€2,800 RAISED AT ST. STEPHEN’S DAY JOLLY JAUNT AT DUNGARVAN G.A.A
This year’s annual fun run/walk in aid of the Chernobyl Children’s Trust was without doubt the most successful run in the short history of the event. Established only a few years ago by the Dungarvan G.A.A. with the intention of raising money for a different charity, it has certainly grown in popularity with each passing year. Last year saw 170 people take part and this year’s tally of 222 shows just how popular the fun run/walk has become and also the huge potential this fun event has. The entries have trebled in size from the first inaugural race. Termed the jolly jaunt, it was smiles all round as people arrived in droves to take part and most importantly to support this year’s very worthy cause. There was the usual mixture of walkers and runners with some opting for the two mile course and others the five mile course. The choice of routes most likely adds to the popularity of the run as do the hot soup and sandwiches most kindly provided after the race. There is no pressure regarding time or anything, everyone took the run at their ease and had a grand chat going around. This year we were joined by two inter-county hurlers, Jamie Nagle from Waterford and also of the host club and Jamie Burke of Dungarvan, playing for Dublin. Beijing Olympian, Jamie Costin also took part and thanks to these lads for lending their support. Indeed, a big thanks to all the walkers and runners that made the day the success that it was. As the saying goes, you get out what you put in to it and the organisers of this race at Dungarvan G.A.A. will be delighted with the result. A lot of background work goes into organising an event like this and congratulations go to the local organiser Sharon Duggan for all her work. Paddy Fitzgerald spoke on behalf of Dungarvan G.A.A and commended all participants for their support and generosity. Tom Doyle, representing The Chernobyl Children’s Trust was present to receive the money and he too thanked all those involved. The Chernobyl Children’s Trust is a non-profit making charity set up and run by volunteers to help children and families most affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which occurred on 26th of April 1986. Their mission is to help build the future of those affected in a principled, effective and humanitarian way and to bring trust, dignity and joy to those they seek to help. We certainly hope that the money donated will help the organisation do just that. As usual, there was a huge array of spot prizes to be won, with a spot prize being handed to every tenth runner to cross the line. With the warm soup and sandwiches provided by the ladies of the catering crew, we all went home well fed and happy. A sincere thanks also goes to all those who helped with the catering and also to Jim Dee and Michael McLoughlin for their support on the day. It’s definitely onwards and upwards with this event for next year and if you didn’t make it this year, we hope to see you at next year’s race; it’s definitely one to put in the diary.
QUANTUM LIFE DUNGARVAN 10 MILE ROAD RACE
Five weeks this Sunday sees the biggest race in the history of our athletic club when we expect that in excess of 1,000 runners will take part in the Quantum Life Dungarvan 10 mile road race. It has been a busy few months for our race organising committee but all systems are now in place for what will be the most prestigious and biggest event in our athletics calendar. The closing date for both online and postal entries is Friday, January 23rd and with this in mind we will have a special entry desk at the winter league for this race for the first three nights after Christmas. These dates are January 7th, 14th and 21st. The entry fee is €15 and for this you will receive a substantial goody bag and a long sleeved running top, it’s certainly great value. For those looking for a New Year’s Resolution, taking on the challenge of a ten mile road race is a great idea. We have had several enquiries via our club website and these people have been busy over the last few weeks following a schedule that will help them achieve the ten mile distance. We are still available for help and advice and can be contacted at info@westwaterfordathletics.org. Ideally, you should be up to about 5 miles now but if not, not to worry, make this your aim for this week. Also, try and get out as much as you can. Even if you can only spare 20 minutes or so, it’s better than not getting out at all. Consistency is the key in training. Drop us an e-mail if you wish and we’ll take it from there. We will also be available at the entry desk at the sport’s centre and if you’re unsure just have a word with us and we’ll help in whatever way we can. The entries have been pouring in at a very steady rate and at this stage we have entries from all counties with a number of overseas entries as well. There will be a great atmosphere on the day and the club would love to see as many locals as possible take part. Remember, there’s only five weeks left so get out there and join us for what is destined to be a memorable day for the club, the town and the county.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
The four races that form the John Buckley Sports Munster Classic are the Mallow 10, the Quantum Life Dungarvan 10, Ballycotton 10 and the Kilnaboy 10. The dates for these races are as follows:
Mallow 10: January 11 2009
This race starts at 12.30 p.m. Due to the huge numbers involved in this race, the last entries will be taken at 11.30 p.m. All runners, please take note of this and aim to be there well before 11.30 as you will need to be able to find parking as well.
Quantum Life Dungarvan 10: February 1st 2009 at 1 p.m.
The race starts at 1 p.m. The closing date for online and postal entries is Friday, January 23rd but entries will also be taken on the day up to 12 p.m.
Ballycotton 10: March 8 2009 at 1.30 p.m.
No entry on the day for this race, pre –entry only. No access will be allowed into the village itself. Shuttle buses will transport runners from the villages of Garryvoe and Shanagarry so allow plenty of time.
The Sonny Murphy Kilnaboy 10: April 12th 2009 at 2 p.m.
Entries will be taken on the day and as is the case with the previous races, please arrive in plenty of time as the numbers participating in this race is increasing every year.
JOHN TREACY 10 MILE CLASSIC.
Although not part of the Munster Classic, there is another ten mile race in West Waterford on 17th of May. This race will be held in Villierstown and it traces the route run so many times by the Villierstown native, John Treacy. Plans are well underway for this event which also see’s a fun 5k run and walk on the day,we will provide more details over the coming weeks. The race will start at 12.30 p.m. and a huge crowd is expected to take part.
SEAN STILWELL CLAIMS THE COMERAGH CRYSTAL ATHLETE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER.
As we approach the end of the calendar year, it also brings to a close the clubs Comeragh Crystal sponsored athlete of the year awards for 2008 with just the December winner to be announced, plus of course our overall award winner also. The 11th monthly award winner for the month of November is Sean Stilwell. Sean’s monthly total was an excellent 8 points and he truly was a deserving winner as only one other athlete had more points and that was Brigid Coffey who attained 9 points ,but she was a previous monthly winner which ruled her out from the remaining monthly awards, So well done to the genial Ardmore Man on his win. Our overall Comeragh Crystal athlete of the year elect Brigid Coffey as we said recorded 9 points for the month bringing her yearly tally now to a whopping 124 points. As this scribe predicted some months back Brigid was in line to set a record of points which I believe won’t be surpassed by anyone ever again that tally was 130 points by years end and as all can see this tally is now within her grasp, all will be revealed when we total the December points after Christmas anyway one things for sure her finishing position wont be passed by anyone as twice previous winner Raivis Zakis is currently second some 32 points behind with Ann Dunford third on 70 points, another interesting competition is also going on behind in the back round and that’s the Master athlete of the year for Male and Female and here with the December points remaining to be added it is Ann Dunford with a 2 point advantage over Onra Power who is on 69 points against Ann’s 70.So its down to the wire on that one best of luck to both athletes.
Its really done and dusted in the men’s Masters as Paul Brunnock despite having an ongoing injury worry is well clear on 69 points with Liam Kavanagh next on 57 points.Below are the top position to November 2008.
January Fbruary March April May June July August September October N 0verall
Coffey, Brigid 9 6 4 12 21 12 15 14 12 10 9=124 124
Zakis, Raivis 6 5 9 8 16 15 15 8 4 4 2=92 92
Dunford, Ann 9 4 6 6 10 4 8 5 8 4 6=70 70
Brunnock.Paul 7 5 4 6 6 8 11 8 7 4 3=69 69
Power, Onra 6 4 3 3 5 10 9 8 7 9 4=68 68
Walsh Corinna 5 5 6 5 4 8 8 7 9 4 7=68 68
Stilwell, Sean 7 4 5 6 8 7 0 1 9 11 8=66 66
Uì Chuirrìn, Josie 5 5 4 5 6 9 4 4 8 4 6=60 60
Wall, Norma 6 4 5 6 3 3 7 4 10 7 4=59 59
Whelan, Anne 4 5 5 4 5 7 5 2 7 9 5=58 58
O’Riordan, Ptk 5 4 2 3 4 8 6 6 6 9 4=57 57
Kavanagh, Liam 7 5 3 6 4 6 8 5 4 4 5=57 57
Deegan, Dixie 7 5 0 2 4 8 4 6 8 6 5=55 55
Lyons Colin 3 2 5 4 5 5 0 3 5 8 7=47 47
SANDIS BRALITIS RECORDS PERSONAL BEST TO WIN CLONMEL 4.
The Annual St.Stephen’s day 4 miler in Clonmel the Tony O’Connell memorial race was held in good weather conditions this year and there was a good turn out of West Waterford athletes participating in the record field of 275 finishers. Man on a mission Sandis Bralitis proved much too strong for the rest with an excellent 4 mile personal best time of 18.54 to take a convincing win and it now looks likely, weather permitting that with this kind of form he could well be a real contender to have a cut at that Mallow 10 mile course record which is well within his capabilities presently, second place went to Clonliffe’s Harriers Sergiu Turea who won our own 10 miler last year and will be back on February 1st to try to retain that crown, Sergiu clocked 19.01,he was followed home by Kilkenny City Harriers club man and defending champion from 2007 Brian Maher 19.36 and Raivis Zakis West Waterford who finished 4th last year held onto that same position this time out but with a faster time recorded 19.57 indeed this was one of his fastest times ever over this distance also, The Ladies race was won by Borriskane athlete Siobhan Doherty with a very fast time of 22.56.Recent gold team medallist from the All Ireland novice championships in Cavan James Ledingham showed his versatility when turning to the road and finishing 7th with a very fast time of 20.47,there was also a top ten finish for Dzintars Klava 21.17,this gave the club four in the top ten which was a good achievement. Michael Moloney finished 87th with a time of 25.36 and Michael Wade was 124th in a time of 27.14.Inese Melne was next in 144th place 28.14 just a tad over 7 minute miling for her, Geraldine Heffernan finished in 171st place in 29.25,Geraldine can be well pleased with this run as she knocked over a minute and a half off last years time. Rita Cronnolly was our final runner and she was 269th with a time of 39.17.well done to her and all the participants.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP NOW DUE.
Your club membership for the coming year is now due. At €25 you will have to agree its great value with a huge array of races over the upcoming 12 month period with something to suit everyone, check out our club web site for fixtures on www.westwaterfordathletics.org Michael Tutty is our club registrar.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
On behalf of all at West Waterford we wish all our members, sponsors, friends and supporters a prosperous new year and may 2008 bring all that you wish for. Our thanks to the editor and staff of this news paper for all their help and co-operation throughout 2008 and we look forward to your ongoing support in the year ahead.
RUNNING QUOTE.
If you set your aim too high and don’t fulfil it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that’s reasonable, and then gradually raise it.
CURTIN COMES DOWN ON RUNNING CAREER OF JOE GOUGH.
West Waterford’s super Master Joe Gough has called it a day at least where running is concerned anyway, Joe one of the clubs most popular members was in many ways a late comer to the sport as he broke onto the Masters scene at the tender age of 35.Joe in his own words had this idea in his mind of maybe winning a Munster Masters medal, this he duly did in Cork a year or two later and the rest as they say is now history as he went on from that faithful day in Cork to claim somewhere in the region of 45 Irish Masters titles along with 6 British titles,2 Russian titles,2 European titles and also 5 Irish Masters records into the bargain along the way, all this was rounded off with two World silver medals in a career like many which had its ups and downs through injuries etc. All this said Joe never forgot his local leagues and local races organised by his club West Waterford whose singlet Joe wore with pride and distinction, We salute Joe on his may achievements in what was a high flying career and we hope that he now enjoys his well earned rest from the track, but knowing Joe I’d say he still has plenty of sound advice to offer if and when called upon by any who seeks the wise words of a champion.
