AIT Grand Prix

Notwork Error · 26-01-2016 11:46am #1

Might as well start up a thread for this as it attracted a lot of attention last year for better or for worse but it's a top class meet in Ireland and should be supported in my opinion. Line-up looks pretty strong already this year with World Champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber, World silver medalist in the 800m Melissa Barber and World Bronze medalist in the steeplechase, Gese Krause down to compete alongside Mark English and Churandy Martina. Should be a good few more high profile athletes announced over the next few weeks with the meet director saying that the talent level is much deeper this year.

http://www.aitsport.ie/ait-grand-prix/

Chivito550 · 26-01-2016 12:41pm

Notwork Error wrote: »

Might as well start up a thread for this as it attracted a lot of attention last year for better or for worse but it's a top class meet in Ireland and should be supported in my opinion. Line-up looks pretty strong already this year with World Champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber, World silver medalist in the 800m Melissa Barber and World Bronze medalist in the steeplechase, Gese Krause down to compete alongside Mark English and Churandy Martina. Should be a good few more high profile athletes announced over the next few weeks with the meet director saying that the talent level is much deeper this year.

http://www.aitsport.ie/ait-grand-prix/

Sure to be a great evening, once they iron out the issues from last year. Unlikely I will be there. Hard to expect many working in Dublin until 5:30 to make it to Athlone by 6:30, particularly those who don't have a car, or who's car is not with them in the city when working. But the capacity is tiny anyway, so it will be a certain sell out.

average_runner · 26-01-2016 12:44pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

Sure to be a great evening, once they iron out the issues from last year. Unlikely I will be there. Hard to expect many working in Dublin until 5:30 to make it to Athlone by 6:30, particularly those who don't have a car, or who's car is not with them in the city when working. But the capacity is tiny anyway, so it will be a certain sell out.

I agree, was thinking about heading up, but never make it on time from here. Suppose can't keep us all happy. Be great if setanta or rte record this so can view it at some stage.

Notwork Error · 26-01-2016 9:55pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

Sure to be a great evening, once they iron out the issues from last year. Unlikely I will be there. Hard to expect many working in Dublin until 5:30 to make it to Athlone by 6:30, particularly those who don't have a car, or who's car is not with them in the city when working. But the capacity is tiny anyway, so it will be a certain sell out.

Boys and girls races are first up on the card usually and the elites don't really get started until around 8 and there's usually delays as well so you should still see a lot if you go.

Some Kind of Wizard · 26-01-2016 9:57pm

Same story here. Quite awkward making it over to Athlone for a 6.30 start. I assume having it on mid-week allows them to attract some bigger names who may be attending larger meets at weekends?

Chivito550 · 27-01-2016 1:12am

Notwork Error wrote: »

Boys and girls races are first up on the card usually and the elites don't really get started until around 8 and there's usually delays as well so you should still see a lot if you go.

Really not a good sign if delays are considered inevitable.

Notwork Error · 27-01-2016 6:52am

Chivito550 wrote: »

Really not a good sign if delays are considered inevitable.

I honestly don't know why I even bother sometimes.

Chivito550 · 27-01-2016 7:49am

Notwork Error wrote: »

I honestly don't know why I even bother sometimes.

Tongue in cheek, don't worry. It will be a great evening I am certain.

Oiriallach · 27-01-2016 9:06am

Not much detail on the AIT Sport page. No timetable/list of events. Impossible to decide yet if it would be worth a round trip of over 300km on a midweek evening.

Notwork Error · 17-02-2016 2:20pm

This on Irish TV again this year for anyone interested:D. Tonight but not sure what time. Going to head up to it myself. Many from here heading to it? Should be cracking night anyway

average_runner · 17-02-2016 3:02pm

Notwork Error wrote: »

This on Irish TV again this year for anyone interested:D. Tonight but not sure what time. Going to head up to it myself. Many from here heading to it? Should be cracking night anyway

What station? Chammpions league on Setanta and RTE2

Chivito550 · 17-02-2016 3:05pm

Notwork Error wrote: »

This on Irish TV again this year for anyone interested:D. Tonight but not sure what time. Going to head up to it myself. Many from here heading to it? Should be cracking night anyway

Would love to, but it's just too much hassle on a mid week evening.

I assume Irish TV is not part of UPC? I've never seen the channel on our TV.

Chivito550 · 17-02-2016 3:10pm

average_runner wrote: »

What station? Chammpions league on Setanta and RTE2

Irish TV is the name of the channel.

On the website it seems like you can watch the channel live. Anybody know if this will be possible for the athletics this evening. Would be fairly handy to just jump online and watch this.

http://www.irishtv.ie/broadcast

Myles Splitz · 17-02-2016 3:14pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

Irish TV is the name of the channel.

On the website it seems like you can watch the channel live. Anybody know if this will be possible for the athletics this evening. Would be fairly handy to just jump online and watch this.

http://www.irishtv.ie/broadcast

Tried to us it last year and was unwatchable (Site traffic issues I think). Ended up subscribing to Flotrack Pro to get the coverage (covering again this year)

Pherekydes · 17-02-2016 3:47pm

It's channel 191 on the sky digibox.

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 6:10pm

Anyone know if the youtube stream be through Athletics Ireland Youtube Feed?

Thanks

youngrun · 17-02-2016 7:11pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ZO3TkHS28

_Tombstone_ · 17-02-2016 7:45pm

Far better to watch this stuff on TV.

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 7:57pm

youngrun wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ZO3TkHS28

Cheers

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 8:12pm

Can't find any timetable.

_Tombstone_ · 17-02-2016 8:15pm

YFlyer wrote: »

Can't find any timetable.

That'll be another €10

Myles Splitz · 17-02-2016 8:22pm

Galligan's performance in the 1500m books here ticket for Portland next month.

Myles Splitz · 17-02-2016 8:25pm

Also looks like a Canadian indoor record for the winner (Bishop)

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 8:30pm

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

That'll be another €10

Haha guess I have to be there to get it.

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 8:30pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Also looks like a Canadian indoor record for the winner (Bishop)

All comers anyway. Yeah and Canadian.

Myles Splitz · 17-02-2016 8:37pm

Gregan narrowly missing out on World indoor qualifier (.02) however a very solid season opener for him second to Maslak a very notable indoor runner over the last few years and medal favourite for Portland.

YFlyer · 17-02-2016 9:35pm

What about Nenagh Olympics indoor track?

Chivito550 · 17-02-2016 9:52pm

Fairly decent evening of athletics. Was better than I expected. Coverage on Irish TV was pretty good too. Crowd seemed a bit on the light side compared to last year. Lots of great athletes but no real superstar as such I guess.

Seems like Dick Hooper has picked up a bout of Jerry Kiernanitis, mentioning on more than one occasion that he thinks Melissa Bishop looks suited to 1500m. When you can run 1:57 and are a fraction of a whisker away from winning the World Championships, and you've got freaks like Dibaba waiting over the metric mile, moving up would be nothing short of lunacy!

Also did Shaun Barber jump 5.77m or 5.89m? The Aussie interviewer bloke keeps saying he jumped 5.89m, but I'm almost certain he didn't.

Notwork Error · 18-02-2016 12:17am

Chivito550 wrote: »

Fairly decent evening of athletics. Was better than I expected. Coverage on Irish TV was pretty good too. Crowd seemed a bit on the light side compared to last year. Lots of great athletes but no real superstar as such I guess.

Seems like Dick Hooper has picked up a bout of Jerry Kiernanitis, mentioning on more than one occasion that he thinks Melissa Bishop looks suited to 1500m. When you can run 1:57 and are a fraction of a whisker away from winning the World Championships, and you've got freaks like Dibaba waiting over the metric mile, moving up would be nothing short of lunacy!

Also did Shaun Barber jump 5.77m or 5.89m? The Aussie interviewer bloke keeps saying he jumped 5.89m, but I'm almost certain he didn't.

Barber jumped 5.77m, an all-comers record by a country mile I think, failed 3 attempts at 5.89m.

Good night to be fair, the athmosphere and crowds were a little down on last year but that's to be expected with the amount of superstars there last year and with Barshim making attempts at a world record but the event was nothing but smooth and well organised which hopefully rebuilds a some of the reputation that was lost last year, which in turn will hopefully bodes well for pulling more stars again in the future.

Wolde got the best reception after that cracking solo mile effort and there was some good races accross the card so it was a success in my opinion and well worth the trip up.

_Tombstone_ · 18-02-2016 12:45am

Notwork Error wrote: »

Wolde got the best reception after that cracking solo mile effort and there was some good races accross the card so it was a success in my opinion and well worth the trip up.

As small as it is and as close as you are, you're still to far away from the action.

Going to these Events is pointless, see far more at home...and with commentary so that you actually know whats going on.

Notwork Error · 18-02-2016 1:18am

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

As small as it is and as close as you are, you're still to far away from the action.

Going to these Events is pointless, see far more at home...and with commentary so that you actually know whats going on.

Nah, got to disagree with you, you see far more in person as you can focus on whoever and whatever you want, not what the camera wants you to see. I don't need live commentary to have an idea of what's going on in the race but there's live commentary in the stadium for all the races and in between. And probably the biggest thing is seeing how good these athletes are in person, TV takes away all the sensation of speed and perspective of just what a top class athlete does. When I see Shuan Barber jump 5.77 or Barshim jumping 2.42 last year and going for the world record (things I've seen them do many times on TV doesn't even remotely hold a candle to seeing it live), the sheer athleticism and explosiveness is incredible to see and TV doesn't do it justice. The same goes for all the events from the sprints to distance runners and the atmosphere doesn't shoot out through the TV. Get to go out and have a good night doing something different than sitting on the coach is also a big plus for going to see live events and I enjoyed it much more there than I would've on the couch.

Chivito550 · 18-02-2016 7:56am

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

As small as it is and as close as you are, you're still to far away from the action.

Going to these Events is pointless, see far more at home...and with commentary so that you actually know whats going on.

Completely untrue. You see so much more at a meet. Some field events are easy to miss live if you are not sitting in the right place (like horizontal jumps and shot putt) but overall you see so much more by being there, not just on the track and in the field, but the warm up, atmosphere, athletes body language and reactions post race etc.

AIT Grand Prix

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