WATERFORD COUNTY SENIOR CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025.
GOLD FOR LADIES TEAM -SILVER UNDER 23 FOR GRAINNE MOORE.
The Waterford County senior cross-country championships were held last Sunday at St. Augustine’s College (By kind permission). The senior event was preceded by the uneven ages for Juveniles and there were good numbers in most juvenile races and besides the Ladies senior race with only one team West Waterford AC having the required 4 athletes the Senior men’s did have a good number of participants with 4 teams taking part. As usual the Friary grounds were at their best this time of year underfoot condition ideal and the sun was shining with little wind. In the Senior ladies race as we said only 5 athletes faced the starters gun, that said West Waterford AC have again kept the great tradition of having teams running at these championships as we had 4 athletes taking part and one from Waterford AC .It was the Waterford AC lady who was to take the gold individual medal on the day, so well done to Niamh Cusack on this achievement. Leading the field from the gun Niamh dominated the race from gun to post taking gold individual with Angela Tobin fresh from her exploits on the hills of Italy with the Irish team coming home in the individual silver position, Angela also finished runner up in last year’s race. Our 3rd finisher taking bronze individual and team gold was Eveleen Drohan. Eveleen is currently running very well and gave a great display last Sunday at the Friary grounds. Our 3rd Lady home is also to be commended on her run Grainne Moore filled that position and was our 3rd scoring team member. Grainne was also competing under 23 which was included in this event and here she took an individual silver. Tara Ní Reachatagain was our 4th scoring team member and without her efforts we wouldn’t have had a team at all . So very well done to these 4 ladies for running the championships as it’s of utmost importance that the club have teams represented at the country events. Thanks to Padraig Healy and Tom Leahy who came along on the day to give a hand with the results and well done to all our club athletes who came along and ran in the championship.
SENIOR LADIES
1 Niamh Cusack Waterford AC
2 Angela Tobin West Waterford AC
3 Eveleen Drohan West Waterford AC
4 Grainne Moore West Waterford AC
5 Tara Ní Reachatagain West Waterford AC
SENIOR LADIES TEAMS.
1st West Waterford A.C. 14 points
JAMES HUGHES PERPETUAL CUP GOES TO HARRY COLBERT.
The men’s Senior race saw one of the largest number of runners in some years taking part when it was good to see that there were 4 teams participating and a total of 17 participants. One team from Ferrybank one from Waterford and 2 from the host club West Waterford. But it has to be said that for a country championships in a county which holds such great tradition in cross country in the past that this is still quite poor that only 17 senior athletes race their county championships. To those who did run very well done to you all as ye battled for individual and team honours and of course the coveted James Hughes perpetual cup which is presented to the senior men’s winner each year .The cup was donated to the championships by Donal Power of Abbeyside in honour of his grandfather James Hughes, an Irish international cross country runner of note back in the 50s and 60s and this year the cup was presented Sunday to the new county cross country champion for 2025 Harry Colbert Waterford AC.Harry also lead his team to gold team medals along with Matteo Mary silver and Pat Fitzgerald bronze with Noel Murphy filling the 4th team spot giving the city team 13 points. For the record Harry also took the under 23 title here as well.The silver medal winning team came from Ferrybank with Andrew Connick 4th Jake Bagge 6th,Warren Roche 9th and the 4th scoring member was Craig O’Brien in 10th place giving them 29 points .As already stated we strive to and always have team competing at county level here and again this year 2 West Waterford Ac team toed the line.Aidan Connell was our first man home and was the reigning champion from 2024,Aidan was 4th this year and was followed by Justin Ryan in 8th place and next was Padraig Healy 11th and close behind James Coade 12th.These four were ably assisted by Mossie Keogh 14th Ray Hahesy 15th Yev Chizhikov 16rh abnd Michael Dunford 17th. Well done to our own club members who wore the singlet today making sure that once again our club team’s representing the club in the championships.
SENIOR MEN
1 Harry Colbert Waterford AC
2 Matteo Mary Waterford AC
3 Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC
SENIOR MENS TEAMS
1st Waterford AC 13 Points
2nd Ferrybank AC 29 Points
3RD West Waterford AC 36 Points
ARE YOU READY FOR THE 31st ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE .
The clubs winter league which now enters its 31st year will begin in November. This year the number collection night will take place on the Wednesday October 29th and we can answer any questions you may have and we will also explain the rules and regulations of the league as well as the two courses of the league .The first official night of the league will be the following week November 05th. For all those that won’t be able to make it to the sports centre on the first night of number collection, you may get your number on the following night. In fact, it’s possible to join the winter league at any stage throughout the course of the league. Winter league payment is a once off payment, with club members paying 40 euro (this includes the 5 euro once off number payment) and for non-members you can pay a once off payment of 45 euro which also includes the 5 euro number payment charge. This amount will cover you for the full duration of the league.
FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE POINTERS.
The Fordes Daybreak Winter League will once again take place from the Sports Centre, Quanns Dungarvan for 11 Wednesday nights commencing on Wed 05th November. We will continue for 7 nights before Christmas bringing us up to Wednesday 17th December.
After Christmas we will return on Wednesday the 7th January and continue for 4 nights with our final night on the 28th January.
Number pick up will take place at the Sports Centre Dungarvan on Wednesday 29th October at 6.30pm or on first night of the league from 6.15pm.
We hope you will join us again for this annual event and if you haven’t been with us before we guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s an 11 week challenge that can maintain your fitness over the winter and start 2026 on a high note.
As usual 2 options to choose from. The first is the “long” route which is 5.2 miles while the second choice is the “short” route and the distance here is approx 2.3 miles. Both routes start and finish at the Sports Centre, Quanns.
No High Vis, No Run. We will not allow any runner take part who doesn’t wear a high vis. No exceptions. It has to be a high vis not a luminous t-shirt.
No watches allowed or No Headphones. This is a very strict rule of this event. We will publish your time asap after the run. Your aim each week will be to run the time you ran the week before or if possible a little faster.
Stewards must be obeyed at all times. Your participation in this event is an indicator of your compliance with this rule.
Rules of the road apply. You must run on the footpath at all times when available and only cross the road at designated points where stewards will direct you.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE LEAGUE INDICATES THAT YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE ABOVE RULES.
ONCE OFF ONLINE REGISTRATION PAYMENT.
The clubs winter league which now enters its 31st year will begin in a few weeks’ time. This year the number pickup night will take place on the Wednesday October 29th.The following week the league will begin officially on November 05th. On this particular night the 5th all those interested and have registered online for the winter league are asked to come along and collect their number. You will be issued with a number for a cost of €5. This number is water proof and should be used every night that you run. We will have people on hand at the sports centre that will be available to answer any questions you may have and we will also explain the rules and regulations of the league as well as the two courses of the league .The first official night of the league will be the following week November 05th. For all those that won’t be able to make it to the sports centre on the number collection night you may still register online and get your number on the following Wednesday night. In fact, it’s possible to join the winter league at any stage throughout the course of the league. Last year we introduced the ability to pay in full for the league, a once off payment, which will save you money if you intend running the league each night. For club members you can pay 40 euro ( this includes the 5 euro once off number payment) and for non-members you can pay a once off payment of 45 euro which also includes the 5 euro number payment charge. This amount will cover you for the full duration of the league. Keep a close eye on our Facebook page for further updates.
