MUNSTER NOVICE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The Munster Novice cross country championships were held last Sunday in Two Mile Borris Co. Tipperary. The Novice races for men and women were preceded by the Juvenile even ages championships where our club did very well, (see juvenile report). Our club has a great tradition at cross country running where we always have teams competing and here again on Sunday we had both a men’s and women’s teams in action. In the Men’s race our team of 4 ran well to take 5th club team place overall with victory going to Emmet Mc Namara Feather AC. Once again our club had a team competing and well done to them for wearing the club singlet, first home was Justin Ryan in a top 10 placing finishing 9th overall, next was Garry Cantwell in 26th place , our 4th finisher was Mossie Keogh in 35th place and followed by Alan Hogan 41st.A total of 131 points.In the Ladies race the winner this year was Cork City AC’s Meg Ryan. Angela Tobin was our first athlete across the finish in an excellent 13th place overall and Angela was followed by Anne Moore in 28th Niamh O’Donovan 37th and Fiona Connell 43rd a total of 124 for 5th team place and just outside the medals when finishing 4th county team. Fia De Paor ran an excellent Junior under 20 race finishing 15th overall and she was a scoring team member on the Waterford country team who took bronze county medals. We had two other Ladies in the under 20 race well done also to Sarah O’Riordan 45th ,Jessica Grigor 48th Well done to all and to those who looked after the teams.
EUROPEAN MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
SILVER FOR JOE IN 1.500 METERS FINAL.
The past weekend was a very busy one for club member Joe Gough who was one of 140 Irish Masters athletes competing in the European Masters Championships in Madeira which is being held over a week’s long programme. Competing in the over 70 age group Joe was entered in the 400 metres 800 meters and 1.500 meters. Starting off with the 400 meters heats on Friday afternoon last Joe was drawn in heat 2 of 3 with 2 to qualify plus 2 fastest losers, Joe ran a time of 1.04.60 to win his heat and it was also the fastest time from the 3 heats. Joe’s time here was a new Irish for O/70 beating the old mark of 64.69 set in 2014 by John Mc Dermot. The final here was held on Saturday where Joe was just outside the podium finish when crossing the line 4th in a time of 1.04.92. Gold went to Steve Peters Gt Britain in 1.01.62, Silver to Juan Carlos Rodriquez Spain in 1.03.21 and bronze to Reinhard Michelin Germany in 1.03.41.Hard luck for Joe here who ran an excellent race and was so close to a podium finish. Also on Saturday Joe ran in the semi-finals of the 1.500 meters where he was drawn in heat 3 of 3, and finishing in 4th place with a time of 6.13.09 Joe was in for Sunday’s final with the 4th fastest time in the semis. In the 1.500 meters final on Sunday Joe ran a super race to break the Irish over 70 record but was just piped for gold by Oeteris Arents Lativia who clocked a time of 5.22.15 with Joe taking silver in 5.22.60 and the bronze went to another Irish athlete Brian Lynch 5.42.73 .He now has a week break until the 800 metres semi-final on Friday next October 17th at 3 pm with final on Saturday October 18th at 10.48 am, well done Joe and best of luck next weekend.
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETES COMPETE AT IUAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Five athletes from West Waterford AC represented their universities at the IUAA Intervarsity Cross Country Championships, held on Saturday, 11th October 2025, at Tymon Park, Dublin. Between them, the athletes represented three different universities. This championship attracts Ireland’s top university athletes and is the first of four major university athletics events during the year, the others being the road relays, indoor, and outdoor championships. The course offered firm ground and crisp autumn conditions — perfect for competitive racing.Although times were officially recorded, one of the great things about cross country is that it’s not just about the times — it’s raw racing at its finest. In the Women’s 5,000 m race, Gráinne Moore, representing South Eastern Technological University, Waterford, finished 78th, covering the distance in 21 minutes and 37 seconds, while Angelina Chizikova, running for Munster Technological University, placed 91st in 23 minutes and 29 seconds. In the Men’s 8,000 m race, Naoise Murchadha, also representing Munster Technological University, finished 44th and was the third scorer for his team, helping secure a 9th place team finish. Teammates Gearóid Coffey and Mark Blackwell, representing the University of Limerick, finished 63rd and 83rd respectively. It is a source of pride for West Waterford AC to have local athletes competing at a national intervarsity level. Well done to all who ran fantastic running in a highly competitive field.
THE 31st ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
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.
WINTER LEAGUE ENTRY LINK HERE.
https://eventmaster.ie/event/9VEpTw5HWJ
MARK FLYNN BREAKS 3 HOUR BARRIER IN MUNICH.
The Munich Marathon was held last Sunday in ideal weather conditions with the overall victory going to Gabriel Lautenschlager Germany in a time of 2.18.28 and the Ladies race was won by fellow German Nina Voelckel in 2.31.33.West Waterford AC was represented at the event By club member Mark Flynn who had a superb run when finishing in a time of 2.56.05 smashing the 3 hour barrier. Mark trained diligently for this race and the hard work paid off, going through the half in a time of 1.28.24 he was full of running over the 2nd half and crossed the finish line in 2.56.05. Well done Mark.
DERMOT GOUGH AND MARK RADLEY RUN CHICAGO MARATHON.
The famous Chicago marathon was held last Sunday. Weather conditions were described as ideal for the huge field of 54.000 runners.Two dominating performances took the honours in Jacob Kiplimo Uganda and Hawi Feysa Ethiopia storm to comfortable wins in their respective races. Jacob 2.02.23 and Hawi an impressive 2.14.56.West Waterford AC have a great tradition in club members running these major marathons and Chicago comes into that category as this year saw 2 athletes make the trip, Dermot Gough and Mark Radley, both athletes trained well for the race and Dermot ran a blinder on the day when smashing the 3 hour mark clocking a great time of 2.48.17,Dermot cruised through the half in a time of 1.23.29 and continued a very even pace throughout the second half . Mark was a little unlucky this time out as he went through the half in 1.40.13 but unfortunately suffered an injury shortly after and he must be commended on finishing at all as he struggled home in a time of 3.46.44 . But he will of course fight another day. Well done to both Dermot and Mark.
