The debutants - Part 2

Martin Malone

Martin (centre) is flanked by Ed Gumbley (left) and Mike Garrett (right) after winning the 2011 Manx Harriers Open 10k race at the NSC (photo Murray Lambden)

Few if any members of the 2011 Isle of Man athletics squad have such a varied sporting background as 37-year-old distance runner Martin Malone. Originally from Ireland before moving to the Isle of Man in the late 1990s, he is a former international competitor in kick-boxing (he once fought for a European title) and clay pigeon shooting. He has done several ‘ultra’ style events over recent years including the 85-mile Parish Walk which he completed in 2008.

That same year he was chairman of the Commonwealth Games Appeals Committee, and came up with the idea of the Six Bay swimming challenge. Just a few weeks after completing the Parish Walk, he and three others swam a total of 10.3 km across six bays (Castletown, Gansey, Port Erin, Peel, Laxey and Douglas), running 16.8k and cycling 64k in between them. In the process they raised a large sum of money for the IOM Commonwealth Youth Games team who competed in India later that year.



Martin emerges from the sea at Laxey beach during the Six Bay Challenge in the summer of 2008 (photo www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman)

Having recovered from his 2008 efforts and having competed in triathlons for a few years, Martin decided to turn his attentions exclusively to distance running and joined Andy Fox’s training group. As might be expected from someone who relishes pushing himself to the limit, his main problem at first (by his own admission) was resisting the urge to overtrain! He wasn’t too far away from getting to the 2009 Island Games, but his progress over the past two years has been consistent and his selection for the 2011 event in the Isle of Wight was never in doubt.

Martin enjoys nothing more than pushing himself to the limit, and he had to do just that to hold off Island Games team mate Ed Gumbley to win the 2011 Manx Harriers Open 10k race (photo Murray Lambden)

Martin is a totally committed athlete who explores the science of physical and mental preparation, diet, lifestyle etc. in meticulous detail. In his debut Island Games he competes in the Half Marathon (in which he is part of what looks like a very strong Isle of Man team alongside Kevin Loundes and Ed Gumbley) and the 10,000m event on the track. He should go well in both, and I think there is every chance he will be back for more in Bermuda in 2013!

Sinead Kaneen

Coming from such a sporting family, Sinead had little choice but to be involved in athletics virtually from the day she could first walk. Her parents Peter and Bridget have both been top race walkers and very useful runners, and her elder sisters Ciara and Bronwen have both had plenty of success as junior athletes too in a range of events. However, what perhaps sets Sinead apart from the rest of the family is being such a fine all-round athlete across such a wide range of disciplines.

Sinead was a terrific race walker from a very young age, showing excellent technique and regularly competing in big off-island events with plenty of success. Only in the last year has she moved away from race walking to concentrate exclusively on track & field. Such is Sinead’s versatility as an athlete that she has entries on the Power of 10 website (which requires a pre-set standard for performances to be included) in race walking, 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, 1500m, hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot and javelin. It comes as no surprise that she tried a pentathlon in the UK last year and did well!

At 15 years of age, Sinead is the youngest member of the Isle of Man athletics team at this year’s Games, and will be competing in the high jump and long jump events in which she is coached by John Whitlow and her dad Peter Kaneen respectively. She has real talent in both events and is an extremely stylish performer. The experience of competing in such a high-profile international event is sure to play a big part in her continuing development as a top athlete. Sinead has also been working with Di Shimell’s sprinting group, and will be part of the women’s 4x400m relay squad at the Games.

If Sinead continues to enjoy her athletics and remains motivated, I am sure that 2011 will be the start of a long and successful Island Games career for her.

Daniel Stewart-Clague

Having come close to selection for the past two Island Games, 2011 is a case of third time lucky for 22-year-old Daniel. Actually that choice of words is inappropriate, as his selection comes as a result of talent and hard work, not luck.

Rather like Sinead Kaneen, Daniel is multi-talented when it comes to athletics, competing to a very good standard in a variety of sprinting, throwing and jumping events. He is also a very useful footballer and has scored plenty of goals for Douglas and District FC in the IOM second division this season!

Daniel’s variety of talents make him a pivotal member of the Manx Harriers team when they travel away to compete in the Northern League Track & Field matches – he is often to be seen sprinting from the long jump pit to the throwing circle and then to the track to fit all his events in! Few if any athletes have scored more points for Manx Harriers in these matches over recent seasons.

For his Island Games debut, Daniel is entered in the high jump and triple jump events, and is part of the 4x100m relay squad. He was probably also considered for the javelin event, having thrown over the development guideline distance. He is a fine all-round athlete, and the experience of competing in his debut Island Games should inspire him to improve still further in the future.