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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1987
Law Society Athletic Club
The Law Society Athletic Club was
founded in March 1985 and
accepted as a member of the Irish
Intervarsities Athletic Association.
All apprentices are entitled to
membership of the Club and there-
fore eligible for selection for the
intervarsities championships.
The Club's first venture into
intervarsities competition was at
the 1986 Track and Field Cham-
pionships held at College Park.
Unfortunately the Club's two most
experienced athletes, Gerry Dunne
and Gerry McGrath were unable to
compete owing to injury but a
number of other members did
participate. The Club also took part
in the first Intervarsity Road Relays
hosted by Maynooth College in
February 1987. Although unable to
field a full team and again without
the services of Gerry Dunne the
team nevertheless finished a credit-
able 8th of 12.
The 1987 Invervarsity Cross
Country Championships were or-
ganized by NIHE Limerick and
although the Club was again un-
able to field the full team of 6 in the
team contest, the individual re-
presentatives were very success-
ful, Gerry Dunne finishing in
second place and Gerry McGrath in
fourth.
In May of 1987 the same two
competitors earned further honours
in the Intervarsity Track & Field
Championships held at the Antrim
Forum with the New University of
Ulster as host. On the opening day
Gerry McGrath finished in second
place in the 10,000 metres won by
Robert Byron of Queens. Gerry
Dunne qualified for the 800 metres
final by winning his heat. The 800
metres final was very closely con-
tested with the winner John Fox of
UCD being timed at 1 min. 53.8
sees., while the second, third and
fourth all recorded the same time
of 1 min. 54 sees. Gerry Dunne
was placed third. Attempts by the
two athletes to win the 5,000 and
1,500 metres respectively proved
more courageous than realistic and
they had to settle for 5th place in
each of these races.
Their good performances how-
ever led to their being invited to
appear in the Dublin Universities
Selection for a quadrangular match
involving Yale and Harvard selec-
tion and teams from Dublin County
SPORTS NEWS
Board and the Eastern Region. The
competition in the 5,000 metre
race was particularly stiffened al-
though Gerry McGrath led the field
as they entered the final straight he
was outpaced and finished
unplaced. Gerry Dunne fared better
in the mile where he was placed
3rd in a closely contested race.
It is to be hoped that the success
of the founder members will spur
the remaining members of the Club
to further achievement and other
apprentices with athletic abilities to
join the Club and continue its
success. Although there is ob-
viously a good deal of dedication
and hard training required for
success at intervarsity level each
of the intervarsity functions has a
substantial social side to them and
the evenings festivities after racing
have proved extremely enjoyable.
New blood is always required in
students sports clubs and as the
present members are likely soon to
qualify and will no longer be eligible
to represent the Club successors
are urgently needed. Those in-
terested should contact Gerry
Dunne, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2,
or Gerry McGrath at 6 Parnell
Square, Dublin 1.
•
Solicitors Apprentices
Rugby Club (SARC)
Last year the Solicitors Apprentices
Rugby Club (SARC) was formed
by John Gardiner with the intention
of offering the beleaguered
apprentice an outlet from the
frustrations of the office. The
response, we are glad to say, was
enthusiastic and in all, three
matches were played. After a lapse
of a number of years we once again
took on our old enemy, The Bar, for
the Joseph McGowan Cup. The
initial match was a draw and the re-
play ended in a narrow victory for
Counsel.
Thanks to generous sponsorship
from the Law Society, a trip was
undertaken to Edinburgh to play
our Scottish counterparts (which
trip remarkably coincided with the
International weekend). Unfortun-
ately we were narrowly beaten by
a rather big team from the Old
Edinburgh Law Society, although
we did have an interesting post
match discussion on the problems
of conveyancing unregistered land
in the respective jurisdictions.
As the new rugby season dawns
we are anxious to get in touch with
any new players who are interest-
ed. The matches envisaged are our
annual challenge match for the
Joseph McGowan Cup against The
Bar, hopefully a return fixture when
our Scottish friends return for the
International in January 1988, and
very hopefully a trip to London in
March 1988 to play our British
counterparts.
Prospective candidates are
asked to contact John Shaw,
c/o J. A. Shaw & Co., Solicitors,
Mullingar. Please also indicate
your favourite position, your general
availability and your prowess at
sticking your Master for a few quid
to cover your expenses.
P.S.
— Absolutely no training
involved!
Solicitors
Golfing Society
International Match -v- Law
Society Golf Club
The second of what is now an
annual fixture between the
Solicitors Golfing Society and the
Law Society Golf Club (Great
Britain) was held on the 10th and
11th September, 1987 at Tralee
and Ballybunion Golf clubs.
Our guests declared the whole
occasion, from being marooned by
a spring tide at Tralee Golf Club, to
the culinary delights of the Tankard
in Fenit, the Ballygarry House Hotel
and the spectacular scenery
throughout, to be an unqualified
success.
Our visitors emerged victorious
by 13 points to 11 by winning the
last match of the 24 played over
the two days.
At the concluding dinner in
Tralee, Mr. Brian Pettifer of the
Law Society Golf Club presented a
delightful Silver Trophy which was
duly presented by Mr. Cyril Coyle
(Captain SGS) to Eric Auckland
(Captain, LSGC).
All are now looking forward to
next year's fixture in England.
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