of the IMRA Junior League is this Wednesday 23rd April at Belmont and Little Sugar Loaf. It’s a great opener for our League so make sure you have an IMRA membership for the year and purchase a race entry for the race. Entry opens tomorrow Monday 21 April. I’ll be at the junior race start so any questions or queries I’ll try answer them before you all head off. Most importantly, make sure to follow all the Race Directors instructions, bring the mandatory kit on the event page and enjoy ! See you all Wednesday. |
| Phil behan | Apr 24 2025, 1:40pm | An incredible turnout for our first Junior League race last night in Belmont. A huge thank you for Alice and her team for making it all happen ! We have 11 amazing races to choose from over the next few months so take a break if needs be and come back again stronger in a few weeks. You only need 4 races to get a score and we might have a 4 race finisher prize also. Well done to all who competed. The top three in the league so far are listed below. F14 League 1st Lara Woods - Blackrock AC 2nd Ailbhe Kelly - Roundwood 3rd Alexandra Murphy M14 League 1st Fionn Hassett - Dundrum South Dublin 2nd Seàn Brennan 3rd Carter Woods - Blackrock AC FJ League 1st Annabel Zheng - Raheny Shamrocks 2nd Layla Dixon - Parnell AC 3rd Fionnuala Rowe - GEN MJ League 1st James Smith - Raheny Shamrocks 2nd Ryley Martin Auld - Raheny Shamrocks 3rd Griff Healy - Cabinteely A.C. |
| Annabel zheng | Apr 28 2025, 9:21am | Morning all Next race on Junior League calendar is Carrickgollogan. An excellent trail race in Co Dublin. Please purchase an entry soon as its limited to 240 entries. If racing, make sure to follow all the Race Directors instructions, bring the mandatory kit on the event page and enjoy the forest trails ! See you all Wednesday. |
| Phil behan | Apr 28 2025, 9:23am | Sorry posted under my daughters account there :) Morning all Next race on Junior League calendar is Carrickgollogan. An excellent trail race in Co Dublin. Please purchase an entry soon as its limited to 240 entries. If racing, make sure to follow all the Race Directors instructions, bring the mandatory kit on the event page and enjoy the forest trails ! See you all Wednesday. |
| Phil behan | May 1 2025, 1:00pm | Hi all Great race again last night in Carrickgollogan. A huge thanks to Alan and his team for looking after us. We have a break now until Scarr on May 14th. Can I also remind all juniors and parents to make sure to have the mandatory race kit on you while running on the night. You can check the event page on each event for info. Thanks again all and see you at Scarr. Well done all. Phil |
| Phil behan | May 12 2025, 11:01am | Morning all Next race on Junior League calendar is Scarr this Wed 14th. Please purchase an entry soon as its limited to 220 entries. If racing, make sure to follow all the Race Directors instructions and please make sure to bring the mandatory kit on the event page. Enjoy the hills and I'll post a current results update soon. Phil |
