WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF FINISHERS IS A HUGE SUCCESS.
After the terrible weather we witnessed for the 2025 Waterford Greenway half marathon, it was hard to believe that last Saturday would be a carbon copy as the rain fell heavily on the record field of runners for the 8th edition of the popular event. However not even the rain could dampen what was a great event as The Waterford Greenway Half Marathon holds a special place on the Irish running calendar as the only half marathon run entirely on the Waterford Greenway and the only race of its kind in the country. The event continues to attract tremendous support, with 712 runners completing the 13.1-mile course from Kilmacthomas to Ballinroad this year despite the weather all got on with the job on hand and it was nothing but smiling faces crossing the finish line with personal best galore .The success of any road race ultimately comes down to the runners, and we cannot thank everyone enough who travelled from near and far to join us. Whether you were chasing a personal best and there were many on the day or completing your first half marathon or simply coming along to enjoy the occasion, we hope you went home with great memories . We also hope that those visiting the area for the first time got a taste of what the Waterford Greenway and West Waterford have to offer and will return again in the future, perhaps with family and friends, to enjoy it at a slightly more leisurely pace! One of the most important aspects of this year’s event was the support given to our track fund where monies raised by the participants were donated to help make this dream a reality; we thank each and every one of you who donated to this cause. While the starting gun may have gone at 9am on Saturday, the work behind the scenes began long before then. From early Friday afternoon, West Waterford AC members and volunteers were busy preparing the course and putting the final arrangements in place. An event of this scale simply could not happen without an enormous team effort. Our sincere thanks go to the many stewards positioned throughout the entire 13.1-mile route. Standing out on the course for hours is a big commitment on any day and especially on a wet one . To our many friends and helpers in Kilmacthomas, thank you once again for the tremendous support you give this event. We are also hugely grateful to everyone who worked at our four water stations, ensuring runners were well looked after throughout the race. Our thanks to MyRunResults, who once again provided a first-class and professional chip-timing service, and to our medical team Dr Dave, nurse Anita and all the Medicore team , whose presence and expertise are such an important part of staging the event safely. We are extremely fortunate to have the support of a number of associate sponsors and local businesses. Our sincere thanks go to Flahavan’s, Sólás na Mara, Coach House Kilmacthomas, Dungarvan Transport, IFAC Dungarvan and Hickey Fabrication Kilmacthomas for their valued contribution to the event .A massive thank you must also go to Johnny Brunnock, Waterford Trails Officer with Waterford City & County Council, and to Waterford City and County Council for their continued cooperation and assistance. Their support is essential in allowing us to stage an event of this nature on the Greenway. It was also wonderful to have the Brunnock and Collins families with us to present the perpetual cups to our race winners, and we thank them for continuing to be part of this special occasion. Our cycle outriders once again did an excellent job throughout the race, Michael and Beani, while our team of pacers deserve huge credit on doing a great job again. They helped many runners achieve the times and goals they had set themselves and added greatly to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the event. Sharon and Ray on sweeper waggon, they had a very busy morning. Thank you to the O’Rourke family and Jim Fleming and Shirley Flynn for looking after the bag drop and to our key team of Conor Norris, John McGrath and Jamie Mills for the huge amount of work they carried out on the course and in so many other areas throughout the weekend. Parking is another major undertaking for an event attracting hundreds of runners, and we are very grateful to local farmers James and Anthony Beresford for allowing us the use of their land. Thank you also to Ger Wyley , Mark Cliffe and James code for their work in managing the parking arrangements. In Kilmacthomas, we are especially grateful to Niall Barry for his invaluable assistance and for making his land available for parking on race day and helping out on the day with Padraig, Kevin and all the other stewards who looked after this very important job. Behind everything is the West Waterford AC committee, whose members have worked tirelessly for many months to bring all the different elements of the event together. A tremendous amount of organisation goes into staging a race of this size, and Saturday was the culmination of months of planning and preparation .Finally, a special word of thanks must go to our club chairman Tom Leahy and club secretary Ann Dunford and Treasurer Declan O’Callaghan whom put an enormous amount of time and effort into ensuring the Waterford Greenway Half Marathon continues to be the success it is. There are always so many people involved in an event like this that inevitably someone may be unintentionally left out. To every person who stewarded, volunteered, sponsored, supported, helped set up, cleaned up or assisted us in any way — thank you. Most importantly, to the 712 runners who completed the Waterford Greenway Half Marathon, thank you for choosing to spend your Saturday with us. Congratulations to every one of you and we hope to see you back on the start line again next year. Despite everything the weather threw at us, the 8th Annual Waterford Greenway Half Marathon was another tremendous success and a day that will certainly be remembered for a long time to come.
EVAN FITZGREALD RUNS MASSIVE COURSE RECORD TO CLAIM THE PAUL BRUNNOCK PERPETUAL CUP .
The Paul Brunnock Perpetual Cup was presented to our deserving race winner last Saturday, and fittingly, the winner was a member of the host club, West Waterford AC ‘s Evan Fitzgerald was a clear and emphatic winner, crossing the line in an excellent time of 1:04:57. Considering the heavy rain that fell throughout the race, it was a superb performance. However, the all-important wind was at the backs of the field of athletes as they made their way from Kilmacthomas to the finish line in Ballinroad , helping to produce some very fast times actual PB’s seemed to be on the lips of almost every finisher afterwards .Evan not alone broke the course record but he smashed it with the old standard of 1.09.04 set in 2022 by his club mate Pat Hennessey Evan’ crossed the finish line in an in creditable 1.04.57.On finishing Evan was presented with the beautiful perpetual trophy, which commemorates one of our most popular members, Paul Brunnock, who passed to his eternal reward some time ago. Our grateful thanks go to the Moylan and Paul jnr and all the Brunnock family and other family members, who made a huge effort to be with us on Saturday to present the winner with the cup. Their presence made the occasion all the more special. The top three finishers were all inside the old course record mark of 1:09:04, but what a performance by Evan Fitzgerald, who stopped the clock at an outstanding 1.04.57 to claim an overwhelming victory and set a new course record that will surely be hard to better .Our runner-up was Peter Tuohy (IND), who clocked 1:07:36, also finishing inside the previous course record. Third man home was another West Waterford athlete, the very much in-form Aidan Connell with a string of victories in our summer races, Aidan ran a time of 1:09:03. This was a time more than capable of winning the race on another occasion, and Aidan can be very pleased with his performance. His time was also inside the old course record by one second. Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir AC took fourth place this year, having finished runner-up in last year’s race. Dermot ran a personal best of 1:09:15, another excellent performance. Turning to fifth man home, we had David Power of Rathfarnham WSAF AC, who recorded 1:13:28.In the age O/45 Raivis Zakis had another great run taking his age category with a fast time of 1.13.39. Gerard Reilly over 55 finished 2nd in a time of 1.36.48.Other club runners to feature among the prizes included John Coffey, who won the Over 45 category in 1:17:14, Ray Hahesy finished second last year in the Over 60 category in 1:34:19 and this year not alone did he run faster but he took the top spot 1.33.34. O/65 Gerry Cantwell showed a clean pair of heels to win in 1.42.19.Congratulations to Evan and to all who took part in what was a memorable race, despite the challenging weather conditions. A special thanks once again to the Brunnock family for helping us honour the memory of Paul in such a fitting way.
Mens Results
1 Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford A.C. 1.04.57
2 Peter Tuohy Ind 1.07.36
3 Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 1.09.03
4 Dermot Gorman Carrick on Suir A.C. 1.09.15
5 David Power Rathfarnham WSAF 1.11.21
1 st O/40 Anthony Doran Clonliffe Harriers 1.12.15
2 nd O/40 Colin Leonard Drogheda & District A.C. 1.13.47
1 st O/45 Raivis Zakis West Waterford A.C. 1.13.39
2 nd O/45 Paul Smith Drogheda & District A.C. 1.15.18
1 st O/50 John Byrne United Striders A.C. 1.21.44
2 nd O/50 Michael Murphy Mallow A.C. 1.23.12
1 st O/55 John Murphy Grange Fermoy A.C. 1.22.15
2 nd O/55 Gerard Reilly West Waterford A.C. 1.36.48
1 st O/60 Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C 1.33.34
2 nd O/60 Thomas O’Brien Ind 1.36.40
1 st O/65 Gerry Cantwell West Waterford A.C. 1.42.19
2 nd O/65 Jim O’Reilly Ind 1.45.17
1 st O/70 Gerry Browne Ind 2.10.27
2 nd O/70 John Farrell Ind 2.26.49
1 st Junior Male Joey Kiely Ind 1.46.10
1 st Club Waterford A.C.
Conor Cavanagh 17
David Kynes 21
Jamie O’Keeffe 53
Total 91 Points
2 nd Club St Finbarr’s A.C.
John Longan 6
Jake Moore 42
Mark Kelly 47
Total 95
CIARA WILSON BREAKS COURSE RECORD TO WIN PAULA COLLINS PERPETUAL CUP.
Just like the men’s record the Ladies record also took a tumble with an outstanding performance by Ciara Wilson DMP AC who like our men’s winner broke away from the field from the gun and maintaining a very strong pace throughout crossed the finish line in 1.14.10 smashing the old standard which stood at 1.19.25 set by Niamh Staunton in 2022.An incredible run form the Wexford Lady who’s sister Katie won the race in 2024.When an athlete can produced a fantastic performance like this and to post such an outstanding time I feel it will be a while before this effort will be bettered. Ciara the school teacher form CBS Wexford was duly presented with the Paula Collins Perpetual Cup which is in loving memory of Paula, who passed to her eternal reward some time ago. Paula was a much-loved member of our club and is fondly remembered by all who knew her. We extend our sincere thanks to members of the Collins family Joe, Lily and Alex and Sister Sharon who braved a wet morning to join us and present Paula’s Cup to this year’s winner. The other podium position in the ladies race werw well fought for and little separated them at the finish line. Our 2nd Lady was Shona Keane Dooneen A.C. in 1.21.02 with 3rd going to Evita Volginaite Glanmire A.C. only 9 seconds behind in 1.21.11 , Evita no stranger to us in West Waterford as she won our Dungarvan 10k race in 2025 and 4th was Marie Howard Ind 1.22.17 and 5th place was climed by Jean Lucey Ind 1.24.33.Other own club Prize Winners included O/40: Natalie Sheehan with a fine run 1:28:22.Helen Ryan took the over 60 category in a time of 1:46:38 and in the over 65 Josie Uí Chuirrín made the podium also taking first place in 2:01:19 .Our Ladies team also had a fantastic result, finishing 2nd Club, behind Kilkenny City Harriers A.C the team consisted of Angela Tobin 14th,Liz Nyhan 43rd,and Sandra Moore who came home 45th .A huge congratulations once again the Wexford lady Ciara and all our prize winners, and the West Waterford A.C. Ladies team on their brilliant performances. And a special thank you once again to the Collins family for helping us honour Paula’s memory
LADIES RESULTS
1 Ciara Wilson DMP A.C. 1.14.10
2 Shona Keane Dooneen A.C. 1.21.02
3 Evita Volginaite Glanmire A.C. 1.21.11
4 Marie Howard Ind 1.22.17
5 Jean Lucey Ind 1.24.33
1 st O/35 Lyndsey Keating Ind 1.33.59
2 nd O/35 Sheena Mullins Ind 1.40.02
1 st O/40 Natalie Sheehan West Waterford A.C. 1.28.22
2 nd O/40 Orla Hayes Leevale A.C. 1.29.02
1 st O/45 Catherine O’Connor Parnell A.C. 1.24.52
2 nd O/45 Mari Burke Bandon A.C. 1.33.46
1 st O/50 Marcella Mc Grath Dooneen A.C. 1.36.08
2 nd O/50 Kate Wall Clonmel A.C. 1.36.28
1 st O/55 Siobhan Mc Hugh Ind 1.42.17
2 nd O/55 Geraldine Grogan K.C.H. A.C. 1.43.48
1 st O/60 Helen Ryan West Waterford A.C. 1.46.38
2 nd O/60 Deirdre Dunford Ind 1.49.13
1 st O/65 Josie Ui Chuirrin West Waterford A.C. 2.01.19
2 nd O/65 Amanda Cooney Midleton A.C. 2.21.13
1 st Club Kilkenny City Harriers A.C
Rosanna Knox 11
Lisa Collins 12
Kate Sugrue 23
Total 46
2 nd Club West Waterford A.C.
Angela Tobin 14
Liz Nyhan 43
Sandra Moore 45
Total 102
MOREABBEY MILERS 10.
The Mooreabbey Milers 10k and 10 mile road races took place last Sunday in the village of Galbally on the Limerick and Tipperary border .The two races held under the Galtee mountains and a backdrop saw. A field of 110 completed the 10 mile with overall victory going to John Meade St Finbarrs AC in a time of 55.51 with the Ladies race going to Katie Hickson also St Finbarrs AC in 68.12. Club member Joe Hough was in action here and duly took the over 70 prize finishing 23rd in a time of 70.43.Dermot Gorman Carrick On Suir AC took the victory in the 10 k race with a time of 34.29 and this was after he finished 4th in our own Waterford Greenway half marathon on Saturday., the Ladies victory went to Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC in 38.09 finishing 3rd overall.
