All is set for Western Final of the Primary School Sports
On Thursday next we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first running of the Primary School Sports. The sports started by David Kiely, then a teacher in the C.B.S., began in the Fraher field in 1984 and over the years they have grown to four nights of athletic competition with heats for the small schools and big schools followed by the western final and in recent years a county final. Places and medals in the western final are much sought after and we should see some great performance from the young athletes on Thursday night. As well as the individual prizes there will be all round cups for the best girls school and the best boys school in both the small schools and big schools sections. These cups have been keenly contested over the last twenty-five years with often only a few points separating the top three teams and I’m sure it will be no different this Thursday. Our advise to everyone is as always to come early to ensure you have plenty of time for parking. Line up for the sprints will be at 6.15 and the first race will be under way at 6.30. Our thanks once again to all our sponsors Tom Currans Hardware, Deise College and Emerald Finances for their support of the western section of this event. Thanks are also due to our many volunteers young and old who turn up year after year to assist in the running of the event. Some of our local politicians will be present on Thursday night to present the medals to the winners of the different events and with the count down to election day underway I’m sure they will also be keen to meet as many parents as possible.
Success In Pole Vault Continues
On Sunday last the Munster Track And Field Club Championships got underway when the pole vault events were held in Cork. Five athletes from West Waterford travelled to compete in the event and all returned home with Munster medals. Thomas Houlihan won the boys under 18 event with a new record of 4.09. Lisa Houlihan won the girls under 17 with Katy Laffen second and the youngest members of the Houlihan clan Martin and Laurence were joint second in the under 16 event.
All Ireland Schools Championships Next Weekend
Tullamore is the venue next Saturday for the All Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships. The event has an early start with the first events at 9.00am. West Waterford athletes will represent St. Augustines, Ard Scoil na nDeise and St Declans in this championship and we wish all those competing the best of luck and look forward to reporting on their exploits next weekend.
