City Sports bosses reschedule meeting to ease US clash fears

THE date for next year’s Cork City Sports has been put back to accommodate the US Olympic trials, the Russian championships and the Caribbean countries whose championships coincide with the US championships.

At the recent Congress and Calendar Meeting in Malta, the European Athletic Association approved July 12 as the date for what will be the 57th edition of Ireland’s only international athletics meeting, which has been ranked the third-best organised permit meeting in Europe.

“Normally we hold the event on the last Saturday of June but this year we decided to put it back to accommodate those athletes,” City Sports chairman, Dick Hodgins, said.

“Last year we had more athletes from the US and the Caribbean countries than we had from Britain.

“Apart from that we were taking our own Irish athletes into consideration. With the event taking place the week before the national championships, a lot of our athletes based overseas will be back home.

“Since the date for the meeting was decided we have had a lot of enquiries and we would expect a lot more in the New Year.”

At last week’s AGM of the City Sports Committee, Martin Lynch stood down as vice chairman and Billy O’Rourke did not seek reelection as honorary secretary.

Lynch’s association with the event goes back to his competitive days and he was elected on to the committee during the leadership of the legendary John O. Jagoe and served in a variety of positions.

O’Rourke is another former athlete and he has been secretary during a period of regeneration for the meet.

Yesterday Dick Hodgins paid tribute to both men pointing out that they would still remain very active members of the committee.

The new vice-chairman is Tony O’Connell who will retain the role of press officer while another active committee member, Terry O’Rourke, father of world indoor 60m hurdles champion, Derval, takes over as secretary.

The officers are: President: Frank Walley; chairman: Dick Hodgins; vice-chairman/PRO: Tony O’Connell; hon treasurer: Dave Murray; technical director: Liam O’Brien.

* The committee has expressed regret at the passing of John O’Riordan, who was joint starter and assistant to Dr Cashel Riordan for many years and a great friend of the meeting. A member of Blarney/Inniscarra club, he served athletics at many levels and was coach to several prominent athletes, including Valerie Vaughan.

“He will be virtually irreplaceable,” Dick Hodgins said. “He is going to be missed by us all, both as an official and as a friend.”