Top Three Finish for Aidan Mc Kenna, Tholm Reddy and Una McGrath
On Sunday the Munster B cross-country championships were held in Moyglass Co. Tipperary. After the rains of the last few days we were not surprised by the heavy muddy conditions but West Waterford’s young athletes stepped up to the mark skipped through the mud and all our younger athletes were among the medal winners. We had three athletes in the top three. Aidan Mc Kenna had his best run ever running with the front group throughout the boys under 11 800m and coming home strongly to take third place. In the boys under 13 Tholm Reddy was also in top form putting in a great performance to take the bronze medal. Not to be outdone by the boys Una McGrath ran strongly throughout the girls under 17 race and put in a great sprint finish to take third place. All three can be well pleaded with their first individual Munster medals.
Individual Medals for Claudia Quarry, Sean Ronayne and Cian O’ Riordan
Our under 9 girls were first in action and they showed they had learned much from competing in Tralee as all of them ran much better this time. Claudia Quarry was our first medal winner of the day when finishing 10th in the girls under 9 race adding another bronze medal to the one she won on the track earlier this year. Claudia, Ciara Mc Kenna (17th) and Freya Willats (19th) were scoring members of the Waterford team that finished third in the inter county competition. Sean Ronayne was competing in his first ever Munster event. He got off to a great start and held his position well to finish 5th and win his first Munster medal. Cian O’Riordan didn’t get such a great start but he made his way through the large field to finish 8th and win his first Munster medal. Conor Brown finished 20th and Eoin Pollock 32nd and their combined score of 65pts was enough to earn them third place. Sean, Cian and Conor also collected bronze medals as scoring members of the Waterford team that finished third in the inter county contest.
Gold for Boys and Bronze for Girls in under 11 Races
The under 11 boys just missed out on team medals in the A championships but they put in a great team performance to take gold in both the inter club and county contests. Aidan Mc Kenna led the way with a third place finish and he was well supported by Oran Leamy (12th) who won his first individual medal Eoin Ryan (13th) who just missed out on an individual medal and Aidan O’ Brien (28th) completing the scoring four to give a team total of 56pts. The other team members were Niall Blackwell (45th), Jack Mc Grath (72nd) and Arthur Chizhikov (78th). Aidan, Oran and Eoin were also members of the Waterford team that won gold in the inter county contest. In the girls event Aisling Mullaney led the team to bronze medals when finishing in 19th place she was well supported by Rachel Wyley (26th) and Judith Campbell 41st just ahead of Aoife Brown 42nd who both won their first Munster medals. Aisling, Rachel and Judith also won bronze medals with Waterford in the inter county contest.
Bronze for under 13 Boys
Led by Tholm Reddy in 3rd place the under 13 boys also won bronze medals by finishing 3rd in the inter club contest. Shane O’ Riordan (21st), Richard Casey (32nd), Eoin O’Dwyer
(48th) and Alex Pollack (58th) were the other members of the team. In the under 13 girls race Sarah Jane Smith finished 28thand Laura Cusack was 42nd.While Gemma Wyley finished 16th in the under 15 girls race
First Munster Medal for Emer Duff
In the under seventeen girls race Emer Duff won her first Munster medal when finishing 9th
Easons League
On Wednesday we will have the final run in the Eason’s league in which everyone will run off his or her best time and if everyone runs to form we should have everyone finishing together. As soon as the run is finished we will have the presentation of prizes by our sponsor Pat White of Eason’s Dungarvan. This will be the last training session for our younger athletes those traveling to Coleraine will have an easy run out on Friday and then we will take a break until early March.
All Set for trip to Coleraine
On Saturday 5th December we head to the north of Ireland for the second leg of the All Ireland Cross Country Championships under 11,13,15,17, and 19. The following athletes have qualified for this event.
Munster Teams
Under 11 boys Micheal Power
Under 13 girls Sinead Flynn
Under 13 boys Seamie Fennell
Under 15 boys Robbie Mulligan
Under 17 girls Kate Veale
Under 19 boys Declan Power
County Team
Under 11 Girls: Chloe Fennell, Bronagh Condon, Rachel McGuickan, Caoimhe Dwyer Aisling Mullaney Rachel Wyley.
Under 11 Boys: Micheal Power, Jerome Power, Aidan O’ Brien, Eoin Ryan, Oran Leamy
Under 13 Girls: Sinead Flynn, Cliona Ryan, Kate Mc Grath, Sarah Wyley, Lorna Cummins
Under 15 Girls: Lucy O’ Brien, Aine Power, Gemma Wyley,
Under 17 Girls: Kate Veale, Una Mc Grath, Aoife Kiely, Emer Duff, Kaylee Norris
Under 17 Boys: Darragh O’ Riordan, David Earley, Lughaidh O Mahoney, Tony O’ Mahoney
Club Teams:
Under 11 Boys: Micheal Power, Jerome Power, Aidan O’ Brien, Eoin Ryan, Oran Leamy, Aidan Mc Kenna
Under 13 Girls: Sinead Flynn, Cliona Ryan, Kate Mc Grath, Sarah Wyley, Lorna
Cummins
Under 17 Girls: Kate Veale, Una Mc Grath, Aoife Kiely, Emer Duff, Kaylee Norris
European Cross Country Championships
This year on Dec 13th Ireland will host the European Cross Country Championships. This will be a great opportunity to see some top-flight athletes in action. In order to encourage as many young athletes as possible to attend this event all registered juvenile athletes will gain entry free of charge with their current registration card. We hope that parents will make the effort to take their children to see this event. All registration cards for West Waterford athletes are available from Mary Ashe. Half price tickets for adults will be on sale at the National Championships in Coleraine.
