DOUBLE GOLD FOR LUCY AT IRISH UNIVERSITIES CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The 123.ie Inter-varsities track and field championships for 2024 were held over two days Friday and Saturday at the Mary Peters track Belfast and there was exciting West Waterford AC interest in the championships. On day one Friday In a straight 1.500 meters final Lucy Holmes ran a brilliantly tactical race to take gold, from the large field the MTU Cork student took the lead from the gun and completely dominated the race pace through the early laps , with 600 to go it was down to 4 who had broken away from the chasers as Lucy upped the pace still leading , soon after that lead pack was down to two Lucy and Eimear Maher UCC, Lucy had the race of her life when using all her 800 meter speed clocked a 62 seconds final 400 that the UCC lady could live with as she romped home for gold in a time of 4.31.40 beating Eimear for the first time on the track as she crossed the line in a time of 4.35.38 for silver with Sophie Jackman TCD taking the bronze in 4.36.51. Lucy going for the double also ran the 800 meters the following day Saturday and here again she was not to be beaten when rocking home in a time of 2.11.71 for her second gold of the weekend,sevens seconds ahead of the silver athlete Ella O Connor UG 2.18.22 with bronze going to Emily O Connor SETU 2.18.62, a great weekends work by the Ian O Sullivan coached MTU athlete ,well done from all in your club. Mark Blackwell also competed in the 1.500 meter heats for UL which was held on Friday finishing 13th in heat 1 of 2. Well done to both athletes.
123.IE NATIONAL 20K TITLE FOR KATE VEALE IN CZECH REBUBLIC .
The 92nd Edition of the Podabrady gold level world athletics race walking tour meeting was held in Czech Republic last Saturday and the event also doubled up as the Irish national 123.ie sponsored 20k Irish national championships for 2024.Kate Veale after an excellent indoor season arguably her best to date as a senior athlete was in the Czech Republic for the event with her eye set on the a good solid performance leading into the World Cup of race walking to be held in three weeks’ time in Turkey .After a very good opening 10k Kate fell off her target pace in the very warm conditions over the next few kms and crossed the line in 1.39.58 for 39 th place from the field of 80 starters this was well outside her best for the distance .Kate did however record her 24th Irish senior race walking title which was some consolation after a somewhat disappointing day for the Ballinroad lady. However on the good news front Athletics Ireland has selected a strong team of five athletes to compete at the World Race Walking Team Championships, which will take place in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday April 21st. This competition is given added significance in 2024 as it will be the first championships to stage the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay, and will serve as the Primary qualification opportunity in that event ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics. The first 22 teams at the World Race Walk Team Championships Antalya 2024 shall automatically qualify for the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Up to five of the first 22 teams can be a second team of the same country.Finn Valley’s Brendan Boyce and Kate will spear-head Ireland’s challenge for qualification in this event, having partnered to achieve a 3:11:48 performance in Raheny on December 17th last. Joe Mooney of Adamstown AC is named as a reserve.
RECORD NUMBERS FOR ROUND ONE OF THE MASON MORTGAGES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN RUNNING LEAGUE.
There was a brilliant turnout last Wednesday evening in Colligan wood for round one of this year’s annual Mark Mason Mortgages and Financial Services Colligan Spring League. It was the largest number ever running this particular league with 107 competing on the night both the sponsor and club are delighted with the response by all who came along in such numbers to support this event.Before the league start we had a minutes silence for two athletic friends who have recently gone to their eternal reward Jer Mason father of our sponsor and Seamus O’Droma who was the organiser of Ras Na Rinne,may they rest in peace. We got underway at 6.30 in the presence of our league sponsor Mark Mason and we would like to thank Mark once again for his sponsorship and being present to get the league underway and also this year he and his wife Louise are both taking part, well done to both.We were fairly lucky with the evening as rain threatened but when it came it wasn’t to heavy and there was no cold so all were pleased with that.A total of 39 runners completed the 2 laps, this number last year was 16 so massive increase here, we had 23 who ran the 3 laps flat course of the wood and road and finally 45 took on the challenging 5 mile hill route.This year as was the case last year we will have 5 nights in total for the league and to be included in the tables you need to run 4 out of the 5 nights. This league will continue for the next 4 Wednesday evenings (April 10th, April 17th, April 24th and finally May 1st) .so no excuses folks why not come along and give it a go for yourself even if you missed the first evening you can still join in at any stage, you will be glad to came along I promise.
2 LAP CHALLENGE LEAD HOME BY PATRICK BERGIN.
The 2 lap challenge saw a great turnout, indeed the largest by a long way ever when 39 took on the challenge of the road wood circuit and they were led home by Patrick Bergin with a brilliant time of 20.34.Patrick was followed home by no less than 11 ladies who will the placings from 2nd to 11th and runner up was Sinead Ni Fhaoláin who clocked time of 24.03,with 3rd home Carol Walsh in 25.05 and Claire O’Sullivan and Sinead Kiely were both credited with the same time in 4th spot 25.25.There was a huge increase in numbers from previous years running the 2 laps which was brilliant to see with 39 runners competing .We have plenty of room on this route for lots more runners as well, especially beginners so spread the word, Colligan is the place to be for the next 4 Wednesday evenings.
RORY FITZGERALD RUNS AN IMPRESSIVE TIME ON THE 3 LAPS FLAT COURSE.
The 3 laps flat was led home by Rory Fitzgerald in a very impressive time of 26.30 which was the fastest time record for many years over the 3 lap run in this league.Rory like many was running the league in Colligan for the very first time and he impressed , Rory was followed by Emilya Moya Rosa with a solid run covering the 3 lap’s in a time of 30.24,Emilya had to work hard for this time as he was running shoulder to shoulder throughout with our first Lady finisher Tara Ni Rheachtagáin and both were credited with the same time passing the finish post.In 4th place was Nikita Murphy with a time of 32.06 just 1 second ahead of Laura Walsh who cloaked a time of 32.07.Well done to all who took part in week 1, just keep up the effort now guys for the next 4 weeks it will be worth it.
DAVID NIXON LEADS THE WAY ON THE 5 MILE HILLS COURSE.
Another good entry on the night for round 1 on the 5 mile hills course last week.This course the main event if you like isn’t for the faint hearted as you are taking on this tougher challenge with 2 substantial climbs on this course anyone who takes it on are to be commended for their efforts.David Nixon was our first runner home and he was impressive with very strong run especially on the hill section on both sides of the course as he went clear from the gun and stayed away on his own for the entire course clocking 35.40 .Second finisher last week was Mark Walsh in 36.53, again very strong running and a high work rate on the hills from Mark. Not too far behind Mark was our 3rd runner home and our first female finisher for round one Niamh O’Donovan who was well under the 38 minute barrier clocking a time of 37.44,Niamh’s first outing in round one last year she was IN 10th place recording a time of 38.35 ,so a great improvement be her here. Passing the finish line in 38 minutes dead was Sean Stilwell, great to see Sean back running this league in Colligan again. Just 9 seconds behind Sean was in 5th place Yevgeniy Chizhikov in a time of 38.09. Well done to each and every athlete who ran the Colligan Hills –we will do it all again this Wednesday at 6.30.see ye in the bridge.!!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR.
Once again thanks to Mark Mason of Mark Mason Mortgages and Financial Services Barrack St. Cappoquin for his kind sponsorship and also for his attendance at the league each year. As always thank you to Shirley,Ray ,Jamie,Tom,Ann Gerry and Declan for all their help on the night also.
CANCELLATION OF ROUND TWO.
Due to the untimely passing of Eily Mason Cappoquin mother of our sponsor Mark tonight’s league in Colligan will be cancelled as a mark of respect ,may she rest in peace.
A NEW FIT4LIFE RUNNING GROUP.
A new Fit4life running group will from starting on Tuesday April 23rd at 6.30 from the Railway Cottage Car park Ballinroad . If you would like to give running a try please do come along and bring a friend or two, Fee for the 6 week programme is just 20 euro and entry on eventmaster.ie
COBH 10.
The Annual Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10 mile road race was held last Sunday and the race saw 850 finishers. The race overall winner was Tim O Donoghue East Cork AC 51.37 and Michelle Finn Leevale AC 57.08 took the ladies spoils. Our club had 3 athletes competing and all three did very well with David Donneally breaking the 70 minute barrier posting time of 1:09:02 followed by Mick Concannon was next home in 1:16:24 and our soul female competitor on the day was Claire Lehnhoff with a time of 1:42:56, well done to all.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Eileen O’ Donnell Ardo,Ardmore and Aidan Barron Abbeyside/Ring who passed to their eternal reward last week, may they rest in peace.
