WEST WATERFORD SENIOR MEN WIN WOODIES NATIONAL HALF MARATHON TITLE.
Over four hundred runners finished the Woodies National Half marathon championship last Sunday in Waterford. The event was organised by Waterford AC and it was one of the best held events that you would see anywhere. Well done to the race directors Derek Grant and Des Colbert, while the RSC was an ideal venue for the whole occasion.From our point of view,club history was made as our Senior Men’s team of Sandis Bralitis,Raivis Zakis and Mareks Floroseks won the grade A, All Ireland title with a combined time of 206 minutes and 37 seconds from Raheny Shamrocks 209 minutes and Letterkenny 216 minutes. This major victory for us over two clubs who have dominated this event over many years and with three runners home in the top five finishers was well deserved. The individual winner was Cillian O’Leary Raheny Shamrocks and he along with Sandis and Mareks went through the first three miles in 4.50,9.52,15.03.The Raheny man and Sandis were alone for the next five miles with times of 20.18,25.25.30.42,35.51 and 40.54.At this stage,the Dubliner made a decisive break and he went on to win deservedly by 41 seconds after clocking 46.13 for nine miles,51.27 for ten,56,30 for eleven and 61.490 for twelve.This was,however,a good run by Sandis also and he well deserved his silver medal for second place,clubmate Raivis worked his way into the bronze medal winning position with a well judged run and he was well pleased with a P.B. time of 68.51.The final piece of the jigsaw was the fifth placing of our new club member Mareks Floroseks and after sharing the lead at the three mile mark,he battled away and his finishing time ensured the gold medals for us.The club was well represented in the event overall with fine runs in the Ladies section from Inese melne,Brigid Coffey,Angeline Drennan,Maria O’Gorman,Andrea Gaffney,Michelle Durand and Leisa Fleming while the Men were also well represented by Trevor Mason,Benji Whelan,Garry McCormack,Paul Brunnock,Billy Coleman,Michael Deegan,Tom O’ Brien,Tomás Coleman,Ray Murray,Pat Morrissey,Micahél Callaghan,Michael Wade,Hugh O’Connor and Davy Wade.Well done to the host club Waterford AC who won the masters Ladies over 50 team event, individually, Mary Jennings won the over 50,Bernie Power the over 55 and Ann Fitzgerald won silver over 50.Thanks to Tony and Michael who looked after All the West Waterford athletes on the day.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE CHANGE AND GET FIT
JOIN THE ELITE PAINTBALL ONE LAP CHALLENGE
The Elite Paintball One Lap Challenge got underway last night, the first night of a six-week league designed to promote health and fitness among all walks of life. West Waterford AC is aware that there are many of you out there looking to improve their fitness levels and health and so came up with a one-lap challenge. This has been in operation with a number of years and has always proved most successful. It was designed with the absolute beginner in mind. There will be regular runners participating as well but these regulars had to start somewhere and it was at the club’s one lap challenge that many of these took up running for the very first time. It is not expected that you be able to run the lap without stopping on your first night. As always, we encourage all beginners to walk some and run some and to take it at your own pace and level. Don’t be worried that you will be the only one like that; we have new faces each year with no previous running experience whatsoever and they all support and encourage each other. The one lap is a full lap of the Friary College who have permitted us to use their facilities for which we are very grateful. A full lap is 1.2 miles in total and as already mentioned it’s possible to walk and jog and run. There is no time limit at all so all runners can complete the lap at their ease. The beginners find that their time improves each week and are amazed at the difference in their times from the first week to the last week. Next Tuesday night will be the second night of this one lap challenge and we would love to see as many new faces as possible. It’s not necessary to run every night of the league and you don’t have to be a member of the club in order to participate. It’s really very simple-turn up at the Friary on Tuesday evening. The run itself gets underway at 7 p.m. so registration will begin from 6.45 onwards. Parking is available at the college and we would ask that all participants park at the rear of the college. The club van will be in the field, come up to the van, give us your name and if you have any questions we will be more than happy to help. There will be plenty of people in the same boat as you so don’t be worried. Why not enlist a friend or work colleague to come along as well, the more the merrier. At 7 p.m. all present will begin the challenge of completing one lap of the college grounds. It’s worthwhile to keep in mind that you are in competition with nobody else so what about those that are ahead or behind you? Each person’s goal will be to complete the lap regardless of how much they walk or jog. None of us really know what we can achieve until we really give it a go, so if you come along on Tuesday night next you too will find out exactly what you are capable of. There is no age limit either; it’s open to anybody over 16 years of age. Just come along in a tracksuit or shorts and t-shirt and runners. Water is provided at the finish for all participants and there’s also a box in the van for leaving your keys while running. We have all aspects covered so that the only thing you have to do is turn up and complete the challenge. The entry fee each night is €2 per person. As already mentioned, you really won’t know until you give it a go! See you all next Tuesday night shortly before seven and remember to bring along a friend or two.
Our sincere thanks go to Geoff and Marie Allen for sponsoring the league once again this year. Their support and co-operation has ensured the success of this league in the past and all at the club are very grateful.
GO ON! GO FOR A GALLOP AT THE GARVEY’S AUTUMN LEAGUE
The first night of the Garvey’s Supervalu Autumn League will take place tomorrow night at the Friary College by kind permission. This league is open to everybody over the age of sixteen and we would love to see some new faces try out the league this year. This particular league caters for all types, from the beginner to the seasoned runner. We offer a choice of laps; from one to four laps. Obviously the beginners will start doing one lap but as happens every year some may find that they are able to move up to two laps. Likewise, if you are doing two laps, you may feel ready to progress to doing three or four laps and if four laps are too much you are most welcome to change back to three or two laps. The choice is yours and there will be plenty of people taking part in the one, two, three or four lap leagues. This is an ideal league to get fit for the winter, especially if you are considering doing the winter league. There have been so many runners join the autumn league who then went on to take part in the winter league which was followed by the ten mile race in Dungarvan the following February. If you have ever considered running to get fit and healthy, the Friary is the place to be tomorrow night. Even if you have never run before, please don’t let that put you off: we all have to start off somewhere. Perhaps you have no ambition to run the winter league or a ten mile race for that matter but you want to improve your health, then the Friary is still the right place for you because as already mentioned this league caters for all. If you’re still undecided, you could always come along tomorrow night and take a look as to how this league operates and then join in the following week. We will be available to answer any questions and would love to see you all out there. You need not run every night of the six weeks, just come along when you can. The entry fee each night is €2 and we provide water at the finish. Registration for the league begins at 6.15 and then the league itself gets underway at 6.30 p.m. Parking is available at the rear of the college and we would like to extend a huge welcome to you all and to all those that took part in our summer leagues. See you all tomorrow night.
CORK TO COBH 15 MILE ROAD RACE
It’s easy to tell that marathon season is on the way with the Cork to Cobh race only a few weeks away, three weeks from Sunday to be exact. For anyone interested in doing this race, they should pencil in Sunday October 5 into the diary. The entry forms are available from Ger Wyley’s sports shop. The race itself has a 9.30 a.m. start beginning at Penrose Wharf across from St. Patrick’s church in Cork and takes in the coastal route to Cobh harbour passing Fota Wildlife Park and finishes along Cobh Heritage Centre. The fee for pre-entered runners is €15 with the deadline being Friday, September 26. It’s also possible to enter on the day but the fee increases to €20. As this race begins in Cork and finishes in Cobh, the organisers will transfer your running gear from Cork to Cobh.
BLARNEY HALF MARATHON
The club wishes the best of luck to all its athletes taking part in the Munster Half Marathon Championships in Blarney this coming Sunday. As per every year the club is well represented at this race both at individual and team levels and we wish you all a great run on the day. This race has a starting time of 11 a.m. so be sure to leave in plenty of time, as there will be a large number taking part.
CROSS COUNTRY DATES FOR THE DIARY
Coupled with the marathon season we also have to get ready for the cross-country season, which is looming closer and closer. The first cross country outing each year begins in Kilmacow at the St. Senan’s Open Sports and this year it will be held on Sunday September 28. It is hoped to field a men’s and ladies team on the day and anyone interested in travelling should contact our Cross-Country Co-ordinator Tony Ryan.
The following are provisional dates for other cross-country outings.
October 26: Munster Novice Championships
November 9: Munster Intermediate
November 23: Inter-County Championships
December 7: All-Ireland Novice Championships
GER WYLEY SPORTS/NIKE SUMMER SERIES 2008 RANKINGS.
GARRET “BURNS” UP THE ROADS THIS SUMMER.
West Waterford club runner Garret Byrne enjoyed a very successful Summer Series as seen from the fact that he improved his 2008 ranking to 15th overall from his previous year’s placing of 31st. Garret’s times for the ten races with the 2007 times in brackets are as follows,
Marine Climb, 41.50 (41.26). Butlerstown 10k, 40.05 (39.57).
Waterford to Tramore, 49.03 (49.02). Touraneena 5k, 18.47 (N.A).
Rás na Rinne, 36.41 (N.A). Clashmore “5”, 32.00 (N.A).
Dromana “5”, 31.06 (N.A). G.S.K. “5”, 30.19 (32.28).
Ballymac “5”,30.46, (32.10) and Ardmore “5” 30.03, (33.45).
It was in the 5 mile races that Garret came into his own, running five time from 32 minutes and under and he was very unlucky not to break the magical 30 minute mark in the last race in Ardmore. In the last three races, Garret ran an accumulative 7 minutes and 15 seconds than the corresponding three runs in 2007.
Of the 77 male runners who completed the requisite six races in the series, a total of 26 had a ranking since 2007. The top 3 finishers, Sandis Bralitis, Raivis Zakis and Peter Duggan repeated their 2007 ranking while the only runners to improve their ranking apart from Garret were, Alan Lyons 9th(22nd), Billy Mc Guire 10th (11th), Tomás Coleman31st(40th), Liam Kavanagh 36th (41st) and Tom Halley 58th (59th). Exceptional improvements also by Alan and Tomás improving their positions by 13 and 9 places respectively. Alan broke into the top 10 while Tomás is heading for the twenties in 2009.
FINAL RANKING LIST FOR 2008
2007 ranking in brackets if applicable
Men
1. Sandis Bralitis (1)
2. Raivis Zakis (2)
3. Peter Duggan (3)
4. Larry Kennedy
5. P.J. Guinan
6. Valera Turcan
7. Larry Lacey
8. Vasily Numerzhitskig
9. Alan Lyons (22)
10. Billy Mc Guire (11)
11. Martin Hayes (7)
12. Patrick Riordan (9)
13. John Leahy
14. Declan Power
15. Garret Byrne (31)
16. Tommy Falconer
17. Gerry Cantwell
18. Colin Lyons
19. Cathal Lowe
20. Conor Murray (17)
21. Tom O Brien (20)
22. Des Feeney
23. Tom Cooper
24. Gary Mc Cormack
25. Davy Wade
26. Ken O Donnell
27. Eamonn Phelan (16)
28. Gary Collins
29. Paul Brunnock
30. Yevgeniy Chizhikov
31. Tomás Coleman (40)
32. Tom Leahy
33. Pat Coffey
34. Ray Burke
35. Hugh Walsh
36. Liam Kavanagh (41)
37. Emmet Malone
38. Anthony Dwyer (29)
39. Pat Dunford (34)
40. Cathal Dwane
41. David Connors
42. Niall Mc Carthy
43. Noel Drohan
44. Vincent Tutty (37)
45. Ger Wyley
46. Tom Moroney
47. Billy Coleman
48. Declan Harte
49. Eamonn Flavin
50. Dermot Ryan
51. Sean Dwyer(50)
52. Tony Latham
53. P.J. Curran (48)
54. Maurice Boland (39)
55. Alan Whelan (38)
56. Frank Fahey
57. Tom Quinn
58. Tom Halley (59)
59. Michael Hennessy
60. Pat Connaughton
61. Micheál Callaghan (60)
62. Cyril Flavin
63. Ray Curran
64. Michael O Shea
65. Michael Wade (58)
66. J.J. Henley
67. Michael Deegan (56)
68. Michael O Dwyer
69. Brendan Kent
70. Maurice Foley
71. Ray Murray (65)
72. Paul Lanigan
73. Tommy Lenihan
74. Pearse Moloney
75. Vincent O Flynn
76. Michael Brannigan (72)
ANN MORONEY IMPROVES MOST ON 2007 RANKING.
Of the 38 runners who completed the series, 16 of them held a ranking from 2007. The biggest improvement came from Ann Moroney who was ranked 33rd in 2007 but in 2008 she improved considerably to 23rd. Ann’s times for this year were as follows;(2007 times in brackets).
Marine Climb, 53.45, (62.17). Butlertown 10k, 54.19, (57.56).
Waterford to Tramore, 61.26, (N/A). Touraneena “5k” 25.44, (26.31).
Rás na Rinne, 50.23, (52.36). Clashmore “5”, 45.07, (45.55).
Dromana “5”, 43.46, (N/A). G.S.K. “5” 42.14, (42.30).
Ballymac “5”, 44.54, (N/A). Ardmore “5”, 42.04, (N/A).
Ann improved her times in six races this year which deservedly saw her improve her ranking by 10 places.
Other runners to improve their ranking this year were Brigid Coffey 12th (13th), Onra Power 21st (29th), Gemma Dewberry22nd (28th), Claire Walsh 28th (32nd) and Terri Gough 31st (35th). Of the top five finishers this year, the only runner with a 2007 ranking was the much-travelled Jackie Carty and she repeated her 2nd place ranking from 2007.
Women
1. Corinna Walsh
2. Jackie Carty (2)
3. Diane Behan
4. Cáit Caulfield
5. Eilís Ni hAodha
6. Mary Burke (3)
7. Ann Fitzgerald (6)
8. Ann Whelan (8)
9. Adele Walsh
10. Brea Cooke
11. Inese Melne
12. Brigid Coffey (13)
13. Triona Wall (9)
14. Ann Dunford (7)
15. Karen Ryan
16. Josie Uí Chuirrín (12)
17. Andrea O Neill
18. Sinéad Moore
19. Ger Houlihan (18)
20. Maura Seaward
21. Onra Power (29)
22. Gemma Dewberry (28)
23. Ann Moroney (33)
24. Margaret Power (22)
25. Marie O Gorman
26. Joan Navin
27. Caitriona O Brien (25)
28. Claire Walsh (32)
29. Tara Swaby
30. Mary Harney
31. Terri Gough (35)
32. Martina Walsh
33. Leisa Fleming
34. Brigid Blackwell
35. Amanda Mansfield
36. Paula Nugent
37. Denise Nugent
38. Jacinta Sheil
With two years of rankings now in operation all potential Summer Series entrants for 2009 may now have a target ranking to improve on and this should give us another very interesting and exciting Summer Series next year. In the meantime, keep on running!
FUNDRAISER FOR CIARAN LANE AND SELF HELP.
On Wednesday evening last September 3rd a very enjoyable fundraiser was held in conjunction with Ciarán Lane one of our very promising young athletes. Later this year Ciarán will travel to Africa to see first hand where the money he raises is used by the charity “Self Help” with his grandfather Con, who is well known in the Dungarvan area for his fundraising efforts on behalf of the people of Africa.Ciarán was anxious to hold a Colligan Cup style race which would be open to all and would give everyone an equal chance of success as the person who predicted their time and could run as close as possible to that time would be the winner. Despite very heavy showers a nice crowd turned out in Colligan wood for the start of the race. The clock started at 55 minutes and as each runner saw their predicted time coming up on the clock they set off on the 3 and a half laps of the wood to see who could finish as close as possible to zero. Unlike the recent T.Q.S. League where the athletes were usually quite close together around the zero mark on this occasion almost 40 seconds separated the athlete just before the clock hit zero and the winner. On this occasion the unlucky Dermot Dwyer finished 11 seconds too fast and the athlete first into the winners enclosure was Corinna Walsh, 38 seconds after zero. The recent runner-up in the T.Q.S. League, Corinna is having a fantastic year to date and she certainly knows her running pace. I’d say there will be some crowd trying to catch Corinna in next years Colligan Cup competition. Paddy Power was unlucky too at only 4 seconds out. Paddy was also very consistent in the T.Q.S. League and this stood to him out in Colligan. Following Paddy home were Claire Walsh (44sec) and Hugh O Connor (49sec).
Following the event Ciarán thanked everyone for their support and for coming out to Colligan for the occasion. Ciarán then presented the prizes to the successful athletes. Thanks also to Tony for his usual efficient handling of the run and to James for taking the photographs. Michael acted as steward on the road ensuring the safety of the runners for which we are grateful and to Norma for all her work., thanks again. For the record the following were the results of the run:
Faster Than Time Predicted
Graham Cuddihy (6.20
Scott Mc Grath (5.31)
Peter Byrne (4.52)
Ciarán Lane (3.43)
J.J. Henley (0.57)
Angeline Drennan (0.29)
Johnny O Connor (0.22)
Séan Dwyer (0.21)
Norma Wall (0.15)
Dermot Dwyer (0.11)
Slower Than Time Predicted
Corinna Walsh (0.38)
Paddy Power (0.42)
Claire Walsh (0.44)
Hugh O Connor (0.49)
Tom Condon (0.55)
Andrea Gaffney. (0.56)
Paul Brunnck (0.57)
Liam Kavanagh (0.58)
Billy Coleman (1.00)
Michael Deegan (1.01)
Micheál Callaghan (1.02)
Ann Whelan (1.26)
Brigid Coffey.(1.52)
Josie Ui Chuirrin (2.00)
Sean Stillwell (2.47)
Onra Power (4.17)
JOE FIRST OVER 55
Joe Gough was in Cork last Wednesday at the Tougher 5k part of the BHAA race programme. Joe continued his recent winning street when finishing first over 55 in a time of 17.53.A big turn out of 346 runners took part in the race.
RUNNING QUOTE.
No matter our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.
