Large Numbers in action at County Championships
Over fifty athletes from West Waterford traveled to the R.S.C. on Friday last to take part in the first round of the county championships. There was a big programme of events and despite the misty damp evening there was a good turnout from all clubs in the county making for some tough encounters in many of the events. Lisa Houlihan won the first of her five gold medals when she had a convincing win in the long hurdles race. In the sprint Jake Beecher won his first county title in the boys under 12 and Patrick Palmer showed he was back in winning form with a win in the under 18 100m.

In the middle distance events there were wins for newcomer Robbie Mulligan in the under 14 1500m, Kate Veale 1500m under 15, David Early 1500m under 15, Rebecca Maher under 17 1500m, Declan Power under 18 1500m and Jenny Hurley in the Junior Womens 1500.

In the field events Kate Mc Grath won the under 11 shot and this was followed by a winning performance from Kate Hickey in the under 14 Shot and Zoe Scanlan in the under 16 Shot. In the Discus there were winning performance from Aaron Meehan under 17,Michael Tutty under 16 and David Early under 15. Aaron later added gold in the Long Jump and Javelin to complete a treble. In the High Jump Claire Collins was the winner of the under 17 girls event. In the relays our under 9 boys team of Dean Beecher Jack Mc Grath, Diarmuid Harty and Cian Fagan took gold in their first county championship appearance.

Silver medals were won by Cian Fagan under 9 60m, under 9 300m, Diarmuid Harty under 9 Long Jump,Caoimhe Dwyer under 10 60m and Ball Throw, Erica Crotty under 11 Shot, Tholm Reddy under 11 80m, Cian Ryan under 14 Discus, Lucy O’Brien under 14 1500m, David Early under 15 Javelin, Clodagh Gallagher under 16 1500m,Rebecca Maher under 17 High Jump Claire Collins under 17 1500m,Thomas Houlihan under 17 Discus, Joe Conway under 17 Long Jump Javelin and 1500m, under 11 Relay team Rachel Wyley Chloe Beecher Caoimhe Dwyer and Kate Mc Grath, under 13 Boys Relay Jake Beecher Eoin Dwyer Richard Casey and Tholm Reddy under 15 relay Una Mc Grath Aine Power Cara Mullaney and Kate Veale, under 15 boys relay Robbie Mulligan, Cian Ryan, David Earley and Richard Stilwell, under 17 girls relay Lisa Houlihan, Kate Kennedy, Rebecca Maher and Claire Collins and under 17 boys relay Michael Tutty, Lughaidh O’Manony Joe Conway and Thomas Houlihan.

Bronze medals were won by Cian Fagan under 9 Long Jump, Caoimhe Dwyer under 10 300m, Kate Mc Grath under 11 80m, Sarah Wyley under 12 High Jump, 80m, and 600m. Sean Curran under 12 600m, Gemma Wyley under 13 600m, Robbie Mulligan under 14 100m, William Quinn under 14 Discus, Clodagh Gallagher under 16 High Jump, Michael Tutty under 16 100m, Lughaidh O’Mahony under 16 Shot.

Well done to all who competed on the night.  The second section of the county championships will be held on Sunday May 11th and we hope to have even more athletes in action.

Large Numbers at Primary Schools Championships
The first section of the West Waterford Primary Schools Athletics Championships took place last Thursday.  With eleven schools taking part we had the largest attendance ever at the big school heats and all eleven schools figure in the finals.  The event got under way at 6.30 and all 78 races were completed before nine o’clock. It was a great night of athletics and competition for places in the finals was keen.  The qualifiers are listed below and the Western Final will be held on Thursday May 8th.