Transplant Team Ireland - Great day on the track for Ireland

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Great day on the track for Ireland - breaking news

Written by Colin White

Friday, 28 August 2009

Just to keep you up to date - it's proving a magnificent day for the Irish team on the track - more details on all of these results will follow later:

Medal winner - Catherine Murphy

Gold for John 'The Bullet' Loftus, Co. Limerick, in the 100m - this follows his thrilling triumph in the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany, last year - and his equally thrillng silver medal at the World Games in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2007. John had gold on his mind at these Games, and he's a determined sort when he puts his mind to it! Well done John, and we're sure Trish, Josie, Tara and our Linda are all enjoying the victory. John won in a time of 15.22 seconds, which beats last year's Euroepean-winning time by 13 seconds. And today is his birthday too, as it happens!

In the 100m, it was an Irish 1-2 as Tom Metcalfe, Stepaside, Co. Dublin, finished next to John. These are Tom's first Games and he has shown himself to be a keen competitor. This silver medal is quite a return from the Games.

John also won bronze in the Ball Throw today - and what a competition that was! The gold and silver medal winners both broke the world record. So John was in good company.

The indefatigable Tony Gartland, Co. Wicklow, won silver in the 1500m. Once again, he was up against the brilliant Argentian Juan Pablo Juarez, but Tony, ever the fighter, dug in deep to see off all other challengers to take the silver medal.

Catherine Murphy, Co. Cork, won bronze in the 3km walk. This was a superb performance by Catherine, and there were great scenes of delight - Catherine is joined at these Games by her husband Murt, and daughter Annette. We are sure that Catherine's great friend Donie McCarthy was smiling down on her. Donie was a hugely popular member of the Irish team who passed away earlier this year. No doubt Donie would put this medal down as 'one for the Rebels, boy.' Donie was good friends with Cork football manager Conor Counihan, a fellow Aghada man, and he will be with Conor every step of the way in Croke Park next month when the Rebels go for another big one.

Orla Hogan-Ryan, Co. Tipperary - bronze in the 3km walk. These are Orla's first Games and she will be delighted to bring home a medal from a big field in this race. Well done Orla.

Angela Sherlock, Lucan, Co. Dublin - silver in the discus. Congratulations Angela. And there's still the shot putt to come - where she is the reigning world champion from Bangkok in 2007. And, just as I type this, I get a text from Colin to say that Angela has won the silver medal in the shot putt too. Great day all round, Angela.

James Nolan, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare - bronze in the 400m. This is one of the most competitive events in the Games, and James won bronze two years ago as well in Bangkok. No doubt James and his wife Emma - they got married earlier this year - are celebrating. Great news!

Vienna White is into the 100m final, and we will keep you posted as we hear more. Just got word she didn't win a medal, but a great achievement to get to the final.

And don't forget, we have another full day of track and field action tomorrow (SATURDAY).

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