WEEK 3 OF MARK MASON FINANCIAL PLANNING COLLIGAN SPRING RUNNING LEAGUE.
Round 3 of the Mark Mason Financial Planning Colligan Spring League took place last Wednesday evening in the beautiful surround of Colligan wood, it was quite a windy evening but the promised rain didn’t come until after we were packed up and on the way home. Numbers in the league again last week are holding up well and of course we again say anyone can still come along and sign up for the remaining 2 rounds. The league starts each night at 6.30. The league is held over 5 nights and to be included in the tables you need to run 4 out of the 5 nights league will continue for the next 2 Wednesday evenings ( April 22nd and finally April 29th ) so no excuses folks why not come along and give it a go , just come along to the wooden bridge around 6.15 and we will get you started.
NATALIE NICHOLSON MAKE HER MARK ON 2 LAP COURSE.
A turnout of 15 runners compete last week over the 2 lap course and the Ladies dominated with 12 taking part and 3 gents. Our first to finish last week was Natalie Nicholson in a time of 24.44,this was Natalie’s first time running the league so a great start from her, Mecca Wall was 2nd Lady past the finish post in a time of 25.28 and in 3rd place was Hayley Akehurst breaking the 26 minute mark in a time of 25.59.Aoife Fennell was 4th in 26.20 and Margaret Whelan was just in behind Aoife in a time of 26.34 ,Cormac Curran was first Mn home just 2 seconds behind Margaret in 26.36.Well done to the participants of the 2 lap league. Keep up the efforts for the next 2 weeks.
3 MILE FLAT WIN FOR SHANE POWER.
Last week on the 3 lap mile flat route we had another healthy number 35 participants again here the Ladies well outnumbered the men with 28 Ladies and 7 men participating. The Men here dominate the top 4 finishing positions on the night as they were led home last week by Shane Power in a fast time of 28.11,Shane didn’t have it all so handy last week as he was put to his pin by Ryan Doherty who only finished 11 seconds behind in a time of 28.22.Sean Stilwell is back making great strides and he finished 3rd last week in 29.07. Tom Foran 29.54 in 4th place and Noel Cliffe 31.06 was 5th. Our first Lady past the post last week here was Tara Ni Reachtagain in 31.11 followed by Mary Kate Prendergast 32.07.Well done to all keep it going now lads for the remaining nights.
MARK WALSH PROVES STRONGEST ON THE 5 MILES HILL COURSE.
We had a great entry of 57 runners taking on the trail run in Colligan last week over the 5 miles hills and first home was Mark Walsh in 32.26. Mark gave a great display of hill running last week, having finished 1st in round one and he had to settle for the runners up spot behind Mossie Keogh (jnr) in round two ,he went from the gun last Wednesday evening making sure he wasn’t going to be caught and he finished in a new personal best time of 32.26 well ahead of Mossie who had won round two the previous week, Mossie stopped the clock at 33.13. It will be an interesting battle between the two lads over the final two rounds. Martin Holmes was 3rd man home in 33.18 followed by Tom O’Neill 34.52.The top Ladies were lead in by Angela Tobin 39.11, this was Angela’s 3rd night in a row leading the Ladies home on the hills, second last week Kate Wall 40.35, Kate in also improving weekly and runs the hills with ease,Anne Moore was close in behind Kate with a time of 41.02.Well done to all who took on this tough course – no doubt you will see the benefits of this tough running as the year goes on and we get into the summer race programme
THANK YOU
Thank you once again this week to our finish line team Shirley, Declan, Ray along with Jamie, Jim and Gerry on stewarding duty and Ann who does the computer work with the times and tables.
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB.
SUMMER RACING SCHEDULE LAUNCHED.
We are delighted to announce our Summer Schedule of races starting in Ballinroad on the 8th May with our very popular 5k race and finishing with the Dungarvan 10k on the 17th July in another very popular 10k route with all past participants. This is a unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! For your €70 you will be entered into all 6 races and receive a commemorative Gilet Jacket design to follow. Please note: Each race can be entered online separately online prior to the event for €12 but entry on the night will be €15 per race. So get your entries in quickly and be ready for a super summer of racing once more. List of races are as follows: Come along to West Waterford AC organised races over the summer months with Scenic coastal and countryside routes a guaranteed Friendly club atmosphere, races Ideal for all levels—from beginners to competitive runners, all Progressive distances building to a strong 10K finish in July.
SUMMER PROGRAMME OF RACES. 2026
Ballinroad 5K 8th May
Ardmore 5 Miles 22nd May
Dromana 5 Miles 5th June
Ballymacarby 5 Miles 26th June
Ballinameela 5K 03th July
Dungarvan 10K 17th July
2026 WEST WATERFORD AC REMAINING FIXTURES
08th May 2026-AHS Tuning Ballinroad 5k
22nd May 2026-Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 Mile
5th June 2026-Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 Mile
26th June 2026-Oriel Bar Ballymac 5 Mile
3rd July 2026- Old Head Financial Ballinameala 5k
17th July 2026- Sherry Fitzgerald Reynolds Dungarvan 10 k
29th August 2026-Waterford Greenway Half Marathon
15th November 2026-Murrays Pharmacy Brickey 5k
06th December 2026-Clean zone Technologies Old Parish Turkey Trot
BALLYNEALE 5K.
Race one in the Carrick On Suir AC summer series got off to a flying start last Friday evening with the MSD sponsored Ballyneale 5km. On an ideal evening for the race a field of 145 took part. Overall race winner was Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC in a time of 15.22 and the first Lady home was Lisa Gaughran DSD AC in 18.11. Our club was well represented at the race and our first athlete past the finish post was Gearoid Coffey in a new personal best time of 16.38 for 5th overall, an excellent run by the ever improving Gearoid. Angela Tobin was our first Lady on the night and she finished a creditable 4th place in a time of 20.16.James Whelan took the over 50 prize in a time of 18.57 and Bridget Coffey was the winner of the Ladies over 55 in 24.52, well done to the prize winners and to all that ran from the club.
Gearoid Coffey 16.38
James Whelan 18.57
Eoin Walsh 20.11
Tom Hogan 20.04
Angela Tobin 20.16
Joe Gough 20.23
Brigid Coffey 24.52
Eamon Curran 26.48
Gillian Prendergast 27.19
Rose Power 27.50
Owen Power 27.54
Linda Foley Power 30.17
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETES LET LOOSE ON SPIKE ISLAND.
413 athletes took part in this evenings Spike Island 5k race which was held in ideal conditions. This unique event which is on the Island and within the walls of the 200-year-old fortress and former place of detention see’s the course goes go around the island itself which is surrounded by spectacular views of Cork Harbour as you go. This year winner was Keelan Desmond in a time of 17.30 and the Ladies winner was Rebecca Kelleher in a time of 19.55.West Waterford athletic club had a great turnout at the event with David Moore leading the way in a great time of 20.31 finishing 13th overall, not to be outdone David’s wife Ann was our first Lady home with a time of 22.07. Céire Barry was our 2nd lady finisher in 23.29 and she had the distinction of finishing one place ahead of no other than Sonia O’Sullivan 23.35,( one for the grandchildren Céire). Well done to all who ran.
David Moore 19.55
Ann Moore 22.07
Céire Barry 23.29
Helen Keating 23.49
Mick Concannaon 23.57
Michael Cummins 24.12
Freida McGrath 24.26
Tom Leahy 25.36
Kim Daly 25.46
Martina Beechinor 25.56
Helen Leahy 26.48
Jody Hynes 26.48
Patrycja Daly 28.14
Melanie Kelly 28.14
Denis Ryan 28.29
Jessie Mulcahy 28.35
Geraldine Barry 29.38
Michael Coakley 29.51
Sinead De Faoite 31.08
Mecca Wall 31.23
Hayley Akehurst 31.32
Ann-Marie Power 33.19
Niall Power 33.20
James Fleming 33.36
PAUL-JOE-LIAM AND ANGELA TAKE TO THE HILLS.
The IMRA turned their attention to Waterford last Sunday for the Lough Mohra 15.5 km mountain race which saw the athletes run an elevation of 450 meters as part of the course. Held near Powers the Pot between Clonmel and Rathgormack but on the Waterford side of the mountain the weather proved ideal for the day.The Terrain for the race was noted as being of Mountain, grassy path, road, fire road, rocks, forest, single trail, stream crossings, cattle grid and I suppose that about covers everything on a mountain race. The club had 4 athletes taking part and all 4 race exceptional well. Paul Kennedy led the 4 home finishing 6th overall in a time of 1.13.52, an excellent run by Paul over this difficult terrain. Joe Gough who has been side-lined for quite a few weeks was back in action once again and running as well as ever, Joe finished in a time of 1.26.58 (finish positions not posted yet) This was a new course record for over 70 from Joe here. A new comer to mountain running is club member Liam Fitzgerald and making his IMRA debut Liam ran a time of 1.42.47 . Unlike Liam and no stranger to this mountain running event Angela Tobin finished a strong 2nd Lady posting a time of 1.21.21. Very well done to all four.
JACK RUNS THE LINE.
Jack Nolan was out in the spring sunshine last Sunday morning when he travelled to complete the ‘Great Railway’s 25 km run from Cork to Carrigaline along with 600 other competitors Jack can be very pleased with his time recorded today of 1:58:18.
