| We ran in the footsteps of a champion. |
|
|
GER WYLEY / NIKE SUMMER SERIES RACE NO.7 DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5. “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A CHAMPION”.
Sandis Bralitis West Waterford held off a strong challenge from Sergiu Turea Clonliffe Harriers to win his fourth Dromana 5 last Friday evening, His winning time was much faster than that of last year (25.17) and it had to be if he was to take victory from the Moldavian national. Sandis time of 24.54 saw him win by just four seconds form Sergiu 24.59.For the record Sandis best time on this course is 24.42 in 2006. CORINNA WALSH HITS A NEW HIGH. Corinna Walsh recorded yet another fine win to take her first Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 victory last Friday evening with a splendid finishing time of 30.01,this averaged out at 6.12 per mile for the course which is excellent running from the inform Dungarvan bank Official, Corinna and former race winner Jackie Carty as was predicted were going to set the pace from early on and this is exactly how the Ladies race panned out, These two runners are both cut of the same cloth, battlers, never give up athletes, don’t know when your beaten kind of runners who don’t go down without a fight, They raced virtually shoulder to shoulder Friday evening and as the miles passed none was giving an inch to the other,Both shared the lead from time to time on the road and at the Cappoquin GAA field 600 meters from the finish line, they were still locked together, but some thing had to give and when Corinna upped the pace a notch just after the Hurling field the Wexford athlete found the tempo just a tad too hot and dropped off the shoulder of Corinna.Without looking back once from here to the line Corinna called on all her months and years of speed work and hard graft to take her home recording a famous and indeed her first Dromana 5 win with a time of 31.01.Jackie Carty who had given it her all but was just short that little bit on the night came home runner up just six seconds behind with a time of 31.07.Speaking to Jackie After the race she said that never has she seen Corinna so strong, Jackie felt before the race that she had the form herself to take the win but Corinna was awesome she went on, Gracious in defeat Jackie said she felt that the Corinna was just waiting to make her decisive move over the last mile and that’s exactly what she did ,I had no answer tonight Carty said,Corinna was so strong up that incline to the finish line that no one was going to beat her. St.Senans athlete Adele Walsh ran very well on the night also and on another day her time of 31.24 would have been good enough to claim victory, Adele also finished in this same third position in last years race but the good news for her is that she was four seconds faster Friday night. Like wise in 2007 Waterford’s Mary Burke was fourth in 33.17 and she filled that position again Friday evening, One of the most improved Female athlete around this year Mary ran an impressive 32.23 knocking almost a minute off last years time, Clonmel’s Angela McCann is a Lady not long in the sport but making a big impact, she finished a good sixth in a time of 32.39,Angela in now a regular at our events and is the Lady to beat over 35 at the moment in the Masters category. WEST WATERFORD WIN THREE OF THE FOUR TEAM TITLES. There were three men’s team and one lady’s team award down for decision in Dromana with four to score in each team, West Waterford and Waterford AC shared the main overall titles with the city folk taking the Men’s title and ourselves the Ladies. The Winning Waterford AC team consisted of Edward Delaney 12th,Larry Kennedy 14th,Brian Gallagher 12th and Darrell Hale 23rd,a total of 70 points. West Waterford AC took second and third team awards here. The West Waterford Ladies were to the fore in the Ladies team section taking the team award with 276 points. The scoring team members on the night were Norma Wall 55th,Eilish Ní hAodha 65th,Diane Behan 73rd and Anne Whelan 83rd. MUCH THANKS TO MANY PEOPLE. Our thanks to race sponsor Colm and Linda Nagle and all the staff at the Dungarvan Leader for their kind sponsorship of the Dromana 5 and for their ongoing support of athletics through our weekly column in The Dungarvan leader newspaper. The race organisers were delighted to have the Nagle Family at the presentation of prizes with special thanks to Kim who presented all the winner’s with the beautiful array of prizes .We also wish to thank John Treacy CEO of the Irish Sports Council for being available on the night and to Rosarie Kealy Waterford Sports Partnership for her contribution to a most successful event. To Villiarstown Community hall committee for the use of the hall for registration, Our thanks to Alan O’Donoghue Cappoquin Meats and Fintan and Alice Murray Cornerstone Café for all their help with the food for the athletes.
DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5 MILE ROAD RACE SENIOR MEN. Wheelchair Winner Gerry Ford Blarney. SENIOR LADIES. TEAMS. Ladies team West Waterford AC 276 points
The wind and rain had little effect on the numbers that turned up to participate in the ninth and final round of the Minnie’s Bar Fit4Life Running League. It was unfortunate that the weather wasn’t in our favour but each and every one of the runners got on with the task of completing the distance in as best a time as they could. Out of the nine weeks in total we only had two nights where the weather wasn’t so good so all in all weather-wise we were quite lucky. It was great to see the newcomers for this year turn up which is a sure sign that ye well and truly have caught the running bug and that the weather will never be factor in the future. In actual fact, the weather was hardly mentioned at all, all the talk was about the times to be achieved and the pacing per lap in order to achieve it. All runners present certainly gave it their last shot and all came up trumps, which is very encouraging indeed. It has only been nine weeks since many of you took up running for the first time and you all have come a long way since then. Just imagine what level you will be at by the end of the summer or by the end of the year, there will be no stopping you. Thanks once again to the Friary College for the use of the grounds and to all those that helped out in any way to ensure the smooth running of the league. Thanks to all the runners for participating in the league and for your co-operation throughout the league. Thanks to Tony Ryan and Michael Tutty for taking the entries and the finishing times and for setting out the course each night. DECLAN’S DELIGHT Once again, the field of one lappers were led home by a very determined Declan Hayes who was close to breaking nine minutes on the night and given the conditions this was a very fine performance indeed. Diana Chizhikova improved on her time of the previous week by nine seconds to finish with a time of 9.48. Both Helen O’ Brien and Siobhain McCormack battled bravely against the elements in a bid to break ten minutes and were just outside of their target, recording 10.02 each, well done girls. There was nothing between Aisling Hourigan and Brigid Coffey who were both close to ten minutes as well, clocking 10.14 and 10.18 respectively. Congratulations to Clare Cotter and Tara Roche who were just over eleven minutes, great running indeed. GRADE A FOR AINE Top marks went to Aine Lynch for round nine as she pulled off a top-drawer performance to record a quicker time in round nine than in round eight. In fact, she was sixteen seconds faster which clearly shows she wasn’t going to let the wind and the rain come between her and a great time. Well-deserved Aine. For the second week running Yevgeniy Chizhikov managed to break 15 minutes for the two laps, recording 14.57 exactly for week eight and week nine. Michael John O’ Mahony recorded almost the same time as the previous week as did Geraldine Barry and Betty Sheehan. SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR HARRY O’ BRIEN The three lappers for week nine had among them a former Irish medal winner in the form of Harry O’ Brien and he led the field home in a super fast time of 21.44 for the 3.6 mile route. He was followed home by Colm O’ Brien in 23.55, just managing to run under twenty-four minutes. Next up was Tomas Coleman who was followed by Tom Byrne. Tomas and Tom had some great battles between then over the course of the league and really egged each other on to record some great times. Michael Roche has had a super league throughout and improved with every outing and will be well pleased with his time of 26.21. Joe Barry was unlucky not to get on the right side of twenty-seven minutes, recording 27.03. Onra Power was successful in her bid to run 32 minutes, recording exactly that time. ALEX MAKES THE MOVE TO FOUR LAPS Full credit must go to Alexander Novakovsky for having made the move up to the four-lap route, even more so when the inclement weather conditions are taken into consideration. Alexander ran very well over the four laps to record a great time of 42.13 and no doubt this will spur him on all the more to take up the four laps for our next league. Well done Alex and we hope that more will follow in your steps. Fresh from the recent Cork Marathon, Declan McGrath had a super performance to be the first of the four lap participants to reach the finishing line, clocking 27.57 for his efforts. Brian Byrne meant business on the night and recorded a similar time to the previous week giving him a three second lead over third placed Phillip Harty. Alan Lyons, Raivis Zakis, Patrick O’ Riordan and Gary McCormack all ran under 31 minutes which is great running indeed. Des and the Doc had a bit of a battle with Des getting the upper hand on this occasion. Corinna Walsh is now running well under 32 minutes with ease for the distance. Sean Dwyer and Earl Navin really gave it their all on the home straight to come home with the same time of 35.48 a piece and likewise with Ray Burke and Timmy Foley, both of them recording 36.05. Well done to all who took part. SPONSORS Our sincere thanks goes to the O’ Brien family of Minnie’s Bar in Abbeyside for sponsoring this league once again this year. Minnie’s have sponsored this league with the past number of years and their support and co-operation has in no small way added to the success of this league.
It’s time to leave the watches at home as the ever-popular TQS League is now underway. This league is extremely popular due to the fact that it’s not the fastest person that wins but the person who accurately predicts their time. In many cases over the years it has been the person with the slowest time that is crowned the winner. This league is very well suited to beginners and regulars alike and is held every Tuesday night in the grounds of the Friary College at 7 p.m. Registration begins at 6.40 p.m. and the entry fee is €2 per night. It will be held for eight weeks in total and all are very welcome to come along and give it a go. We hope to see all those who started running at the Minnie’s league there and bring a friend or two for the fun. See you all out there. A full report on the first round of the TQS League will be in next week’s edition. SHANAGARRY 5 MILE ROAD RACE. ZAKIS RECORDS ANOTHER VICTORY. The second of the four races in the Ballycotton summer series the Shanagarry 5 took place last Thursday evening with a huge record turn out of 280 athletes beating the previous best turn out of runners which was last year by one when 279 took part. (A record is a record if only by one) Shanagarry is quite a hilly course and the times were somewhat slowish even for the top runners, West Waterford’s Raivis Zakis continued his bid for overall series winner for 2008 when recording his second win from two starts, having last month won the first race the Ballyandreen 5.Raivis time of 26.22 was good enough to hold off the challenge of local East Cork athlete Sean McGrath who finished second in 26.39 with Tim O’Connor third 27.04.Raivis now at the half way stage in the series is just under a minute faster than Sean in the overall table with Tim O’ Connor almost three minutes further back in third. Last Thursday’s Ladies winner was Rhona Lynch Eagle AC 30.04 from the evergreen Carmel Parnell Leevale second in 30.24 with Ann Marie Holland Eagle third in 31.17.West Waterford’s Joe Kelly a regular at this race had a very good run on the night finishing 30th in 30.50.Beijing bound, Jim Fleming is coming back into a bit of form and he finished in a time of 32.00,Another Shanagarry regular Tony O’Mahony broke the 35 minutes with a run of 34.39,and Josie Uí Chuirrin was our only Lady participant with a time of 38.00,Ardmore’s Michael Hennessey recorded a time of 38.54,well under the eight minute per mile pace, and Brigid Coffey at 39.06 was well under the forty minute mark with her run, John Fennell was paced at just over the eights when he finished with a time of 40.30 Ray Curran who I would say has run more Ballycotton 5 mile series races than anyone else in the club finished the course in a time of 39.53 slightly slower that his time of last year, Well done to all. Next race Churchtown South Thursday July 27th at 8 PM.
WEST WATERFORD HOSPICE TO BENEFIT. Preparations are at an advanced stage for the 9th Annual GSK 5 mile road race on Friday week July 11th.race organisers Glaxosmithkline have decided that this year chosen charity will be West Waterford Hospice. We know of the importance of this local organisation and the great work they do in the community so we appeal to all walkers runner crawlers alike to come along on Friday July 11th next to support this most worthy cause, This is race number 8 in the Ger Wyley sports/Nike summer series. The race kicks off at 7.30 pm for walkers and 8.00pm for runners. Changing facilities and race entry will be at Dungarvan Crystal Sports Centre from 6.30pm with entry fee on the night €10.00.First 300 entries will receive a GSK goody bag and T-Shirt. Prizes this year include:
Perhaps the single most important element in mastering the techniques and tactics of racing is experience. But once you have the fundamentals, acquiring the experience is a matter of time. POSTPONED CRUCHAN SUNRISE CHALLENGE NOW TO GO AHEAD ON SUNDAY MORNING JULY 13TH. Postponed some weeks ago due to the inclement weather, the clubs Sunrise challenge to Cruchan will take place on Sunday morning July 13th.Al;l proceeds from the event will be donated to the Niall melon Township fund. We will depart from Minnie’s Abbeyside at 4 AM and drive to the foot of Cruchan Mountain, We will walk the mile or so to the summit to watch the sun rise over the Déise.The traditional run back to Minnie’s fro a full Irish breakfast will take place for those interested in doing it and all others will drive back for breakfast. Tell your friends and then bring them along.4AM from Minnie’s. NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD ENTRIES. The Woodies sponsored national Senior Track and Field championships are on Saturday and Sunday July 19th and 20th next in Morton Stadium Santry.Any athletes wishing to be entered in the championships are asked to contact Tony Ryan before July 4th as entries close on this date, GOUGH AND MORAN WIN AT DUBLIN GRADED MEET. At a graded meet in Santry last Wednesday evening which were held in windy conditions West Waterford’s Joe Gough and Brendan Moran were in action, Joe was 1st in over 55 800 meters in a time of 2.14.1 and will next take part in the British Masters championships again over 800 meters on Sunday next July 6th.Brendan won the 200 meters over 50 in 25.9.to add to another successful night’s Masters racing for the West Waterford duo. ALL-IRELAND GOLD FOR SEAN STILWELL IN STEEPLECHASE Sean Stilwell was in action in Tullamore last Sunday at the All Ireland under 23 championships and the trip was a fruitful one for the Ardmore athlete.Sean ran a time of 10.14 to take the gold medal in the 3.000 meter steeplechase and add his name to the list of All Ireland titles held by West Waterford athletes. A tough event the Steeplechase isn’t for the faint hearted but Sean was well up for the race and got his just reward for his dedication to his club and the sport. Congratulations Sean form all at the club.In the same championships under 23 Eadaoine Ashe was more than pleased with her performance in the Discus when she had a seasons best throw of 30.20,Eadaoine was just outside the medals when finishing in 4th place on the day. |