MEDAL SUCCESS AT 123.IE NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR WEST WATERFORD AC ATHLETES.
The 123.ie national Masters track and field championships were held at Morton Stadium Santry, Dublin over 3 days last weekend and the club was well represented at the event with national titles won. We had 5 athletes in action over the 3 days Terri Gough got the weekend off to a great start on Friday evening for the club when taking a double gold in the shot with a distance of 5.35 and the hammer over 80 with 13.68 being her winning attempt. Pat Kennedy was also in action Friday and he took a great gold in the shot put and was the only athlete to break the 10 meter mark with a throw of 10.24 on his 3rd attempt he duly took a silver shortly after this in the Hammer over 70 while Angela Tobin likewise had a great performance in the over 40 1.500 meters when she took a deserved bronze in her category with a time of 5.28.99.On Saturday Angela Tobin was first off the blocks again for the club when she took a brilliant Gold in the 3.000 meters with a time of 11.46.93. Tina O’Leary was next up and proved to be the best sprinter in her age category taking Gold in 100 meters clocking a time of 15.11, Tina went on to add silver to her collection in the 200 meters in 32.65.Pat Kennedy was also back inaction Saturday after his Gold and Silver from Friday , Pat brought home another Gold in the Heavy Hammer with a throw of 13.03 on his 3rd attempt. To round off a great weekend for our track masters David O’Leary one of our newest members took a Bronze in the over 45 javelin with 21.48 his best attempt. Very well done to all who made the trip to Santry for what was a memorable weekend of Masters Athletes.
NEWROSS GREENWAY 5K STRIDE
MC CARTHY AND ZAKIS IN THE MIX.
The South East Greenway 5K Stride 2026 was held Friday evening and hosted by United Striders AC along the Greenway in New ross Co. Wexford and sponsored by Johnsons Celtic Linen. A large field of 413 competed on what was a beautiful evening for the annual event. The men’s race produced a thrilling finish, with Kilkenny Harriers AC Eoin Everard and West Waterford’s David McCarthy who holds the course record for the event from last year. A ding dong battle between the two athletes saw them cross the finish line together shoulder to shoulder and both recorded the same time of 14.31, the chip timing man came into being then and Eoin was awarded the victory by less than a second when just piping David, Conor O’Brien West Limerick AC was third man home in a time of 14.50. The women’s race saw Waterford Greenway half marathon entrant and previous winner Ciara Wilson DMP AC who was also the defending course record holder in New Ross, smashed her own record time, taking it from 16:06 down to 15:42, so we can expect a big run from Ciara after showing this kind of form in a couple of weeks’ time here at our half marathon. Our club also had Raivis Zakis in the field and he had a brilliant 5k effort also when running his fastest time for the distance in over 13 years Friday evening. Raivis clocked an impressive 15.49 to easily take the over 45 category prize here and out 3rd athlete on the night was Jamie O’Brien who can be well pleased with his time of 18.34. Well done to all three athletes.
EILIS NÍ AODHA MEMORIAL RUN.
It was great to see the Eilís Ní Aodha memorial run back on the roads of Ballyduff lower last Friday evening. After a break of some years the event stopped the year of Covid and is back now hopefully to stay. Eilís was a fantastic member of our club and never ran any race without the club singlet on, she was an avid cross country runner and was always there to help the club team whenever called upon, her untimely passing was a great shock to all who knew her, she was a great favourite in the Ballyduff community and did great work for the area which was evident again last Friday with such a great turnout for the event. A total of over 100 runners and walkers took part with all monies raised donated to the Development for the Ballyduff/Kilmeaden community facilities of which Tricia Shannon is the chair of and one of the organisers of Friday evenings event along with Paul Kennedy and many others from the Ballyduff area. A big thanks to all who helped in anyways especially all the steward’s out on the course and my copilet on van duty Pat Fitzgerald for his help on the night along with club chairman Tom and his sister Helen who looked after the entries and results. Hopefully we will see you all again in 2027.
Mens
1 Jack Casey K.C.K. AC 27:40.0
2 David Kynes Waterford A.C. 29:07.6
3 Terry Fitzgerald 32:08.0
Ladies
1 Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC 31:49.7
2 Sophie Beresford 35:00.4
3 Sheila Ahern St Catherine’s 38:41.0
WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON SET FOR AUGUST 29th.
Course Information.
This is perhaps one of the flattest routes for a half marathon in the country with a net elevation of -100 mts. The race start is now 2km from the coach house café and the finish line will be 100 meters the Waterford side of the Railway café in Ballinroad. Not only is it flat it also contains some incredible scenery along the way. From the old Workhouse built in 1850 in the beautiful village of Kilmacthomas over the Kilmacthomas viaduct to the stunning views of the Comeragh mountains to the North, cross over Durrow viaduct past Durrow Railway Station where the old platform and station still stand. Then it’s on to the spectacular Ballyvoile tunnel, a 400mt long tunnel which is full of atmosphere (don’t forget to watch out for the fairy door’s on either side). Next you will cross over the Ballyvoile viaduct, blown up in 1922 but now restored to its former glory. From here you can almost smell the sea as you round the headland and take in the spectacular views of Clonea strand and Dungarvan Bay. Then it’s downhill all the way to the finish as you take in the sights along the way, through the 12 mile mark and the playground in Ballinroad to the finish line just 400 meters from the playground area.
THE PAUL BRUNNOCK AND PAULA COLLINS PERPETUAL CUPS.
Some years ago in this race we introduced 2 special cups when the club and families of two of our cherished members Paul Brunnock and Paula Collins who both sadly have passed to their eternal reward and are remember by us with the introduction of these two beautiful trophies presented in their memory. The Paul Brunnock cup to the men’s winner and the Paula Collins cup to the Ladies winner of the Waterford Greenway half marathon so for the fourt occasion these two cups will have the winners names inscribed on them.
WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON SPONSORS.
We are delighted this week to announce our associate sponsors of the upcoming Waterford Greenway half marathon. We welcome back once again some old friends of this event who yearly come on board to sponsor the race. In no particular order we welcome and thank Flahavans Kilmacthomas, HFS Hickey Fabrication services Kilmacthomas, Dungarvan Transport, Coach House Kilmacthomas, Solas Na Mara Helvick,IFAC Accountants.
ELITE ENTRIES.
Entries are now closed but if you wish to apply as an elite runner please send your information to jvealeracewalker@gmail.com stating your name, date of birth, club and fastest time and location for either half marathon or 10 mile race ran in the last 3 years. Half Marathon time: Under 1.20 for men (1.30 for women) 10 Mile Time: Under 60 mins for men (65 for women)
WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON PRIZES.
The prizes for this race will be as follows.
1st 5 Men and Women
Ladies
1st and 2ndO/35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65
1st Junior
Men
1st and 2nd O/40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70
1st Junior
We will also have 2 Men’s and 2 Ladies team prizes with first 3 finishing positions to score (Outside of prize winners).
Spot prizes will be randomly distributed to runners down the field at the finish line.
Note: Cash prizes will be given to the Men’s and Ladies winners and all category prizes will be vouchers.
