Irish Schools Athletics is delighted to announce the second year of their three year sponsorship deal with Aviva.
Irish Schools Athletics is delighted to announce the second year of their three year sponsorship deal with Aviva. The announcement was made today at the Aviva Stadium by Mark Russell, group sponsorship manager Aviva Ireland, Michael Hunt, president of the Irish Schools’ Athletics Association and Irish High Jump Record Holder Deirdre Ryan.
Aviva has a strong track record in athletics sponsorship as it has been the premier sponsor of athletics including schools and grassroots programmes in the UK for over a decade.
Speaking at the launch Mark Russell group sponsorship manager of Aviva Ireland said: “Aviva is extremely proud to support Irish Schools Athletics and we are committed to providing opportunities for the athletes of today and tomorrow in achieving their goals”
Lending the support to the launch of the Aviva Irish Schools competition programme was Deirdre Ryan, world track and field high jump finalist. Deirdre Ryan said: “I really enjoyed my experience of schools athletics, apart from being great fun and making new friends it also helped me to develop as a competitive athlete. I am sure that the schools competitions in 2012 will help unearth and nurture the future stars of Irish athletics.”
Michael Hunt, president of the Irish Schools’ Athletics Association, said: “Aviva have already developed an excellent partnership with Irish Schools’ athletics. Their continued support allows us to deliver a quality competition programme for all schools athletes and to increase participation in the sport.”
Also at the launch were; Ruari Finnegan, St Eunan’s Letterkenny who smashed the intermediate boys’ 1,500m record at the Aviva All-Ireland Schools’ Track and Field Championships in the Summer, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Colaiste Iosagain) 800m Tailteann record holder, Aviva SIAB Schools’ International winner Sarah McCarthy of Maryfield College and Irish Schools High Jump Champion Andrew Heney of Mount Temple.
2012 promises to be another significant year in the history of Irish Schools’ Athletics. The cross country season will begin in January with 14 regions ready to kick start the championships which will involve over 17,000 young athletes. This will culminate in the Aviva All-Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Championships in St Mary’s Galway on the 10 March.
April, May and June will bring the Schools’ Track & Field programme with 14 regions once again qualifying first to their provincial finals and then to the Aviva All-Ireland T&F Final in Tullamore on the 2 June 2012. This will involve over 20,000 young athletes.
For the intermediate age group there is the Aviva Tailteann Interprovincial at Santry on 23 June 2011. This will be followed by the Aviva Schools’ Track & Field International, which this year will be in Ashford, Kent on the 21 July.
For more information see www.athleticsireland.ie/avivaschools or www.aviva.ie
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Media enquiries:
Sinead Galvin - Marketing Manager – Athletics Ireland
Telephone: +353 1 886 9963
Email: sineadgalvin@athleticsireland.ie
Shane O'Donoghue - Media Relations – Aviva Ireland
Telephone: +353 1 898 5127
Email: shane.odonoghue@aviva.ie