Two golds, a silver and a disqualification were the contrasting stories for Emerald at the National Club Relay finals in Tullamore today.

There was a fantastic gold and record in the morning for Emerald in the U17 Girls 4 x 100m when Caroline Hickey, Marie Heelan, Amy O'Donoghue and Sarah Lavin held off a good Ferrybank team, knocking 8/10ths of a second of a record that stood since 1999!

This result concluded a remarkable National series for two of the girls this July. Sarah Lavin has taken four gold medals in U17 Girls: 100m, 100m Hurdles, 200m and 4 x 100m relay. And Amy O'Donoghue has taken three gold: 800m, 1500m and 4 x 100m. What an extraordinary achievement by both!

The U15 Girls took a bronze- well done to Erinna McGrath, Nicole Lavin, Jenna Bromell and Roisin Harrison. Roisin almost hit the line in second place, but Galway City Harriers were given the nod by the officials. A really hard won medal!

The U16 Boys had dreadful luck - Alan Cummins, Billy Cosgrave, Evan Crotty and Thomas Blake were undone by a false start. No blame to Alan - consistently one of the quickest and best starters in the club!

What a victory for the U16 Girls team - Leah Nolan, Nicole Lavin, Lynn O'Mara and Maire Heelan! After a really tight battle for line honours against Ferrybank in the semis, in the final it was a convincing and thrilling win. And Marie and Lynn were on the team that had won the U14s back in 2008 too - a great double!

And no luck for our U14 Girls (last years' National champions at U13) who were out of the medals in the final. Ellen Larkin, Becky Danaher, Niamh Brennan and Jenna Bromell ran really well, but it's tough at the Nationals - maybe next year!

Each year, Emerald has succeeded in taking home a gold from these championships... this year we took two! Our sprinters in the club are are in great shape and these results are a huge tribute to our brilliant coach Noelle Morrissey - thanks Noelle and well done to all!

Photos here.