26th ANNUAL MICHAEL ROCHE CARPETS SERIES 2019/2020.
The 2019/20 Michael Roche Carpets Series has now come to an end after four excellent races. The series kicked off in November with the Murray’s Care Plus Pharmacy Dungarvan sponsored Brickey 4 mile road race. This year’s race was the 26th annual Brickey Run and the proceeds this year went to the local Glenbeg National School. Always a most enjoyable race with victory on the day going to Andrew Connick Ferrybank AC and Louise Morgan also Ferrybank AC won the ladies.Next race in the series was the Paddy Joe Curran memorial 5 Mile road race once again kindly sponsored by CleanZone Technologies. The committee in the Pulla area as always pulled out all the stops here and organised a fantastic day’s racing at the Marine where Eoghan and all the O ‘Neill family looked after us once again and all monies raised were donated to the Palliative care unit Dungarvan community hospital.Raivis Zakis West Waterford AC was the winner here for the 3rd year in succession while Kealy Tideswell Clonmel AC won the ladies race. After our Christmas break it was all guns blazing as we headed into race 3 in January with the annual Kiely Monumental sponsored Colligan Cup which is a “predict your time” race and this year the title went to Paula Collins West Waterford AC and Paula also took the shield for the ladies event.Thanks to David Kiely of Kiley Monumental works here one of the clubs longest serving sponsor’s.Next up and the final race in the Series was in February with the 3rd annual O’ Reilly traditional Butchers Kilmacthomas 4 mile race which took in the Waterford Greenway as part of the course. Thanks to Pa O’Reilly and al the Kilmac crew who ensured we had a super day’s racing with all proceeds here going to local group Kilmacthomas Tidy Towns Committee.Pat Hennessey West Waterford AC took another victory here while Mary Molloy Carrick On Suir AC took the ladies crown. The race series was well supported in all of the 4 events and we thank all who participated, we also must thank our overall sponsor for the 26th year in succession Michael and Bridget Roche and family of Michael Roche Carpets, plus of course the 4 individual race sponsors of each race also. The numbers held steady again this year in the series all helping in raising a fantastic amount of money for local clubs and charities in the process, as all our races donate to some charitable organisation. Thanks to Ann Dunford who looked after the series tables once again this year.
THREE IN A ROW FOR RAIVIS ZAKIS.
Ballinroad’s Raivis Zakis once again took the Michael Roche Carpets race series for 2019/20.Raivis has now won this event for the past 3 years which is super going Raivis who finished on a total of 8 points with your best finishing position from 3 races of a possible 4 to count. Raivis was 5th in Brickey 4, 1st in the Turkey Trot, 2nd in Kilmac 5 . The runner up this year was Yevgeniy Chizhikova on 57 points, Yev’s best placing was 10th in the Turkey Trot.Kevin Casey was 3rd overall this year and Kevin’s best placing was 3rd at the Colligan cup.Padraig Healy was 4th on 64 points and Martin Tobin was 5th finishing on 86 points , all in division 1.
MARTIN HAYES CLAIMS VICTORY IN DIVISION 2.
Division 2 this year was won Martin Hayes , his win in this division was fairly decisive as he finished with 43 points, Martin’s best place finish in the series was 7th in the Turkey Trot. Second in this division was Liam Fitzgerald on 70 points from his best 3 races while Michael Deegan was 3rd on 148 points.
RAY HAHESY CLINCHED DIVISION 3.
Having completed all 4 races in the series Ray Hahesy was winner of division 3 this year on 44 points, Ray was best placed at the Turkey Troy when he finished 11th on that occasion. Mark Cliffe was hot on his heels throughout and finished 2nd with 68 points.
TOM HOGAN IN DIVISION 4.
Tom Hogan was the runaway winner the final division for men when he finished his campaign with177 points, pretty well comer of the runner up David McNally who closed his racing with a total of 141 points. Well done to all our winners in this year’s series, and thanks to everyone who supported it also.
MARY MOLLOY BRINGS LADIES TITLE TO CARRICK.
Claiming her first Michael Roche carpets overall win Mary Molloy was deserving of the title having ran the required 3 races out of a possible 4 Mary really clinched the crown with a great victory at the Kilmacthomas 4 mile. Mary also ran well when finishing 4th at the Turkey Tot and also a 3rd place at the Brickey 5k, this gave Mary a total of 8 points the very same winning tally as our Men’s winner Raivis Zakis.Mary who runs with Carrick On Suir Ac is no stranger to us here in West Waterford as she is and has been a regular at all our events over many years and is a popular winner among her fellow athletes. Runner-up this year was Niamh O’Donovan West Waterford AC, Niamh ran well throughout the series and her best finish was 5th at the final race the Kilmacthomas 4 mile. The Modeligo lady accumulated 20 points from her best 3 scoring races.Caroline Russell was 3rd on 80 points and it was great to see Caroline making the winner’s podium this year.
NICOLA MORONEY BEST IN DIVISION 2.
This year the division 2 title went to another club supporter of many our events Nicola Moroney, Nicola ran 3 races with her best finishing position at the Brickey 5 when she finished 6th.Nicola’a total points was 63.Phillippa Keating took 2nd place here in this division and she finished with 116 points. Well done all the ladies who entered and ran the series this year.
THANK YOU TO THE ROCHE FAMILY.
Congratulations to all the prize-winners for 2019/20 and of course a big thank you to our Series sponsors Michael, Bridget and the Roche family of Michael Roche Carpets, Fair Lane Dungarvan. Michael has been well known in Dungarvan running circles for many years and was an athlete of the highest calibre in his day. Michael and Bridget along with two of their boys Donncha and David were present at the Kilmacthomas Community centre recently to present all the winners with their prizes of which we thank him.
KATE VEALE WINS IRISH LIFE HEALTH NATIONAL 20K.
Well done to Kate Veale who won the national 20k walk held last Saturday in St Ann’s Park Raheny Dublin. Kate was retaining her title for 2019, she finished 5th overall in the race with a good field of international walkers present.
TRAINING 2020
We will be back in action shortly to prepare for the summer series of races. Initially we will set down some baseline markers so that you know where you are at and will be able to compare as the year goes on. We have a good 6 weeks before the first summer series race and our priority will be to train Vo2 max to help improve our basic speed so that we can run faster and get a few PB’s! In races up to 10k Vo2 max is the most important variable that will determine performance. From 10k upwards the ratio of Vo2 max to lactate threshold changes. In basic terms the shorter the race the higher the Vo2 max is needed for optimal performance. The reverse is also true in that for marathons lactate threshold is the important variable. This is why we do different workouts at different times of the year depending on what the goal race is. For 10 miles / half marathon distance lactate threshold is the predominant variable but Vo2 max cannot be forgotten about either.Vo2 max is defined as the maximal amount of oxygen that your heart can pump to your muscles and that your muscles can then use to produce energy. It’s the sum of your heart rate multiplied by the amount of blood pumped per beat, times the proportion of oxygen extracted from the blood and used by your muscles. A combination of your training and genetics determines how high a Vo2 max you will have. As a group we cannot change your genetics but we can change the training to improve your Vo2 max. Alongside this we will be doing lots of work on our running mechanics to help improve running efficiency. The more efficient we are the less energy we use to generate speed thus helping us to run faster. We will incorporate drills into as many sessions as we can depending on the type of session we are doing and the weather conditions. If a marathon later in the year is your main priority improving your basic speed first is very beneficial so this block of training can be used as a pre cursor to endurance training. The main events that we will train for will be the summer series, Eurofins Greenway half marathon then an autumn marathon. Even if you are not training for anything specific you can always come along and do a session. Every run you do in company is one less that you have to do alone. If you are training for something specific in the spring all the sessions can be adapted to suit your needs.
RUN 5KM BY MAY.
Back by popular demand ! Over the last few years over 300 people have completed our 0 to 5km programmes.For 2020 we are offering a spring programme where you can come along and learn to run 5km and be ready to take on the Ballinroad 5km run at the end of it. This run is a fundraiser for Ballinroad Soccer Club so you will be supporting your local community as well as improving your physical and mental health.If you have never run before or want to get back into running then this is the group for you. We don’t expect you to be fit just healthy enough to start exercising.Over the 6 weeks you will progress from walking to running at your pace and your level. All our coaches are fully qualified and insured by Athletics Ireland and have years of experience.To book your place contact Claire Kennedy on 087 911 6997.
WORLD LEAD FOR JOE AS TERRI GRABS 4 GOLD.
Congratulations to Joe Gough who took Gold and the World Lead in the M65 400m Irish Life Health Masters indoors in Athlone National Arena last Sunday with a time of 60.04 seconds. Terri Gough once again over 75 dominated her age category when she took 4 gold medals. In the 60 meters Terri clocked a time of 14.44. Next up was the 200 meters where Terri clocked a time of 53.44. In the throwing events the Weight for distance she threw 3.26, in the shot a distance of 6.72, very well done to the Gough’s who competed in 5 events and brought 5 gold medals home and a world lead not a bad days work.
PAT HENNESSEY 2ND IN KILSHEELAN 10.
Pat Hennessey was back in action to day running the Kilsheelan 10 mile road race where he finished a strong 2nd with a time of 52.04 behind winner Kevin Maunsell 51.52, the ladies winner was Angela Mc Cann Clonmel AC who finished 7th overall in 56.43, West Waterford’s Colm Ryan also put in a great performance when finishing 6th overall in a time of 62.45, the clubs 3rd competitor was Michael Coakley and he ran 1.40.10, well done to all three.
WEST WATERFORD AC IN CROSSHAVEN.
The Crosshaven 5k and 10k races were held Sunday and West Waterford AC had four Ladies participating. In the 5k race Linda Foley finished 4th lady home with a time of 21.40, next home was Cait Verling breaking the 30 minute barrier with 29.26.Hazel Crowley clocked a time of 33.08 and over the 10k distance Carol Pope was under the 55 minute mark with a time of 54.57 and our Colligan cup champ for 2020 Paula Collins ran a time of 57.46.Well done to all.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extends sincere sympathy to the families and friend of John Clarke Bradford Close,Southways,Abbeyside.Paul O’Daly Whitechurch,Cappagh.Josephine Regan Glendine Drive,Abbeyside. Ned Coleman Mc Carthy Ville,Abbeyside.who passed to their eternal reward ,may they rest in peace.
DUNHILL/FENOR 10.
The Dunhill/Fenor 10 mile road race was held to day and the overall winner was Noel Murphy Waterford AC in a time of 53.23 with the Ladies win going to Erika Dowling Focus On Fitness in 1.1.49.West Waterford AC had three participants Liam Fitzgerald ran a time of 1.13.44 with Mick Concannon completing the course in1.16.42 and our only lady representative was Ann Dunford 1.19.50,well done.
RAIVIS 7TH IN DUHALLOW 10.
Well done to club member Raivis Zakis was finished 7th in todays Duhallow 10 mile road race with a time of 54.53.By all accounts it was a difficult day for this particular race with wind, rain and hailstones the order of the day for those partcipating.
RUNNING QUOTE.
“I’m afraid the reson so many new runners quit is because they never get past the point of feeling like they have to run”
