GARVEY’S SUPERVALU FIT4LIFE AUTUMN LEAGUE
LOOK BACK AT FINAL RESULTS AND TABLES
Last week we took a look back at the finishing tables for the Elite Paintball 1 Lap Challenge and so this week it’s time to take stock of the very popular Garvey’s Supervalu Autumn League. The Autumn League has been run on the grounds of St. Augustines’s College Abbeyside since 1998. Garvey’s Supervalu Dungarvan and Coolagh Road Abbeyside together with their manager Liam Power came on board to sponsor this 6-week league this year and have been most generous in their support.
This league is very important to many athletes who use it as preparation for the Winter League as once the Autumn League concludes the Winter League begins. It’s traditional each September to see Winter League regulars turn up to the Friary in a quest to regain lost fitness in readiness for the challenge of the streets of Dungarvan and Abbeyside over the winter months.
Each year in this event as in most of our events we try to cater for many levels of fitness with a 1 lap course consisting of 1.2 miles, 2 laps for anyone interested in taking the challenge a little further or regulars interested in improving their times. The 3-lap course is 3.6 miles and so takes the challenge on yet another step. Finally the 4-lap course is ideal preparation for runners interested in taking on the long course in the Winter League as the 4.8 miles is a great stepping-stone up to the 5.7-mile route. The more regular runners of course also enjoy this route. 2008 was an excellent year for this league with some new faces emerging once again (as they do each year) and as already stated some of the old familiar faces returning.
The final league tables show the athletes who completed 4 or more nights in the league. Their points reflect their finishing position in their chosen distance each night, i.e. 1 point for first runner home in 1 lap, 2 lap, 3 lap and 4 lap. Once the 6 weeks are over the 4 best nights are combined to give an overall score, the best possible score being 4 as this athlete would have been first home in their chosen distance each of the 4 nights. And so to the tables.
DIVISION TABLES FOR THE GARVEY’S SUPERVALU FIT4LIFE AUTUMN LEAGUE
CLAIRE STAKES HER CLAIM FOR 1 LAP
There was some excellent running by some of the new faces that took part in this section. One such newcomer Rita Cronolly may have started too late to appear on the league tables but this of course did not deter her and indeed last week she took up the Winter League challenge. Well done Rita it’s great to see someone with a smile on their face as they complete their run. Rita’s best time was 11.59 on week 5. Jamie Cullinane did not feature on the league tables but he also ran an excellent time of 8.42 on week 5. Ursula Browne and Kathleen Young also recorded some good times which they will be well pleased with but there can only be one winner and on this occasion Claire Cotter proved that consistency is key and she managed to run 4 nights and finished with a score of 6 points finishing first on two occasions and second twice also. Well done Claire and keep up the good work.
CORINNA CUTS IT FOR 2 LAPS
The two-lap league was divided into 2 divisions with the winner of division 1 having the lowest possible total of 4 points. Corinna Walsh is having the season of her life at the moment and her participation in the Autumn League on the mandatory 4 weeks almost guaranteed victory. Corinna is almost unbeatable over the 2.6 mile distance in the Friary and she proved this once again in 2008. Her best time of 15.08 came in week 2 of the league and this is excellent running from an athlete of fantastic talent. Ladies were to the fore in the 2 lap tables as second place in division 1 went to another very dedicated athlete who seems to have copper fastened her hold on the West Waterford A.C. Athlete of The Year for 2008. Brigid Coffey has run more races and competed in more leagues than any other club member and her dedication to the sport has to be admired. The Colligan lady finished with a points total of 16 with her best time of 18.44 coming on week 3 of the league. Brigid had just 2 points to spare over the athlete in 3rd place who was our web-site guru Andrea Gaffney. Since Andrea has been helping James with updating the web-site the feed back has been tremendous as our web-site is one of the most up to date athletic web-sites in the country.
Division 2 of the 2 Lap League was headed up by a Ballycoe lady who also takes part in most of the leagues run by the club. Joan Navin started her running with Albert’s gang and progressed to running the Amsterdam Marathon 2 years ago. Joan’s best time for this league came on the third week of the league and it was a time of 20.31. Her finishing points total was 29 from the 4 weeks. This gave her a 9-point winning margin over Diana Chizhikova who also completed the 4 nights necessary to get onto the League tables.
YEV DOES IT YET AGAIN FOR 3 LAPS
Is there anything stopping Yevgeniy Chizhikov at the moment? This man is so single-minded in his approach to his running and his dedication to his training is immense. He has proven this on numerous occasions this year and this he did once again when he claimed the 3-lap title with the best possible score once again of 4 points. Yev’s best time which he achieved on week 5 was 23 minutes even. Excellent time for 3.6 miles. The competition for the 3-lap title on this occasion came from Tom Byrne and Darren Healy who finished with 9 points each in second place. Both men finished second to Yev on 3 occasions and third on one occasion so could not be separated. Tom’s best time of 25.54 came on week 3 and Darren ran his best time of 25.53 also on week 3.
Division 2 of the 3-lap league was also an excellent competition with the winner John Murray claiming victory with a total of 22 points from Onra Power with 31 points. John is running very well at the moment and really enjoyed the Friary Leagues having also been successful in the Elite Paintball 1 Lap Challenge. His best time of the league was 29.16, which was also on week 3.
SEAN SEAL’S IT FOR 4 LAPS
The 4-lap is as usual the most popular section of this league as runners take the opportunity to get some miles in during the week. These are mostly the regular runners who try to get the 4.8 miles in with maybe one or two laps before and after to warm up and cool down. This then counts as a mid-week long run in their marathon training. As most runners in the club chose an autumn marathon then this is an ideal opportunity to get a mid week run under the belt.
In division 1 and the overall winner of the 4-lap league Ardmore man Sean Stilwell stamped his authority on this league on the opening night and set the standard from there. He also finished with the minimum 4 points and so guaranteed victory. He ran some great times over the league and was pushed each night by Kevin Kenneally who finished with four second place finishes and 8 points. Sean’s best time was 27.16, which unusually he ran on the final night of the league when everyone else was slower than their best time. Kevin had his best night on week 2 when he ran a time of 28.16.
Division 2 of this 4-lap league saw a return to the winner’s enclosure for a popular Kerry man. They may have lost out in the All-Ireland but Johnny O Connor made up for this disappointment somewhat by taking the top position with a points total of 22 and a winning margin of 10 points from the gallant Kenneth O Donnell who ran some fantastic times in the course of this league. Johnny ran his best time of 30.13 on week 4 while Ken had his best night also on week 4 when he ran 30.21.
Division 3 saw new kid on the block Sean Dwyer just edge out the returning John Flynn by 2 points. Sean finished with 50 points with John 2 points back. Sean kept up his magnificent season to date where he is constantly improving his times. John was just returning from a lay off and improved his times week on week.
Division 4 saw another returning athlete Jim Barry also improve his times week on week to claim top spot in this division with just 1 point to spare over Earl Navin with Jim finishing with 68 points and Earl with 69.
Division 5 was claimed by a great club woman Ann Whelan who turns out for the club on numerous occasions during the year. She finished with 82 points, 6 points ahead of Paddy Power.
In Division 6 we had a tie as Michael Callaghan finished with a total of 95 points and on the computer he finished last in division 5 but with the same points total as the winner of division 6 we declared both to be joint winners in the interests of fairness. Good battle lads.
So that wraps up all the winners for this year and we would like to thank all at Garveys Supervalu for organising vouchers for all our winners. Great prizes and everyone was delighted to receive their vouchers at Alice O Connors last Friday evening. Thanks to everyone in Alice O Connors also for their hospitality. Well done to everyone and keep up the good work in the Winter League.
ALL ROUNDER SPORTS WINTER LEAGUE.
HUGE NUMBERS FOR ROUND ONE.
The first night of this year’s winter league was held last Wednesday night with a grand total of 263 runners taking part. The weather looked a bit dubious all day but by 5 p.m. the skies cleared to provide us with fantastic running conditions which was one of the reasons we had such a big attendance. We can only hope that this good weather trend will continue every Wednesday night as it certainly makes life a lot easier. However, that said you shouldn’t let the rain put you off. The common belief is that if you run in the rain you will get sick. This is not the case, it’s hanging around afterwards in your wet gear that can bring on an illness, so if it rains just make sure that you bring a change of clothes and you’ll be sorted. It was great to see so many new faces on the night and also to see some not so new faces. Whether you are a regular or a beginner, you are most welcome at the sports centre every Wednesday night for the next seven weeks before Christmas and for eight weeks after Christmas. We had two routes on offer, most commonly known as the long route and the short route. There were large numbers taking part in both routes and for those new to running, you are most welcome to run a bit and walk a bit and you will find as the weeks go on that you will be able to run a bit more each week. Our sincere thanks go to the many stewards that were on both routes ensuring the safety of the runners. A big thanks also to those helping with the entries and the finishing line: all your efforts combined to ensure that the winter league got off to a smooth start. Many thanks.
STARTING TIMES FOR TONIGHT: CLOCK STARTS AT 7.20 P.M.
Last week was a mass start with everybody beginning at the same time, this week is different. From now on, everybody will be starting at different times. The league is run on a handicap basis, which means that the slowest go first and the fastest go last and the main goal for everyone is to try and run the route a little bit quicker each week. The starting times for each person will be displayed on the wall in the main hall. The starting times for the short route will be on the wall to the left of the main door and the starting times for the long route will be displayed on the opposite wall. Locate your number and your name and starting time will be written beside it. If your time is 2.30, this means that when the clock reaches two and a half minutes you must start your run. If your time is 6.30 then when the clock reaches six and a half minutes you start running. It is each runner’s responsibility to keep an eye on the clock and please ensure that you are out in the porch close to your time. The clock starts at 7.20 p.m. sharp. Please give yourself plenty of time to register and locate your time. Registration will begin from 6.40 p.m. onwards.
SO HOW DOES THE WINTER LEAGUE WORK??
Good question, it can sound quite complicated when you’re new to the league but as the weeks go by you will understand a little bit more each week. Basically, the over all winner of the winter league will be the person who knocks the most time off the time that they recorded on the first week. For each of us, the aim is to run a little bit faster each week. As it was a mass start last week, our score from last week was our finishing position. If you finished in 5th place you got 5 points, if you finished in 20th position, then you received 20 points and so on. In the long route last week Kevin Kenneally recorded the fastest time as he was the first home and so he got one point. As Kevin was the fastest last week, he will be the last person to start tonight. Harry O’ Brien finished in 2nd place last week so he will be the second last person to head off tonight. The points you receive tonight and every other night will not be determined by your finishing position. The person that knocks the most off their time from last week will get the minimum one point; this person could be anybody on the route and they could finish anywhere at any time. The person that receives 2 points tonight will be the person to knock the most off their time from last week after this person and so on down the line. The person that knocks the least time off will receive the most points. The same applies in the short route. The first five home last week were David Cullinane, Anne Whelan, Ritchie Power, Jim and Tom Curran. Therefore, these will be the last to start tonight and they will be trying to catch all those runners that have gone off before them. For now, you don’t really need to worry about this. Just go out and enjoy the league and it will eventually fall into place for you.
PLEASE WEAR YOUR BIB AND YOUR NUMBER
The number you received last week is the number that you wear each night of the league. It’s vital that you wear both. For safety reasons, we are not allowed to permit anybody to run without a bib and your finishing position and times can’t be recorded unless you wear your number.
PLEASE OBEY THE STEWARDS
Stewards are placed along both routes to ensure the runners safety and for this reason they must be obeyed. They give of their time each and every Wednesday night for our benefit and even a little thank you might not go astray along the route as we pass them by, It’s important that we only cross the road when told to do so and likewise when asked to run in single file. To avoid accidents, penalty points will be issued to those that fail to comply with these requests.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN
Although the league has started it is not too late to join. If you are thinking of doing the winter league this year and as yet have not made it down, just come along any night that you can. On your first night we will issue you with a number like everybody else and we will explain the route to you. Please bring a reflective bib along with you. For safety reasons we are not allowed to permit anybody to run without one. You pay €5 for your number which you will use every night of the league and its €3 for non-members to run or €2 for members. For your first night, it will cost you either €7 or €8 depending if you’re a member or not and after your first night you will only have to pay €2 or €3 every other night. If you intend to start tonight, we ask that you get there in plenty of time so as to get your number and know the route.
I WANT TO JOIN THE CLUB
The club membership fee is €25 and for this you become a member of the club and are registered with the Athletics Association of Ireland. You also pay less for each night of the league; the fee is just €2 for members per night. If you wish to join you can pay the fee to our membership officer, Michael Tutty who will be available at the sports centre.
PENALTY POINTS!! NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE
This section only applies to the regular runners and if you have run the league over the past number of years you will have heard of them by now. Basically, the league was set up with the beginner in mind and as a result of this we apply penalty points to the regular runner. Over the past number of years, you received penalty points if you ran the long route more than six minutes slower than your fastest time from the previous year. If your best time for the long route last year was 40 minutes and you ran slower than 46 minutes this year, then you would have received penalty points. If you were less than six minutes then you wouldn’t have received any penalty points. Likewise in the short route, if you ran more than 3 minutes slower than your previous best you would also receive penalty points. This year we have decided on an alternative option. We will use an example to explain this. Last year John ran the long route and his fastest time was 40 minutes. This year he ran 49 minutes which means that he was slower than the 6 minutes grace allowed. John’s handicap time tonight will be based on 46 minutes. In other words, he will start running with those that ran 46 minutes and not 49 minutes and he will continue to go off at this time until he actually runs faster than 46 minutes and his handicap time will be adjusted accordingly. The same applies for the short route. Pat ran the short route last year and his fastest time was 25 minutes. There is a three minute grace period allowed on the short route, you won’t be penalised if you run less than three minutes slower than your fastest time from last year. Pat ran 30 minutes last week which is over the three minutes grace period so his handicap time will be as if he ran 28 minutes. Everybody else will have their handicap based on their time from last week. Confusing, I know!!
ROSARIE KEALY TAKES ON NEW YORK MARATHON
Last Sunday, club member Rosarie Kealy realised a dream that many runners aspire to: running in one of the biggest marathons in the world. The entry to this prestigious race is extremely difficult to attain and for 2008 Rosarie was the one and only club member to gain such entry and so many months ago Rosarie embarked on the tough and gruelling training required for a marathon. She approached this training with admirable dedication and consistency and a fine performance was always on the cards for her. The New York Marathon although one of the most famous in the world is certainly not the easiest of marathons and yet Rosarie ran one of her fastest times to date. As always, Rosarie was consistent throughout the entire distance and crossed the finishing line in a super time of 3.48. This is a just reward for Rosarie and all at the club extend their heartiest congratulations to her. Well done Rosarie and no doubt after a few weeks rest she’ll be planning her next marathon. The race itself was won by previous winner Marilson Gomes Dos Santos of Brazil in a time of 2.08.43. In second place was Adberrahim Goumre of Morocco in 2.09.07 and in third place was Kenya’s Daniel Rono in a time of 2.11.22. It was great to see Paula Radcliffe back to her powerful best and was well clear of all the others to claim the 2008 title in 2.23.56. Ludmila Petrova of Russia was second in 2.25.43 and just ten seconds behind was Kara Goucher of the U.S.A in 2.25.53.
15TH ANNUAL MCGRATH’S NEWSAGENTS BRICKEY RUN ON SUNDAY WEEK.
This years Brickey five-mile and three-mile run and walk will be held on Sunday November 16th with the traditional 11 AM starting time. First held in 1994 this will be the 15th running of the event which is ran over the same route since day one taking in the traditional Canal track section of the course. The race could be called a road race come cross-country event it always attracts a good field for runners who want something a little different. The race over the years through the generous sponsorship of our sponsors McGrath’s Newsagents has donated the proceedings of the race to a local charity or voluntary organisation and this years recipient are the fledging Brickeys Comogie club. The race on the day caters for all as you can have a cut at running the three mile route if your not a regular runner and of course the main event the 5 mile canal route would be a challenge for most. The five-mile race includes individual and the infamous weight categories section. The winner of the men’s race will of course be presented with the Martin Curran memorial cup and the leading Lady will receive the Jim Lyons memorial shield. We thank the Curran and Lyons families for there ongoing involvement with this race. Race entries and changing and shower facilities will be courtesy of the Brickey G.A.A.club.
CLUB ANNUAL TIME.
Yes its club annual time again when we ask those interested to submit an article of athletics interest for the clubs yearly publication which goes on sale at the Kiely Monumental Colligan cup on January 25th 2009.Please note the earlier launch of the Annual, with this in mind we ask those who are submitting an article to please have it to us by end of December. All articles for publication can be to e-mailed to jveale@cablesurf.com or info@westwaterfordathletics.org
NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
The Munster Intermediate men’s and women’s cross country championships will be held in Clare on Sunday next November 9th and the club will be entering in both categories.Please note transport from the Park Hotel at 9.30 AM sharp.
Men’s team-Sean Stilwell, Kevin Kenneally, Harry O’Brien, Rory Moloney, Keith Radley, Yevgeniy Chizhikov, James Ledingham, Padraig Healy.
Women’s team-Josie Uí Chuirrin, Anne Whelan, Ann Dunford, Karen Ryan, Brigid Coffey, Triona Wall.
On Sunday November 30th, the Munster Masters will be held at a Cork venue.
QUOTE FROM THE GREAT MOHAMMAD ALI.
Only a man who knows what it’s like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of its soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford Athletic Club extends sincere sympathy to the families and friends of Josephine Healy, Dunboyne and Ballycotton and Paddy O’Grady,Lyre,Ballymacarbry who passed to there eternal reward’s last week. May they rest in peace.
COMMITTEE MEETING.
The final Senior club committee meeting of the year takes place in Minnie’s Bar, Abbeyside on tomorrow night Thursday 6th November at 9 pm.
DAVID MC CARTHY WINS HIS SECOND ATHLETE OF THE WEEK ACCOLADE IN AMERICA.
West Waterford’s David McCarthy was in scintillating form again last weekend following on from David’s athlete of the week accolade for Providence College, when he finished 6th over 8.000 meters in the pre Nationals in Indiana State University on October 18th with a time of 23.40,He was the top scoring Friar at that meet where Providence finished 9th best team in the very hotly contested American colleges cross country racing event.Once again last week he was announced athlete of the week for the second time in the month after a huge performance last Friday in the Big East men’s cross country championships in Gortland Park New York,when he finished 3rd in a time of 24.25.In this very race last year David finished 76th so his improvement these past couple of months has been Phenomenal to say the least, The race winner on Friday was Andrew Bumbalough of Georgetown in a time of 23.55 with Notre Dame’s Patrick Smyth next in 23.58,Davids team mate at Providence Richard Yates finished in 15th place in 25.02.Villiarstown Ray Treacy is head coach at Providence and I’m sure he is well pleased with the form of fellow Déise athlete David McCarthy who is really setting the American Colligate cross country circuit alight. More to come.!!
