Kelly Proper took athlete of the championships after taking four gold medals at the Woodies DIY national track and field championships.

Ireland steered well clear of relegation in League 1 of the European Team Championships in Morton Stadium over the weekend to record their best ever placing of seventh but the “sporting extravaganza” that was promised never materialised.

Ireland have secured league one status at the European team championships finishing seventh overall.

Derval O'Rourke and Fionnuala Britton will lead a weakened Irish team in the European Team championship next week.

Jason Smyth’s attempts to become the first individual athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic games came to an end in Santry Stadium today, but it was the extent of a possible injury to Derval O'Rourke that occupied Team Ireland's minds.

It was pain in the rain for Ireland on the penultimate night of the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki - both 4x400m relay squads were disqualified, while eighth place was the best return from the four Irish finalists.

There was a mix of joy, drama and heartbreak for the Irish athletes in action on the opening day of the European track and field championships in Helsinki yesterday.

It has been a mixed start for the Irish on the opening day of competition at the European Championships in Helsinki today.

Jessie Barr and her brother Tom will have an eye on Olympic qualification when they line up for their respective first round heats of the 400m hurdles at the European track and field championships in Helsinki today.

Irish record holders Deirdre Ryan and Derval O’Rourke will not compete in the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki at the end of the month.

MARATHON man Martin Fagan believes he can land a medal at the European Championships if he is selected for the showpiece event.

SHANE QUINN is set to continue his amazing streak of victories when he contests the intermediate 3,000m at the Irish Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore this morning.

FERRYBANK’s Ann O’Shea was in record-breaking form at the Woodie’s DIY Juvenile Indoor championships in Nenagh at the weekend.

The men’s 4 x 400m relay team set a new record in their heats at the World Junior Championships in Poland today.

BRIAN GREGAN (St Mark’s, Tallaght) added his name to Patsy McGonagle’s 4 x 400m relay squad when he smashed the record with a run of 47.49 seconds at the Leinster Schools championships at Morton Stadium.

THE KitKat Irish Schools team will be back in action at the SIAB Schools’ International in Newport, Wales on Saturday.

AMY FOSTER, silver medallist at the European Youth Olympics a few weeks ago, revelled in the sunshine at Tullamore on Saturday when she won a gold medal in the 100m, took silver in the 200m before anchoring the Irish schools to silver in the 4x100m relay at the international track and field match between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.