Senior News,April 23 2023

WEEK 4 COMPLETE AT MASON MORTGAGES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN SPRING RUNNING LEAGUE.

Round 4 of the Mark Mason Financial Colligan Spring League took place last Wednesday evening in the beautiful surround of Colligan wood on what was once again a perfect evening for running.  The league this coming Wednesday evening will be the 5th and final round. To be included in the tables you need to run 4 out of the 5 nights. As this in the last night of the league please note that the league prizes will be awarded and presented by our sponsor Mark Mason straight after the league finish. A total of 13 runners completed the 2 laps, We had 18 who ran the 3 laps flat course and finally 60 took on the challenging 5 mile hill route – this gave us a great crowd of 91 runners on the night. The final round will get underway at 6.30pm.

PAUL MURRAY FASTEST OVER THE 2 LAP COURSE.

The 2 lappers were led home this week by Paul Murray,Paul ran a time of 20.28,Micheál Moynihan has ran all rounds of the league to date and he finished 2nd male last week in 23.09 with the 3rd place filled by Conor Mulhall in a time of 31.00.In the Ladies section Catriona Crowe was first home ion a time of 23.09 finishing 3rd overall,Onra Power was next across the finish line in a time of 23.23 and 3rd was Gillian Collins 24.36.Well done to everyone who completed the 2 lap league again this week and keep up your efforts for the final week where we expect to see more personal best times as everyone goes for broke on the final night.

SAME TIME RECORDED ON 3 LAPS BY SHANE FLAVIN AND IAN CLIFFE.

Once again last week Shane Flavin and Ian Cliffe battled around the 3 lasp flat together crossing the line after the 3rd lap they were both recorded with a time of 30.45 with Shane just getting the finish line judge’s decision as the winner for round 4.Jack Mulhall was our 3rd man home and Jack clocked a time of 34.58 finishing 4th overall.Turning to the Ladies last week we had Orla Bannon taking the honours with a time of 33.36 and Orla was followed home by Aisling O’Dwyer 37.35 with Patricia Connors filling 3rd place in a time of 38.09,so well done to Patricia and all the runners of our 3 lap flat course runners.

GARRY CANTWELL DOMINATES ON THE 5 MILE HILLS.

Running in is 4th round of the league last week Garry Cantwell clocked one of the fastest times of the event to date when he clipped around the hills of Colligan wood in an impressive 31.30.Garry was followed home by Padraig Healy in 31.56.Padraig is getting to Garry closer week on week and is starting to come back to full training and fitness but the league end will come too soon for Padraig to put a dent in Garry’s lead at the top of the leader board. Paul Kennedy another man who is improving week on week finished 3rd last week in a time of 33.19.In the Ladies section it was Niamh O’Donovan for the 4th week in a row who lead them home with a time of 37.45 and she treated herself to a nice cooling off paddle in the river after the run. Nicola Moroney 39.16 for the 4th week in succession Nicola has filled the runners up spot and she seems to be really enjoying the league this year. Freida Mc Grath in a time of 42.29 was our 3rd Lady finisher last week.Well done to all who conquered the hills last week.

THANK YOU.

As always we are indebted to our steward’s and finish line helpers. Ray and Shirley,  Jim and Declan. Thanks to our sponsor Mark Mason. Please note presentation of prizes will take place this Wednesday after league is over so remember to bring a change of top with you.

NEW CASH BONUS ANNOUNCED FOR FAST TIMES AT THE AHS TUNING IRELAND 8th ANNUAL BALLINROAD 5K

Our first race in the clubs summer road race programme for 2023 will get underway with the AHS Tuning Ireland sponsored Ballinroad 5k on Friday May 12th at 7.30 pm.Firstly our sincere thanks to John Coleman of AHS for his continued sponsorship of this race which he has sponsored for the past 8 years. John operates a very successful car tuning company from his premises out on Coolagh road., Abbeyside. This year once again we are delighted to be able to help and support the local community in Ballinroad as the local soccer club Ballinroad A.F.C. will be the benefactors of the race, with monies donated towards the club’s underage teams. The race will incorporate a fun run/walk with proceeds from them going towards the clubs fund . Starting at 7.30 pm with Ballinroad community hall as the race H. Q. A huge turnout is expected if previous year’s is anything to go by as we deem the race to be the fastest flattest 5k course around. As you know in West Waterford AC we like to cater for all and have different prize structures in all our races, for the Ballinroad race we will have prizes for the top 5 men and women with lots and lots of spots for down the field finishers. Through the generosity of our sponsor we will this year be offering a cash performance bonus for both men and women,100 euro is an the added offer to the first Male to break 14.50 and the same to the first Female to who can break 17.00. The entry fee is 10 euro pre entry online. (15 euro on race night). The course chosen for the race is an excellent out and back course which is very flat so if it’s your first attempt at the 5k distance or you’re looking for a fast time on a flat- fast course this is your opportunity to shine. See you all Friday 12th May for race one.

GREAT VALUE RACE PACKAGE.

West Waterford Athletic Club are delighted to confirm dates and times for our summer programme of Road Races 2023.  We are finding that many are now using our online pre entry to our races which is a huge help to the race organisers .This year our online entry will be 10 euro per race. Also we are continuing our online race series package which will cost you only 50 euro for all 6 races. Going forward we hope to have more runners entered online as it really helps minimize the workload on the day of the race.

Please note !!

If you’re not an athletic club member when you purchase the package for summer races you will only pay the 2 euro fee once. If you pay for each race separately then you pay the €2 each time you enter each separate race .If you don’t enter online  and come along on the night to enter any of the race’s it will be 15 euro so get your online entry in is the answer here.

Entry link below.

https://eventmaster.ie/event/bLlqh9AHjr

RAIVIS ULTRA CONNEMARA.

Raivis Zakis was ultra-racing last Sunday at the annual Connemara event.Having ran the race back in 2014 when he finished 2nd in a time of 4.22.26. Raivis had one or two hiccups on the course this time round but never the less came home strong to take  5th place with a time of 4.36.59 The race which started in Recess and finished in Mann Cross with over 63 kms of the best climbs Connemara has to offer,well done Raivis.

BALLINTOTIS 4 MILE.

The Ballintotis 4 Mile Road Race was held last Thursday evening and a field of over 842 competed, the overall race winner was Ryan Creech Leevale AC in new course record of 19.11 with club mate at Leevale Lizzie Lee taking the ladies victory in 22.09 to retain her crown from 2022, West Waterford AC was well represented on the night with 17 athletes making the trip to the East Cork village for the race. First home from the club was Mark Cliffe in 25.47,the clubs  first lady home was Niamh O’Donovan in a time of 25.59,well done to all who competed.

Mark CLIFFE                       25:47                   

Niamh O’DONOVAN      25:59                   

Conor MURRAY                27:56   

Mick CONCANNON         28:45   

Rose KINSELLA                  29:49   

Brian WALSH                     30:04   

Kim DALY                            33:01   

Padraig BEGLEY                34:18   

Onra POWER                     34:58   

Helen KEATING                35:11   

Aisling CUSACK                                35:51   

Michael COAKLEY            36:18   

Patricja DALY                     36:46   

Catherine BOURKE          37:09   

Edel CURRY                        38:37   

Deirdre CLANCY               44:42

DAMIEN MURPHY 3rd AT BALLYNEAL 5K-GRAINNE MOORE  1st JUNIOR LADY.

The annual MSD sponsored Ballyneal 5k was held last Friday evening and it was race one in the 2023 Carrick On Suir road runners summer series.Overall winner was Dermot Gorman Carrick AC in a time of 16.05 from Waterford’s Noel Murphy 2nd in 16.38 and Damien Murphy West Waterford SC was 3 rd in 16.43,Damien is home for a short break from his work base in Switzerland and it’s great to see him running so well presently. Another club member who had an excellent run was Cathal Reynolds’s who clocked a time of 18.54 for 16 th place. Geroid Coffey was 2 nd junior in a time of 19.14 finishing 20th overall.In the Ladies race the winner was Sharon Cleese Thurles Crokes AC in 18.19 ,Clonmel’s Keely Tideswell was 2nd in 18.46 and 3 rd was Louise Mahony Ballyroan AC in 19.50.Grainne Moore West Waterford AC won the Junior Ladies in 21.11 , well done to her on her first junior road race prize.In all the club was well represented at the venue and well done to all who traveled .

Damien Murphy 16.43

Cathal Reynolds’s 18.54

Geroid Coffey 19.14

Tom Hogan 20.51

Grainne Moore  21.11

Mick Concannon 21.46

Johnny Burkin 22.04

Bryan Hallissey 22.59

Brigid Coffey 24.10

Sandra Moore 25.42

Onra Power 26.33

Michael Coakley 27.32

Sharon Higgins 28.07

Eamon Curran 29.02

Deirdre Clancy 33.13

SILVER FOR LUCY AT UNIVERSITIES T AND F.

Club member Lucy Holmes was 2nd last Saturday  at Irish Universities outdoor track and field championships held in DSD track Dublin, competing with MTU over 800 metres Lucy recorded a time of 2.10.15 to take silver for her college.

KATE VEALE 13th IN WARSAW.

Kate Veale was back on international duty last Sunday when she made the trip to Warsaw Poland for the 2nd Korzeniowski Warsaw Race Walking Cup, a world gold level event which included the Polish national championships,Kate had high hopes of racing well here but unfortunately she hadn’t her best day out when she finished 13th in 1.42.32. Kate is still chasing that 1.39 European cup qualification time and as they say in sport you got to put it behind you pick yourself up and drive on.

JAMES WHELAN 21st AT WEXFORD HALF MARATHON.

James Whelan put in terrific  run last Sunday morning at the Wexford half marathon where the event saw 982 running the half marathon distance and 672 ran the 10 k.James clocked a time of 1.26.26 to finish 21st overall which was a brilliant run by him.James a regular club runner who hardly misses a club race targeted this half way back and he was rewarded for his training and dedication with this great run. The club had other fine performance by two of its members also at the same half when Martin Tobin covered the 13.1 miler in a solid time of 1.40.00 and one of the clubs newest members Niamh Fennell ran a time of 65.14.well done to all three