ALLROUNDER SPORTS WINTER LEAGUE
WINTER LEAGUE GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
With three weeks gone already in the league, we now have a grand tally of 373 people registered between the two different routes. We have 213 registered for the long route and 160 for the short route and if current trends are anything to go by, this number will increase all the more. The league has become more and more popular and there is plenty of room for more. The league has gone smoothly each night so far and we have been extremely fortunate with the weather so fingers crossed that the weather will be in our favour over the coming weeks. If you haven’t yet joined but have seen the runners along the streets of the town and have been wondering what it’s all about why not come along to the Sports Centre any Wednesday evening around 7 p.m. and register. You won’t know if you like it or not unless you gave it a try. We had 340 registered for the second week and they all came back for week three along with 33 others so that’s saying something. We have two different routes to choose from- a short route, which is 2.5 miles, and a long route, which is 6 miles. You may change from one route to the other as long as you tell us and are issued with a new number. The winter league is the best possible value around- €2 per night for a member and just €3 per night for non-members. As happens every year, you get to know the people running the same pace as yourself and its possible then to arrange to meet them to go for a training run on other nights that are convenient to you and which is free of charge. If you were to run on any other night aside from the winter league, you would see considerable improvement after a few weeks.
2.5 MILE ROUTE
MACKEN MAKES HIS MARK
First home in the 2.5 mile route for week 3 was Bernard Macken in a time of 17.49. For his efforts, Bernard earned the much-coveted minimum one point and this propelled him to the top of the division tables along with Craig Keyworth. Both of these lads are in joint first place at the moment, each having 72 points each after three nights. The next goal now will be to maintain this improvement but it has been done before and it can be done again. George Tutty is in second place overall with 81 points and Eileen Moore is in third place with 92 points. There were remarkable improvements among all the participants in the 2.5 mile route. Second home on the night was JP Tutty in 17.13 and Carmel Hourigan was 3rd in 25.13. This means that Bernard Macken was the person to improve his time the most in week 3, JP Tutty was the second best improver and Carmel Hourigan the third best improver. It was very close between Joe O’ Donnell and Emer Scanlon for the next spot as only a mere second separated the 2 of them, they recorded 17.44 and 17.45 respectively. Each runner’s goal is to improve their time a little bit from the previous week and in doing so moving up the division tables. It’s a bit too early in the league to be discussing league tables but over the coming weeks we will be keeping you all informed. In order to give you something to aim for however, we have included the best improvers list. This has the names of those that filled the 10th, 20th and 30th position and so on down the line. Each person can use this to gauge their weekly improvement and the beauty of this league is that everybody does improve with no exceptions.
1st Bernard Macken
10th Darragh Duggan
20th Jennifer Fahey
30th Annette Whelan
40th Craig Keyworth
50th John Hanlon
60th Ita Mason
70th Brona O’ Neill
80th Linda Wall
90th Josie Harty
100th Cora Cummins
110th Seamus Casey
120th Pat Whyte
These positions will be filled by different people tonight so watch this space. Ursula Corcoran was close to breaking 30 minutes last week and if she does so tonight her name will surely appear somewhere. Carol and Niamh O’ Sullivan and Nan O’ Brien (27.52 each) and Mary O’ Brien (27.53) will surely be egging each other on again tonight to run another great time. Angela Bradatan will surely run sub 22 minutes tonight and Olive Croke looks set for another fine run.
THE MAN FROM THE KINGDOM LEADS THEM HOME
Kerry man Johnny O’ Connor duly led all the 169 runners home in the 6 mile league last week in a time of 38.59. Having entered a new age category this year, he looks set to do very well indeed and no doubt will hope to improve further on this time. The next best improver of the night was the ever-improving Tom Byrne. Tom is very much a regular at all our events now and is really enjoying the league. Keep up the good work Tom. Cyril Flavin was the third best improver and got on the right side of 48 minutes last week. The times in the 6-mile were equally as impressive as the 2.5 mile. Sean Dwyer has been running brilliantly lately and will be hard to catch. New entrants last week John Queally and Denis Coffey were just one second outside of 44 minutes which is great time for your first night. Seamus Kiely and Mark Shalloe were happy that they dipped under 40 minutes, which is a time many of the 6-mile runners try to beat. Tadhg O’ Laoire was well under 45 minutes for the distance and Michelle Durand had plenty to spare in her bid to break 50 minutes, clocking 49.37 exactly. It’s great to be running along somebody as it gives you that extra bit of encouragement and motivation. Carol Whelan and Hugh O’ Connor did just this and recorded 47.38 a piece. Judging by last week’s performance Brendan Kent looks on course to break 47 minutes easily, Maura Seaward 48 minutes and Robert Shaw-Hamilton 50 minutes.
At the moment on our league tables, Kenneth O’ Donnell is leading on 86 points with John Leahy on 106 points. Kenneth is running very well at the moment and has only recently signed up for the Berlin marathon next year. Kenneth is hoping to break 3 hours for the 26.2 miles and the winter league will provide valuable training to achieve this target. We have also included the most improved list as in the 2.5 mile. It is a list with those that were the 10th, 20th and 30th improver last week. It will give you an idea of where you are at and something to improve on with the names changing each week.
1st Johnny O’ Connor
10th John Casey
20th Bridget Hannigan
30th Bridget Blackwell
40th Paul Keating
50th Aishling Horgan
60th Andrea Gaffney
70th Michael Dunford
80th Ann Wright
90th Margaret Foley
100th Liam Power
110th Kevin Kenneally
120th Margaret Hearne
130th Earl Navin
140th Denise Nugent
150th Anne Foley
CAN YOU MATCH THE DATE??
We have decided to introduce a new system into the league. If your finishing position matches the date, you will have earned for yourself a prize from our Lucky Dip. As tonight is the 19th of November, then the people who finish in 19th position tonight in both the short route and the long route will be tonight’s winners. You will be told as you cross the line and will be asked to go upstairs and pick a prize from our Lucky Dip Bag. Next week’s league will be on November 26th, so the people who finish in 26th position in the short and the long route get to claim a prize. The winners from the last three weeks are as follows:
Week 1: (October 29) Brona O’ Neill and Finbarr Kelly
Week 2: (November 5) Eimear Radley and Padraig Flynn
Week 3: (November 12) Jennifer Ui Dhuibhir and Sinead Moore
Would these people please let us know when registering tonight and you can claim your prize.
Everybody is in with a chance to win and will go home with some small prize for their efforts.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING
1. First of all, we want to remind all competitors that mp3 players or iPods are not allowed under any circumstances. You need to be able to hear the stewards, its not enough that you can see them you must be able to hear them. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Penalty points will be issued from this week on if this continues. Please don’t put us in this position.
2. On completion of your run, it may happen that the tunnel is backed up and you may have to wait a second or two. Please stand in line as your time and finishing position will have been recorded and there is no need to skip the line. If you are approaching the finishing line and there is a queue of people ahead, please join the queue and don’t try to move up the front. Again, penalty points will be issued in this case.
3. Due to the fact that there are almost 400 competitors, your time and finishing position is recorded twice. It’s recorded at the start of the finishing tunnel and on your way up the stairs, (this is to avoid any errors). We ask that all competitors stay in line until they reach the stairs-please please don’t duck under the tape as it distorts all the other results.
4. We’re WATCHing you!!
As this league is based on a handicap system and each person’s goal is to try and improve their time each week, watches are not allowed. To make this system as fair as possible for all competitors, this rule applies to everyone. You may leave your watch in the box along with the car keys in the hall.
15th ANNUAL MC GRATHS NEWSAGENTS BRICKEY RUN
The 15th annual McGrath’s Newsagents Brickey run was held under glorious conditions last Sunday morning. A record entry of 153 runners took part which was no surprise given the conditions on the day. From early in the morning, the runners made their appearance and by 11 a.m. it was all systems go at Bushy Park. There were two races on the day, a five-mile route taking in the canal and a three-mile route. Both races started at the same spot with many having high hopes of winning the Martin Curran and Jim Lyons memorial cups. Before the off a minutes silence was observed by all athletes in memory of the late Josephine Healy Ballycotton whose untimely passing occurred in October. We had runners from all over the South taking part last Sunday with Midleton A.C. Carlow Tri-athlon club and Waterford AC along with a big West Waterford contingent club present on the day. The three-mile route was managed by road racing co-ordinator Gerry Cantwell and Noel Doherty. A total of 30 took part in the 3 mile and the remaining 123 in the five-mile. It’s certainly not the easiest of courses, with difficult enough conditions along the canal and then a hill to contend with on leaving the canal but all runners were happy with the course and will all definitely be back again next year. The standard was much higher this year with 7 breaking 30 minutes on the 5-mile course as opposed to three in 2007 and records were also broken in the 3-mile race. Our race sponsor Albert McGrath was delighted with the support on the day and for the race next year has decided to offer a cash bonus to the athlete that will break the course record and also to the first lady to break 30 minutes on the five mile. The present course records are held by James Sullivan 1996 a time of 25.16 and Winnie Gausemann from 1995 with a time of 28.14.Albert was on hand to present the prizes in the club-house after the race and he duly thanked all those involved in the race preparations. All athletes and officials were well looked after by the Brickey camogie committee and they are to be commended for their hospitality and support.
CONVINCING WIN BY SANDIS BRALITIS AS HE ONCE AGAIN WINS THE MARTIN CURRAN MEMORIAL CUP.
Having missed this particular race last year through injury, Sandis was back for 2008 and he was determined to regain his title last Sunday. He would have been the hot favourite going into the race and he certainly didn’t disappoint. As is usual for Sandis in a race, he led from the gun and left no one in doubt as to what his intentions were-namely reclaiming the Martin Curran memorial Cup for being the first man home. Over the last 600 metres Sandis was the only athlete in sight and crossed the finishing line in exactly 26 minutes even. He really is coming back to his very best and now that he is training for the upcoming Paris marathon, this is only the start of things to come. In second place was last year’s winner Ravis Zakis in a time of 28.22 and fellow Latvian Dzintars Klava filled the third spot in 28.23. As already mentioned, there were 7 under 30 minutes which is a huge improvement on last year. The others to break 30 minutes were Danny Smith of Ballynonty (28.30), Sean Stilwell 29.02 (West Waterford), Kenny Curran 29.21 (Ballynonty) and Niall Sheil 29.23. Kevin Kenneally was unlucky not to dip under 30 minutes, recording 30.18 on the day. The spectators at the finishing line also witnessed a fantastic performance by the club’s junior athlete Declan Power who finished in 10th place overall in a time of 30.51. This was an incredible performance by the young athlete and we may even see his name on the Cup in the next couple of years. The Brickey Race is unique in its own way by virtue of the fact that there are no age categories but weight categories. This meant that as the male athletes registered they were also weighed and put into categories- under 60 kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg. The first person in each category to cross the line was the winner. It makes a change from the usual age categories and adds a bit of interest.
WEIGHT CATEGORIES.
As is our club policy West Waterford AC always try and have as many participants involved in prize categories as possible in all our events and the Brickey race is no exception with the fun idea put in place some years ago called The weight categories which brings many runners into the winners frame. In fact the idea was first sounded by the late Martin Curran who’s name is synonyms with the race as the winners receives his memorial cup each year, In one of the earlier races some years ago he was heard to comment that with all these new age categories now in races that the next thing ye will be doing is weighing the runners and this where this novel idea came from. The weight event is solely for the Men’s race with the Ladies receiving an equal prize amount for the top nine finishers. When registering all the men have to weigh in for the weight categories and the following were the winner’s for this years race: 60 kg Johnny O’Connor (for the 6th time), 70 kg Danny Smith, 80 kg Sean Stilwell, 90 kg Trevor Mason, 100kg Cathal Lowe and over 100kg Alan Harnedy. A large amount of spots were drawn among all the down the field finishers also at the presentation of prizes in the Brickey club pavilion.
ANGELA Mc CANN CLAIMS JIM LYONS MEMORIAL SHIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
It’s always great to see some new faces at our races and over the last year or two; Angela McCann has been a regular to the town of Dungarvan competing in our many races and events. It was a just reward then that for the first time ever she won the Jim Lyons memorial shield and she did so ever so convincingly. She completed the course in a time of 32.07 and in 17th position overall. She was well clear of Jackie Carty of Kilmore A.C. in Wexford (32.50), herself a winner of this race on many occasions. In third place was four times winner Diane Behan in a time of 34.23. Unlike the men, the women are spared having to step on the scales and therefore the first nine women were awarded prizes. West Waterford had many representatives on the day as well. Fresh from the Dublin Marathon was Karen Ryan who was accompanied by Dermot and finished in 5th spot. Josie Ui Chuirrin now has double cause for celebration, Ring winning the final and her 6th place finishing and Brigid Coffey was in 7th position. Female entries were well up on the day and we hope to see even more next year.
The top nine finishers and prize winners in the Ladies 5 mile were,
17th Angela McCann 32.07
20th Jackie Carty 32.50
31st Diane Behan 34.23
45th Louise Nolan 36.06
57th Karen Ryan 38.05
59th Josie Uí Chuirrin 38.44
60th Brigid Coffey 38.49
61st Catherine Mooney 38.53
64th Lorene Mooney 39.03
HOTLY CONTESTED THREE-MILE RACE
The three-mile race had 30 entrants but is growing in popularity and numbers look set to increase in this race over the next few years. The winner this year was an athlete by the name of Michael Murphy who won in a time of 17.30. It was a much closer race than the 5 mile and was too close to call until the last few seconds. Michael had only 6 seconds to spare over Eoin McGrath of Clonmel A.C. who really had to battle hard to fight off the last minute attempt of Corinna Walsh who finished 3rd overall and was the first lady finisher. A course record was set by Corinna Walsh in this race last year and judging by the season Corinna has had of late it’s not a bit surprising to learn that last Sunday she well and truly broke that record. Her record for the 3 miles last year was 18.22 and this year she recorded 17.37. It’s fair to say that she well and truly smashed her own record and is capable of breaking it yet again next year. There were 7 athletes that were under 20 minutes and these were the top three already mentioned along with Gavin Whelan, Patrick Kerwick, Martina O’ Dwyer and Shane Duggan. Brenda Hunt was just outside of 20 minutes with a time of 20.06 and this great time won for her third place overall. And well done to all the Brickey Comogie members who took part in the race on the day.
THANKS.
The club wishes to express sincere thanks to Albert and Patricia Mc Grath of McGrath’s Newsagents Mitchell St. who were sponsors of the event last Sunday once again. Albert put’s an amount of time into the club especially his running group who meet regularly three or four time s a week. He is currently preparing a large group of runner’s for the upcoming Dungarvan 10 miler, which is going to be a huge event in early 2009. Our thanks also to the Brickey G.A.A.club for the use of their facilities at Bushy Park and special mention to the Ladies of the Brickey Comogie Club for looking after all the runners with teas and sandwiches after the race, this was much appreciated by all. Much thanks to our great team of registers, timekeepers, recorders, stewards, race announcers etc. Our thanks once again to Ann Dunford for looking after the prizes, Our thanks to those who looked after erecting the race signs and water station’s and thanks to Netta Lyons and P.J.Curran who came along to present the Jim Lyons memorial shield to the Ladies winner and the Martin Curran memorial Cup to the Men’s winner. Finally thanks to all the runners who made this year’s race one of the best attended ever.
COUNTY MASTERS SUCCESS FOR WEST WATERFORD.
Diane Behan is the county Ladies master cross-country champion for 2008 after a run away success last Sunday at St. Augustine’s College. This teak tough Portlaw Lady ran the Brickey 5 two hours earlier finishing a creditable 3rd and then headed to the famed Friary grounds to record an excellent win the then Ladies 3.000 meters sprinting away from team mate Eilish Ni hAodha after the first lap. Diane came home a clear winner with Eilish never in any danger in second place and the club also filled the bronze medal placing when Brigid Coffey another Brickey participant who earlier in the day finished 7th in the Valley 5 rounded off a good days work wining an individual bronze and a team gold along with Eilish and Diane. In the Men’s race it soon became a two-way battle between Billy Maguire Waterford AC and P.J.Guinan West Waterford. After two of the four laps were well clear of the field with the city man just that bit stronger on the day pulling away to claim the gold medal, never the les P.J. will be delighted with taking silver in the strong filed which saw Ferrybanks Kevin O’Brien taking bronze. West Waterford’s Tomás Mahoney put in a good run also when finishing 5th overall. Well done to all.
KEVIN KENNEALLY WINS COMERAGH CRYSTAL ATHLETE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER.
We have to go way down the overall leader board to record the winner of the
club’s athlete of the month competition for October in fact we have to
scroll down to 43rd position to find the athlete who recorded 12 points for
the month of October to claim the monthly award, and this in no way
reflects the participation level that our winner Kevin Kennelly has in all
our events. Was it not for the fact that he was injured for part of the
start of the year he would certainly be a top ten overall contender, Kevin
in never found wanting when the club call upon him for duty and it’s fitting
to see him record a monthly win in this competition. The great note of
interest about these awards is that it’s open to any club athlete who wishes
to make the effort any single month as was the case when a runner in 43rd
position on the league table claimed the monthly award for October, Our
overall winner elect Brigid Coffey is home and dry as they say at this stage
with an unprecedented 115 point now to her tally with Raivis Zakis second
on 96 points with Paul Brunnock now on 66 points in third place. So folks
you have two more chances of winning the Comeragh crystal award with
November and December remaining. Come on why not give it a shot.
RUNNING QUOTE.
I’ve learned that it’s what you do with your miles, rather than how many
you’ve run.
CLUB ANNUAL 2009.
Our Emerald Financial sponsored Club Annual is starting to take shape with
much work going on behind the scenes. The Annual will go on sale much earlier
than previous years with The Colligan cup day February our target. Anyone who
has any articles to be included is asked to e-mail it to jveale@cablesurf.com pronto please. We would
especially like to see some articles from our Juvenile members, which can be
written on any aspect of athletics.
JOE GOUGH NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL MASTERS AWARD.
West Waterford’s Master’s athlete Joe Gough was a guest at the National Athletics awards in association with Waterford Crystal, which were held last Saturday 15th
November in Crown Plaza Hotel in Santry Dublin. Joe was nominated for the
award Master athlete of the year where Minister for sport Martin Cullen was
the guest speaker. Galway’s Paul Hession was named as Ireland’s top athlete
at the prestigious awards, after what was a stunning season for the Athenry Athlete.
Hession’s performance in Beijing, reaching the semi final of the 200m,
confirmed his status as one of the world’s top sprinters. Next year should
prove to be exciting as he bids to go one better by making a global final at
the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. Hession also picked up
the Track Athlete of the Year. Brian Gregan, one of athletics bright young
hopes for London 2012 was named Junior Athlete of the Year. The Tallagh
athlete had a superb season breaking the Irish record and coming fifth in
the World Junior Championships, but was unlucky to be later disqualified for
a slight lane infringement. He continues the strong tradition that has been
built up over the last few years by Irish athletes in the 400m.The Hall of
Fame Award went to "Chairman of the Boards", Eamonn Coghlan. Coghlan is
still the only male Irish athlete to win a World Track title following his
5000m successes in Helsinki. One of Ireland’s most famous ever athletes, he is
still the only Master athlete to run a sub-four minute mile and is the
second member to join the Hall of Fame after Ronnie Delaney last year. Robert
Heffernan who has established himself as one of the world’s best in his
event in 2008 was named the Race Walker of the Year. Heffernan smashed the
Irish 20k record by 53 seconds to become the first Irish man to break the
magical 80-minute mark. The Cork athlete followed this up with an 8th place
finish in the testing conditions of Beijing at this year’s Olympics and 2009
promises to be another big year for Heffernan.The Togher man is also to be commended for the amount of time he is giving back to the sport of race walking as he as to give a training session on Saturday morning in Cork I.T. to a squad of Munster race walkers and true to form was available all day before dashing off to Dublin for the awards late that evening where he picked up the race walker of the year title and he also had his own two training session’s completed on Saturday and all that’s in just one day.! Other winners on the note
included Eileen O’Keefe who took home the Field Athlete of the Year title.
Despite a poor Olympics due to injury, O’Keefe won her eighth National title
and had a number of world-class throws during 2008. Fionnuala Britton took
the Cross Country / Road Athlete of the Year. Another great prospect,
Britton will no doubt go from strength to strength and relish the
opportunity to compete in the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin
in December 2009.
National Athletics Awards with Waterford Crystal
Track Athlete of the Year
Paul Hession – Athenry AC
Field Athlete of the Year
Eileen O’Keefe – Kilkenny City Harriers
Cross Country / Road Athlete of the Year
Fionnuala Britton – Sli Chulainn
Race Walker of the Year
Robert Heffernan – Togher AC
University Award
Dublin City University
Lifetime Achievement Award
Breda Synnott – St. Benedict’s AC
Paralympian’s Special Recognition Award
Michael McKillop – St. Malachy’s
Jason Smyth – City of Derry
Club of the Year
Tir Chonaill – Donegal
Coach of the Year
Phil Roche – Dooneen AC
Official of the Year
Tom McCormack – Liffey Valley
Master Athlete of the Year
Pauline Curley – Tullamore Harriers
Junior Athlete of the Year
Brian Gregan – Tallaght AC
Hall of Fame Award
Eamonn Coghlan
Athlete / Performance of the Year
Paul Hession – Athenry AC
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Our Annual general meeting will be held at 8.30 pm on Thursday December 4th
in Minnie’s Bar Abbeyside.Any motions to the meeting need to be sent to club
secretary Norma Wall 101 Páirc Na mBláth, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford Athletic Club extends sincere sympathy to the family of
Michael Flynn Kielys Cross, Grange who passed to his eternal reward recently
May he rest in peace.
DAVID MC CARTHY IMPRESSES YET AGAIN.
West Waterford ‘s David McCarthy runnning for his college Providence under the coaching expertise of Ray Treacy finished an impressive second to Mohamed Khadraoui in the North East regional cross country champiosnhips at Van Cortlandt Park in New York Saturday . Covering the 10k distance in a ver fast 31:13 he was just two seconds adrift of the winner, while college team mate Andrew Ledwith was fifth a further 15 seconds back. The US college cross country season concludes with the NCAA championships in Terre Haute Indiana tomorrow week.Well done David keep up the impressive good work.
NE Region Cross Country
Men 10k
1 Mohamed Khadraoui 31:11 Iona
2 David McCarthy 31:13 Providence
3 Ben True 31:26.1 5 Dartmouth
4 Harbert Okuti 31:28.8 Iona
5 Andrew Ledwith 31:28 Iona
13 Richard Yeates 32:13 Providence
94 Daire Bermingham 34:22 Stony Brook
WEST WATERFORD A.C. CLUB MEMBERSHIP FOR 2009.
The club’s yearly membership has been set for the coming year and is the same as\last year 25 Euro. For this amount you are also affiliated to Athletics Ireland.
For those taking part in the winter league its practically fee membership as the league each night is 3 Euro for non members and 2 euro for members, over the period of the league by saving the 1 euro each week you would nearly have the membership paid when having only to pay 2 euro each night. Also if you join now you are a member up until end of December 2009.Michael Tutty is the clubs registration officer and he will be available each week of the league up stairs or at any upcoming club event to look after your membership.
BABY BOY.
Congratulation to Joanne and Mark Langford on the birth recent of a baby boy. Health and happiness to all.
BE SAFE BE SEEN
So once again a frendly reminder to all whom are walking or running at night the importance of wearing reflective bibs and if possible to wear some form of reflective clothing. We cannot stress it enough the importance of wearing a running bib remember, you can see that car but can that car driver see you?
Please, please when going out on the streets of the town for a run put on your reflective top.
