Notes July 25-10

AMBER PETROLEUM FIT4LIFE LEAGUE

FOUR NIGHTS DOWN BUT FOUR MORE STILL TO GO

It really was a league of two halves at the Friary last week for round 4 of the Amber Petroleum League. On the night that marked the half-way stage, practically half the field were too fast and the other half were slower than their predicted time. There have been nights when nearly everybody is too fast or the majority are slower but it was evenly balanced for week 4. This is the league where we invite participants to estimate how long it will take them to complete 1, 2, 3 or 4 laps around the grounds of the Friary playing fields.  When the clock counts down to the your estimated time you begin your run and the idea is to try to cross the finish line as the clock counts down to zero.  If you can achieve this feat you will win for yourself a prize and also receive 30 points for the Champions League Table where the most consistent runners will also be prize-winners after the 8 weeks of the league. In this league it makes no difference whatsoever what time you run, speed is no advantage here. As no-one is allowed to wear watches it’s whoever runs the closest to their time that wins regardless of how fast or slow they run. You don’t have to have run the previous nights in order to come along and join in the fun, just make it to the Friary College on Tuesday evening. The clock starts at 7 so 6.50 is plenty of time to get there.

MICHAEL MAKES IT TO THE LINE JUST IN TIME

Micheal Deegan seems to possess a natural instinct when it comes to pacing as week after week he is always fairly spot on and despite many athletes picking up the pace over the final 400-500 metres Michael always sticks to his guns and last week it surely paid off as he crossed the line just as the clock reached 0.00. This earned Michael the maximum 30 points for the night and also guarantees that we will all be following him to the line over the next few weeks. Well done Michael, great pacing and great running and I wouldn’t be surprised if you were to follow it up with another win, it has happened before you know! Triona Wall made the fateful decision to overtake Michael with 20 metres to go and had she not victory would have been hers but still she was close enough and she may get it just right before the end of the league. Commiserations to Karen Coleman as she was only out by a mere second, so close Karen. Caroline Lenihan and Paddy Power crossed the line together, just 12 seconds out so they need only pick up the pace ever so slightly and they are in with a chance to get a win and like wise for Joe Murray, Jimmy Fitzgerald and John Downey.

TOO QUICK ON THE NIGHT

It was so close for a number of athletes last week given that only a second or two came between them and victory. Triona Wall was just 3 seconds out and a further second in arrears was Josie Ui Chuirrin. Both Tomas Coleman and Adrian Fitzgerald picked up the pace over the last 2 laps which was a wise decision but it was just that little bit too quick as they were 6 and seconds respectively too fast. Marie Walsh will be delighted to have been only 7 seconds out and this earns for her 16 valuable points for the champions league table. Michael Foley almost had it spot on and will be happy that he was just 10 seconds too fast. A total of 41 were too fast on the night with another 40 on the right side of the clock, will it be as evenly balanced the next night? We can only wait and see.

THANKS

Once again our sincere gratitude goes to our generous sponsor of the league which is Pat Keane of the Amber Garage on the Youghal Road. His generosity and support has been invaluable and is greatly appreciated by all at West Waterford. We hope that as many as possible will support our sponsors. Thanks again to all those that make it possible to hold the league. Thanks to Shirley and Liam for the times and taking the names and to Michael and Tony for the van and the finishing tunnel and also to Ann Dunford for looking after the league tables, many hands make light work as they say!

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLES

The objective of the league is to get as many points as possible each night and the person with the highest points at the end will be the Amber League Champion. The first person to cross the line after the clock reaches 0.00 gets 30 points; the next person gets 29 points and so on down the line. The person that crosses the line just before the clock reaches 0.00, gets 20 points and the person before them gets 19 and so on. The points for each week are added on and at the moment it’s Onra Power who is at the top of the tables and she is followed very closely by Anna Ballot who was the winner on the first night of the league. Caroline Lenihan is in 3rd place and Tom Leahy and Adrian Fitzgerald are both currently holding the 4th spot but one night can change it all so it’s all to play for over the last few weeks. The following are the top ten overall in the league after 4 weeks.
Onra Power   88
Anna Ballot   86
Caroline Lenihan 78
Tom Leahy  76
Adrian Fitzgerald 76
Paddy Power  70
Michael Deegan 69
Liam Sandford 64
Libby McGinn Murphy 63
Caitriona Kiely 63

MUNSTER MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WEST WATERFORD LOOKING FOR 5 IN A ROW

Having won best club at the Munster Masters Track and Field Championships these past four years, the club will be out in force at the Bank Holiday weekend to get the all important 5 in a row. The club has a proud tradition of this level and we are delighted to report that we have a large number of athletes available for the day. Thanks to you all for contacting us with relation to the entries and Ann will be in contact with you all regarding the travel arrangements. As already announced, Cork CIT is the venue which is a short trip for us. All the day’s activities will take place between 11 and 3 so if you wish, take a look at the time-table and arrange to arrive about an hour before your event if you so wish.

TIMETABLE FOR MUNSTER MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD EVENT

11.00 Hammer (Men)
11.30 4x 100 Relay
High Jump (Men 0/50)
Long Jump (Women)
Javelin (M 35-45)
Hammer (Women)

12.00 1,500 metres
 High Jump (M 35-45)
 Shot (Women)
 Javelin (M 0/50)
12.30 100 metres
 Discus (M35-45)
 Javelin (Women)
1.00 High Jump (Women)
Long Jump (M 35-45)
 
1.30 3,000 (Men)
 Discus (Men 0/50)
2.00 400 metres
 Long Jump (Men 0/50)
 Shot (M 35-45)
2.15 3,000 (Women)
 Shot (Men 0/50)
 Discus (Women)
2.45 200 metres
 56lb Distance (M 35-45)
3.00 800 metres
 56lb Distance (M 0/50)

RACE 9 OF GER WYLEY SPORTS/NIKE SUMMER SERIES
BALLYMACARBRY 5 MILE ROAD RACE THIS FRIDAY

All roads lead to scenic Ballymacarbry this Friday evening, August 30th for the 9th race in the Ger Wyley Sports/Nike Summer Series. This race has always proved very popular down through the years and a large crowd is expected on the night. Starting at 7.30 p.m., the entries will be taken in the local community centre and the prize giving and refreshments will be provided after the race in Doocey’s Oriel Bar. The entry fee is the usual €8 and the prizes are as follows.

 

MEN:
1ST 3 Senior
1st Junior
1st 0/40, 0/45, 0/50, 0/55, 0/60 and the 1st local
 
LADIES:
1ST 3 Senior
1st Junior
1st 0/35, 0/40, 0/45, 0/50, 0/55 and the 1st local

 

One significant feature of the 2010 summer series is the number of records that have been broken throughout and going on the current form of some of our athletes we may see another record being broken. Although absent for the last race, Pauline Lambe is sure to make an appearance and should she make it to the starting line next Friday night at the Ballymac race it looks likely that Sinead Crotty’s time of 29.50 which she set in 2007 will be broken. The men’s record looks safe enough for another year. Way back in 1996, William Harty covered the 5 mile route in a super time of 25 minutes even and it will take an athlete in absolute top form and ideal running conditions for anyone to break this but never say never and we may even see 2 records broken on the night, we can only wait and see. Our sincere thanks go to race sponsor Tony Doocey of Doocey’s Oriel Bar who have generously sponsored the race once again this year, many thanks. The organising committee in Ballymacarbry have informed us that all preparations are well underway for the 15th annual Ballymacarbry race. With only two races left in the series, there are a number of athletes on target for the €75 voucher which is awarded to those that run all ten races of the series and there are a few more that need to run the next two races in order to run the minimum of 6 races required to receive a €25 voucher. So this added incentive along with it being a top class race will guarantee a big entry on the night, see you all out in Ballymac. After the Ballymac race, all focus will be on the final race in the series which is the Ardmore 5 mile road race, another popular race and it’s after this race that all the vouchers and the prizes for the summer series will be awarded.

CHURCHTOWN SOUTH 5

The 3rd race in the Ballycotton running promotions summer series took place in Churchtown South last Thursday evening and another huge field of 485 finishers took part. Victory on the night went to local East Cork AC athlete James McCarthy who incidentally has now won all three races to date in the series. James clocked 25.15 which was 17 seconds ahead of St. Finbars AC Martin Mc Carthy 25.32 with Sean McGrath also of East Cork AC 3rd in 25.57. This has been the top three placings for all three races to date without any name change. The ladies winner was Emma Murphy of St. Finbarrs who dipped under the 30 minutes with a time of 29.52. Liam Budds was unlucky not to break the 30 minutes when he clocked 30.02, another fine run from Liam, Richie Kelly was next man home in 34.07 followed by Paul Brunnock 34.37, Josie Uí Chuirrin lead home our Ladies in 37.09 from Brigid Coffey 37.29 and Onra Power was next 41.34. Well done to all.

West Waterford ac finishers in Churchtown 5

46th  Liam Budds   30.02
152  Richie Kelly   34.07
169th  Paul Brunnock  34.37
186th  Ted O’Leary   35.04
239th  Padraig Healy   36.22
262nd  Josie Ui Chuirrin  37.09
273rd  Brigid Coffey   37.27
283rd  John Foley   37.47
301st  Eamon Flavin   38.30
372nd  Onra Power   41.34
459th  Mary Harney   47.52

DAVID MC CARTHY ADDS A SUB 4 MINUTE OUTDOOR MILE.

Seven athletes were clocked inside four minutes in the Morton Mile in Santry last Wednesday evening and West Waterford’s David Mc Carthy made yet another piece of Waterford athletics history when he was one of those seven finishing 6th in a top notch field. American Will Lear led the field home in 3.56.81 with David dipping inside four minutes for the first time outdoors in sixth place clocking 3.59.69. David has now broken the magic 4 minute barrier twice, once indoors and now outdoors. He is the only Waterford athlete ever to break the 4 minute mile and now he has done the deed twice. Joe Warne took the field through the first 880 yards in 1m 59 with the entire field tightly bunched a few metres behind. With 3m01 on the clock at the bell a fast last lap was inevitable and Craig Miller and Jack Bolas accelerated around the top turn and down the back straight as the field stretched out with McCarthy mixing it with the Americans down that back straight. David had 5 Americans filling the top 5 places in the gallop for the line but he was well placed in 6th with just hundredths of seconds separating the top athletes. In the same meet Thomas Houlihan was participating in the pole vault and finished 3rd with a vault of 4.45. The winner was Steward Green of Raheny Shamrocks with a height of 4.65 metres with Ian Rogers second on a count back clearing the same height as Thomas. Well done to both David and Thomas.

Men's Morton Mile  
Place  Name                Club                           Time
 1  Will Leer            USA                            3.56.81
 2  Jack Bolas           USA                            3.58.41
 3  Russell Browne       USA                            3.58.48
 4  Craig Miller         USA                            3.59.19
 5  Andrew Bumbalough    USA                            3.59.46
 6  David Mc Carthy      West Waterford A.C.            3.59.79
 7  Liam Boylan-Pett     USA                            3.59.86
 8  Kurt Benninger       Canada                         4.00.71
 9  Kyle Alcorn          USA                            4.00.80
10  Liam Reale           Limerick A.C.                  4.01.49
11  Sean Connolly        Tallaght A.C.                  4.02.59
12  Dan Mulhare          North Laois A.C.               4.02.65
13  Alan O'Brien         Crusaders A.C.                 4.04.02
14  Sean Brosnan         USA                            4.04.83
15  Joseph Sweeney       Dundrum South Dublin A.C.      4.06.80
16  Sam Dech             USA                            4.07.84
17  Tom Fitzpatrick      Tallaght A.C.                  4.08.15
18  Conor Healy          Clonliffe Harriers A.C.        4.11.93

WEST WATERFORD LADIES REACH WOODIES DIY NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD FINALS

From the 13 teams scoring, West Waterford’s Ladies track and field team have topped the qualifying table to reach the national finals of division 1 of the Woodies DIY sponsored National Leagues which will be held on Saturday 14th August in Tullamore. Having accumulated an excellent 104 points from round one our Ladies topped that points tally on a wet day in Athlone in round two with119 points. This gave us a total of 223 points, just one point ahead of Galway county and Clonliffe Harriers who are together with 222 points with Wexford County next on 205 points. The top eight teams go forward to compete in the finals and as we are first in the qualifying table we will go into the finals with a bonus 9 points which is the same as a win in one of the 15 scoring events down for decision in the final itself. This is a huge achievement for what is a very small and young Ladies team and to even reach the finals is an achievement in itself with most of them competing in this competition for the very first time. We congratulate and wish them well for their big day in Tullamore.

LEAGUE TABLES FOR NATIONAL LEAGUES DIVISION 1
DIVISION 1  WOMEN Round 2 Round 1 Total
   
West Waterford 104 119 223
Galway County  98 124 222
Clonliffe Harriers 107 115 222
Wexford County 100 105 205
City of Derry 103 101 204
Kildare County 106 98 204
Raheny Shamrocks 87 115 202
Tullamore Harriers  85 110 195
Sli Cualann 93 80 173
Limerick County  94 78 172
Menapians 62 91 153
Waterford A.C 53 91 144
Tallaght  50 46 96

RUNNING QUOTE

What I love about running is you can meditate while running. It's a peaceful place. You pray and think of the children and what you're doing, and you get through it. The time passes clearly. The first mile is the hardest.