TRAINING, AGE CATEGORIES, ENTRY & ATTENDING COMPETITIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS, TRACK EIRCODES, RESULTS & AWARDS, OTHER COMPETITIONS and CLUB EVENTS…

TRAINING:

Once a member a parent’s mobile number (the one used to register the juvenile) will be added to the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group (if a second parent wishes to be added contact one of the coaches).
Training is every Tuesday & Thursday from 6.30-7.30pm – See Home page for locations or check on WhatsApp group.
Always wear weather appropriate clothing, comfortable old runners and bring a bottle of water with their name clearly marked and please remind our juveniles to go to the bathroom before training.
Any changes will be posted on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group.

AAI AGE CATEGORIES:

For all Athletic Clubs affiliated with the Athletic Association of Ireland, Age Categories are calculated to the 31^st of December in the year of competition, i.e., the age your child turns between January 1st and December 31st.

No athlete may obtain a birthday in the year of competition and compete in that age – for example: if your child turns 10 this year they compete in U11 competitions or turns 12 this year they compete in U13 competitions, etc. – See table below…
Some Cross Country competitions are ‘even age’ only (U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18) or ‘uneven age’ only (U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, U19). If your child’s age category is not listed, they still compete but in the next age group up.
For further information on the rules and regulations of competition and fixtures for Louth, Leinster, National and Irish Schools please click into any of the following links:
- Louth: Athletics Louth Operational Booklet / Athletics Louth Calendar
- Leinster: Athletics Leinster Booklets / Athletics Leinster Fixtures
- National: Athletics Ireland Juvenile Competition Booklet / Athletics Ireland Fixtures
- Schools: Irish Schools Athletics Association Handbook / Athletics Ireland Schools Fixtures
For the Year 2024 (January 1st to December 31st 2024)

Born 2017	Under 8	Born 2013	Under 12	Born 2009	Under 16
Born 2016	Under 9	Born 2012	Under 13	Born 2008	Under 17
Born 2015	Under 10	Born 2011	Under 14	Born 2007	Under 18
Born 2014	Under 11	Born 2010	Under 15	Born 2006	Under 19

For the Year 2025 (January 1st to December 31st 2025)

Born 2018	Under 8	Born 2014	Under 12	Born 2010	Under 16
Born 2017	Under 9	Born 2013	Under 13	Born 2009	Under 17
Born 2016	Under 10	Born 2012	Under 14	Born 2008	Under 18
Born 2015	Under 11	Born 2011	Under 15	Born 2007	Under 19

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ENTRY & ATTENDING COMPEITIONS:

Parents, please read the following guidelines on entering and attending competitions and if you have any further queries please speak to your child’s coach or WhatsApp them on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group:

AAI – All competitions attended by our Juveniles are AAI approved (Athletic Association of Ireland approved) and all competitors must be Club and AAI registered – To register or renew your membership click JOIN.

COMPETITIONS – A list of all competitions available to our members is found by clicking into Members – Juveniles – AAI Competitions (A more detailed list of these events with confirmed dates & times will be posted on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group).

UPCOMING COMPETITIONS – Reminders of all upcoming competitions will be posted on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group.

REGISTERING FOR COMPETITIONS – Our club enters all Juveniles into Louth, Leinster & National competitions including, The Ras na hEireann, Cushinstown AC Open Indoors and Athletics Louth Open Cross Country.

For Louth, Leinster, National and the 3 competitions mentioned above a deadline for entry will be posted on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group.
For Irish Schools’ competitions (Leinster & National) your child’s Post Primary School enters them.
For All other Open Competitions you can enter yourself by registering online or they will be ‘pay at the gate’ or ‘pay on the line’.

CHANGES TO COMPETITIONS – Any changes to upcoming competitions will be posted on the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group and/or our Facebook page.

MEETING UP AT COMPETITIONS – When attending a competition look out for each other, our Club Flag or the Club Tent. We require all coaches and athletes meet together at least 45 minutes before the event start time (or your child’s first race or field event start time). This allows our juveniles the time to attach race numbers, check out the race route/track/facilities and complete the all important warm up.

SINGLETS – All members must wear our Club Singlet when competing at all competitions (except road races including our Seamie Weldon Memorial 5K). A plain white t-shirt must be worn until a Singlet is purchased.

At present, Singlets can be ordered directly from our Club – WhatsApp one of your Juvenile Coaches listed as an Administrator in the JUVENILE/Parent WhatsApp Group.
Sizes: 26 (ages 5/6); 28 (ages 7/8); 30 (ages 9/10); 32 (ages 11/12) – Price: €20.00
Sizes: 34; 36; 38; 40; 42; 44; 46; 48 & 50 (for all ages from 13 years up) – Price: €25.00
Other club t-shirts, 1/4 zip, jackets, hats/gloves, hi-vis, etc., can also be ordered through the club shop – click Join / Club Shop.

SPIKE RUNNERS – Spike runners are optional but advisable especially for competing members and at cross country events. (Spikes on your runners – Juveniles use pyramid spikes only, they do not use needle spikes). For links to online shops to purchase spike runners click Join / Club Shop.]

TRACK EIRCODES – for County Louth

Glenmore Track, Bush – A91 W320
Lourdes Stadium, Drogheda – A92 DA31
- Cross Country Venues (regularly used in Co. Louth)
  - Bellurgan Park – A91 FP86
  - Darver GAA Centre – A91 CF62
  - DKIT Dundalk – A91 K336
  - Lawlesstown – A92 K7DN
  - Oldbridge – A92 CY68
  - Jenkinstown – A91 Y27N
  - Newtownstallaban – 1K north of A92 TY82 (Newtown Blues GAA Club)

Other Tracks in Ireland (Outdoor & Indoor and used for School, Leinster, National and Open competitions)…
- Tech. University of Shannon, Athlone Campus – N37 A3W4 (outdoor & indoor / Schools, Leinster & National)
- Tullamore Harriers, Tullamore – R35 CK22 (outdoor / Schools, Leinster & National)
- National Indoor Arena, Dublin 15 – D15 EPN4 (indoor / Leinster & National)
- DCU Morton Stadium, Dublin 9 – D09 XV30 (outdoor / Schools & National)
- South East Tech. University, Carlow – R93 AYW9 (outdoor / Open competitions)
- The Peace Link Track, Clones – H23 W209 (outdoor / Open competitions)
- UCD Sports Track – Dublin – D04 K3C6 (outdoor / Open competitions)
- St. Colman’s Track, Newry – BT35 6PP (outdoor / Open competitions)
- Mary Peters Track, Belfast – BT9 5PR (outdoor / Open competitions)

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COMPETITION RESULTS & NOMINATIONS FOR THE LOUTH STAR AWARDS and our own CLUB AWARDS:

RESULTS – Please keep a record of your child’s achievements and the positions they finished in, especially if they finished in the top 4 to top 8 at any of the competitions we recommend your child attends in Co. Louth.

Results for the top 8 positions will be listed on the Juvenile Report posted in Ardee & District AC’s News & Results on this website.
Official Race Results can also be found on the Athletics Louth Website (Results), click here – Athletics Louth Official Results.

LOUTH STAR AWARDS – Hosted by Athletics Louth every October. Nominees from Clubs are based on a point system. On the night, Athletics Louth also give recognition to those who have achieved national and international success (Leinster success not included).

How to calculate points for the Louth Star Awards are explained in the Operational Booklet found on the Athletics Louth Website, click here – Athletics Louth Operational Booklet – Points are calculated from competitions attended in Co. Louth only as per this booklet.
Summary:
- The awards are divided into two categories – Track & Field and Cross Country/Road Races.
- These categories are then divided into four age groups, four for boys and four for girls, i.e., Best Female Athlete and Best Male Athlete in U9 to U11 * U12 to U14 * U15 to U16 * U17 to U19.
- The Club will nominate 1 girl and 1 boy in each age category for both Track & Field and Cross Country/Road Races who have obtained the most points (or; if there are no points 1 girl and 1 boy will be chosen from those who made the top 8 and/or attended the most events in that category).
- Track & Field:
  - County Championship Competitions – 1st-5 points / 2nd-3 points / 3rd-2 points / 4th-1 point – Points are given in the athlete’s age group only and for a maximum of 4 disciplines in both the Pre-Louth and Louth Championships.
  - Open Competitions – 1st-4 points / 2nd-3 points / 3rd-2 points / 4th-1 point – Points are given in the athlete’s age group only and chosen from the best results of a maximum of 2 disciplines in the following – Boyne Sports Day or Ardee Sports Day.
- Cross Country/Road Races:
  - County Championship Competitions – 1st-5 points / 2nd-3 points / 3rd-2 points / 4th-1 point – Points are given in the athlete’s age group only from either of the 2 Louth Cross Country Juvenile Championships.
  - Open Competitions – 1st-4 points / 2nd-3 points / 3rd-2 points / 4th-1 point – Points are given in the athlete’s age group only and chosen from the best in any 3 of the following – Blackrock Beach Races, Carlingford Juvenile Road Races, Glenmore AC Kearney/McBride Juvenile Races, Blackrock XC Event, Athletics Louth Open XC & The Ras na hEireann.

CLUB AWARDS – The results calculated above are also used for the ‘Athlete of the Year‘ at our own Club Awards Ceremony held every December. The Club’s Merit Awards and Most Improved Awards are decided by the Club Coaches with attendance and commitment to training and competition including competition results forming part of their decision.

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OTHER EVENTS (not on our Juvenile Schedule of Competitions):

ROAD RACES/FUN RUNS (including our Seamie Weldon Memorial 5K) – If you enter your child 14 years or younger into a fun run/road race not listed on our juvenile schedule of competitions please ensure that you accompany your child in the race or have an appointed guardian to run with them (children aged 14 or under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian). Also, the wearing of club colours/singlets is not permitted. The following is an AAI Ruling regarding the attendance of underage athletes at 5ks (They do not enter 10ks)… “Juveniles can partake in races greater than that of their Age Group, but can only do so with parental/guardian consent and they CANNOT wear club colours/singlets: Age Groups – Up to 11yrs – 1.5k / 12-13yrs – 2k / 14-15yrs – 3k / 16-17yrs – 4k / 18yrs + 10k / The minimum threshold for a 5k is 15yrs (i.e, U16) & for a 10k is 18yrs +”.

JUNIOR PARKRUNS – The nearest Junior Parkrun is held every Sunday morning at 9.30am in Dundalk DKIT A91 K584. Junior Parkruns are 2K. Checkout their website and register your children for free from 4 to 14 years of age. In doing this, their running times will be recorded every time they attend a Junior Parkrun anywhere in the world – Website: Dundalk Junior Parkrun / Facebook: Dundalk Junior Parkrun (No running spikes at Parkruns and no club singlets are worn).

PARKRUNS – There are 4 local Parkruns held every Saturday morning at 9.30am. These are 5K and ages 15 and over can register for free, record their times and attend a Parkrun anywhere in the World. Please note also that you can run, jog or walk this parkrun with your family and/or the family dog (All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and all dogs on a leash / No running spikes at Parkruns and no club singlets necessary)…

Dundalk Parkrun A91 K584 – Website: Dundalk Parkrun / Facebook: Dundalk Parkrun
Oldbridge Parkrun Drogheda A92 FD63 – Website: Oldbridge Parkrun / Facebook: Oldbridge Parkrun
Deerpark Parkrun A82 N9P8 – Website: Deerpark Parkrun / Facebook: Deerpark Parkrun
Laytown Beach Parkrun A92 TX67 – Website: Laytown Beach Parkrun / Facebook: Laytown Beach Parkrun
Parkrun Ireland – Website: Parkrun Ireland / Facebook: Parkrun Irealnd
Click here to find a Parkrun anywhere in the World: A Parkrun near me

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CLUB EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS – our members enjoy, volunteer for and support:

Annual Table Quiz – The Railway Bar, Ardee – Good Friday
Juvenile Track & Field Open Sports Day – School field, Ardee – August
Ardee’s Couch to 5K – The Fairgreen Park, Ardee – July to August/September (Mondays & Wednesdays)
Our club hosts one local Parkrun – Deerpark Parkrun – Carlanstown – August
The Seamie Weldon Memorial 5K & 10K – Ardee – the first Saturday every September
Annual Church Gate Collection – Ardee Church – November
Annual Flag Days – Ardee Town – December
Club Race Day & Juvenile Awards Ceremony – Ardee St. Mary’s GFC – December
The GOAL Mile (hosted by Ardee & District AC) – The Fairgreen Park, Ardee – December 26th

JUVENILE INFORMATION - training, age categories, entering & attending competitions, rules & regulations, track eircodes, results & awards, other competitions and club events

TRAINING, AGE CATEGORIES, ENTRY & ATTENDING COMPETITIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS, TRACK EIRCODES, RESULTS & AWARDS, OTHER COMPETITIONS and CLUB EVENTS…

TRAINING:

AAI AGE CATEGORIES:

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ENTRY & ATTENDING COMPEITIONS:

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COMPETITION RESULTS & NOMINATIONS FOR THE LOUTH STAR AWARDS and our own CLUB AWARDS:

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OTHER EVENTS (not on our Juvenile Schedule of Competitions):

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CLUB EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS – our members enjoy, volunteer for and support:

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