28th ANNUAL MICHAEL ROCHE CARPETS SERIES. race 4.
32nd ANNUAL KIELY MONUMENTAL COLLIGAN CUP
PAULA COLLINS WINS COLLIGAN CUP .
It was a cold and frosty start to the morning for our 32nd annual trip to Colligan wood last Sunday where we had Juvenile and Senior athletes alike all hoping to lift the relevant trophies on offer at one of the most prestigious events on the local running calendar the Kiely Monumental sponsored Colligan cup. The first race of the day as the Mc Grath newsagents colligan shield of juveniles, and this year’s winner here was Kyla Flavin.A full report on this great event can be seen in this week juvenile club notes.So it was from this to the 32nd annual Kiely Monumental Colligan cup, the race where all participants have exactly the same chance of winning as the next runner. The countdown clock was started at 60 minutes by Ray Burke and Victor Mullins our timing scrutinisers at the stroke of 12 noon. It was then up to the runners themselves to start when they wanted with the aim being to be the first person to finish when the clock hits 0.At the end of the 3 and a half laps covering a total distance of 5 miles the runners were well and truly grouped together with a huge group heading down the wood for the final time on the last lap. As the field of runners got closer and closer to the finishing line it was a tossup as to who would be deemed the winner for the 32nd time, and after the clock struck 00 it was a Ballinroad lady Paula Collins who was deemed to have her name go down in the annals of Colligan cup history with her name to be inscribed on the Colligan Monument located at the Wooden bridge as the overall winner for 2020.Congratulations to Paula who was 13 seconds off her predicted race time but the nearest in the field of runners to her finishing time, Paula is a member of a Nugent family who for many years have been part and parcel of the club along with all her sisters who are all heavily involved in all club events, however she is the first of the family to take the title.Nuala Hogan was next finisher ,indeed both our winner Paula and Nuala ran much of the race together and coming to the finish line were should to shoulder so either of the two ladies could have taken the title with just one second between the two ladies. Kevin Casey was our 3rd runner home and Kevin was 16 seconds outside his predicted time and our first male on the right side of the clock. Anthony Dwyer was 4th on the right side of the clock but was 20 seconds outside his time and 5th home was Tom Nyhan 21 seconds too slow. Tom was running the event for the first time so he received the Victor Mullins cup. Michael Deegan,Vincent Tutty and David Traynor were also all very close on the day with just seconds off taking the title for 2020.We always look at those who were so near but yet so far on the wrong side of the clock or too fast than their predicted time and Cyril Flavin was just 14 seconds ahead likewise Noel Quinn was 16 seconds too fast, maybe next year lads.Here’s to the 33rd year next year PG.
FIRST FIVE :
Mens
Kevin Casey
Anthony Dwyer
Michael Deegan
Vincent Tutty
David Traynor
ON THE DOUBLE FOR PAULA AS SHE ALSO CLAIMS COLLIGAN SHIELD.
Huge congratulations to our ladies shield winner last Sunday Paula Collins who not alone won the Kiely Monumental Colligan shield for ladies which is presented to the first lady each year on the right side of the clock but of course as you saw already she also won the overall cup, a feat only achieved by 5 ladies previously. So both the shield and Cup will rest nicely on the Collins mantle for the next 12 months in Ballinroad. Our 2nd lady home was Nuala Hogan just a tad behind Paula only one second in fact between them with Fiona Longan our next lady across the line in 3rd place and she was only 23 seconds off lifting the trophy. Orla O’Mahnoy was 4th lady home on the right side of the clock 66 seconds off her target time and Ann Lyons was next in 5th place also 66 seconds off her time.It must have been a better day for running than most thought as the stats show us that a whopping 73 runners were too fast of their predicated time and only 28 were on the right side of the clock. Ann and Orla are relatively new to the sport and are part of Irene’s Monday evening Ladies running group so a special well done to them, Well done to all our ladies winners and those who came along to take part also.
FIRST TWO WOMEN
Ladies
1.Paula Collins
- Nula Hogan
- Fiona Longan
- Ann Lyons
- Orla O’Mahony
VICTOR MULLINS CUP GOES TO TOM NYHAN.
Victor Mullins was the creator of this style of time handicap race as it was he who came up with the handicap timing system which has been used now for the past 32 years in this event. Each year Victor presents the Victor Mullins Cup and a prize to the first person on the right side of the clock that has never ran the Colligan Cup before. This year’s winner was Tom Nyhan who could have also won the overall also as he was next runner home after our winner. Our thanks go to Victor for his help and sponsorship of this element of the race and for his ongoing involvement with this race each year.
MANY THANKS.
Our thanks to all who helped in any way to make last Sunday’s 32nd Annual Kiely Monumental Colligan cup another great event and one that many love running in the clubs huge calendar of events. As mentioned in these notes after Colligan for the past 32 years a huge thanks go to our loyal sponsor from day one, David and Margaret Kiely of Kiely Monumental works. Many thanks also to David who once again as he always is, available to present the winners with the famed Colligan cup and shield on the day to the overall winner and Ladies winner also.Speaking of 32 years, our next person to thank is the man who devised this event way back then and has not missed one since in all of those 32 years that’s Victor Mullins and for all his practical help on the day and he also was on hand to present his cup the Victor Mullins trophy to this year’s winner.To the numerous people who looked after the entries and results especially Shirly, Ann,Ray, Tom and thanks to Ray and Victor for looking after the timing and Gerry who sorted this year’s results. Thanks to Ann Dunford for looking after the prizes for the race and her efforts with securing the use of Colligan wood for the event. Thanks to Jamie Mills and all for who helped with the stewarding. Many thanks to Coillte for the use of Colligan, without their help we couldn’t have staged the event at all. Here’s to next year and the 33rd year of the event in 2021.
18TH ANNUAL KILMACTHOMAS 4 FEBRUARY 16th.race 4.
The final race in the Michael Roche carpets series will be on Sunday February 16th at 11 a.m., the 18th Annual Kilmacthomas 5. Entries will be taken at the community hall Kilmacthomas at the top of the town with the entry fee being 8 Euro. Shower facilities will also be available in this hall after the event for both men and women. very attractive prize fund will be on offer for the top competitors and plenty of spots for down the field finishers also. Sandwiches and refreshments will be available to all after the event. This is the final race in the Michael Roche carpets race series and presentation of series prizes will take place on the day.
JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 MILE RACE – PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN
Work is well underway behind the scenes to make this year’s race the biggest and best yet.
As you know it’s our flagship race of the year and one where we really need all hands on deck to maintain the high standards set over the years. Without the help of club members and the local community it would not have grown to be the biggest 10 mile race in the country. Once again we are asking for your help to keep it on the map as the 10 mile race of the year nationally.
You can help in many ways……..
IF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING – Would you consider stewarding, helping out with water stops or catering? 200 Crew members are needed so even a few hours would be a big help. If you are available on the day please can you let me know or contact Karen Ryan on 086 8245683
IF YOU ARE RUNNING – Feeding 3000 athletes plus their supporters is a huge undertaking and if you have spent the morning of this race in the hall you will know just how many bracks need to be cut and buttered and sandwiches prepared. Truth be told it may have changed your opinion of brack. Could you make a few sandwiches / buns or bring a cake or biscuits? It doesn’t have to be homemade as all contributions are appreciated. If you can help here please let me know.
The other way that you could help after the race is by giving us an hour of your time to help clear the hall or finish line. At this stage of the weekend everyone is tired and a few extra hands means those within the club who have been working all weekend can get home a bit earlier and it takes the edge of the clear up which is no-one’s favourite job !Please don’t assume that ‘somebody’ else will do this. We rely on the kind hearts and enthusiasm of the same crew every year and we would love a few more hands to lighten the load. If you have a few hours on Sunday February 2nd please contact stewarding coordinator Karen Ryan 086 8245683. or catering manager Gerry Cantwell 086 3503571
FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
JOHN LEONARD WINS GUESS YOUR TIME RUN IN WEEK 6.
Conditions for week 6 of our winter league were idea for a change with no rain or wind which seem to have been the norm this year to date, last week we had our pre Colligan cup guess your time run on both the long and short courses and on the long course it was John Leonard who came out as winner on the night. John crossed the one exactly when the clock struck 00.00 so this deemed him the winner and the nearest to his predicted time on the night, very close also was Catriona Kiely just 1 second out with Paul Brunnock only 4 seconds off winning and Fiona O’Brien 5 seconds and just 6 seconds out for Joe Collins so these were just slower than their predicted starting time also very close but on the fast side of the clock were Sharon Higgins only 2 seconds off winning and likewise Tom Mansfield also only 2 seconds with Paul Mc Grath 3 seconds too fast Liam Kavanagh and Noel Quinn both 4 seconds out also, all in all anyone of ten were just seconds off winning on the night some on the fast side and some on the slow side of our winner John. Please note to be down early this week as we are having a mass start on both courses, with registration in the boxing club behind sport center.
KIM DALY SHOWS THE WAY AT WINTER LEAGUE SHORT COURSE.
It was one the best nights that we’ve had for this year’s winter league as our runners gathered again for the Fordes Daybreak Winter League. Once again a great crowd of over 80 runners gathered in Dungarvan Sports Centre before heading out on the 2.4 mile run. As it was the second night of 2020, we had a good few new people registering along with the league regulars. This section of the league has first timers and beginners in mind and is a manageable distance for most as it covers 2.4 miles in total. Even if you haven’t come along up to now, maybe it’s a challenge you could take on for the New Year. Tonight (22nd January) is a “Mass Start” meaning everyone will go off together at the same start time. The start will be at 6.50 so make sure to be in time to register. For this week registration will be in Dungarvan Boxing Club. this is located directly behind the Sports Centre.Last week was a predict your time or “Colligan Cup” night meaning the winner was the person who was next to cross the line after the clock hits 0. It is a great test of pacing as it is up to each runner themselves when to head out. Winner on the night was Kim Daly who got her time exactly right. Next closest after the clock were Denise Conway and Lisa Collins (both 2 seconds), with Conor O’Neill 3 seconds after and Ita Mason 4 seconds after. The unluckiest person on the night was Carley Kearns who was 1 second too fast. Maire Casey and Tim O’Keefe were both 4 seconds too fast.Well done to all who took part, and remember newcomers are always welcome. Just come along to Dungarvan Sports centre on Wednesday Night at 6.30 to register – Also thanks to all out Stewards out on the course and our crew in the hall and at the Finish Line. Remember this week’s league is a mass start so be down early, short course off at 6.50 PM.
MASS START FOR WEEK 8.
Please note that next week we won’t have the use of the sport centre due to another event on, so we will be using the Dungarvan Boxing club premises at the rear of sports centre (by kind permission) for registration also please note that we will be having a mass start for both courses, Short course runners off at 6.50 and long course runners 5 minutes later at 6.55.
WINTER LEAGUE T-SHIRT.
There is a Winter League T-Shirt as a bonus for anyone that runs 8 nights out of 12 in the league. As there was some nights cancelled pre-Christmas, an extra night will be added to the league, with the league now finishing on 19th February.
YURI KANASH WINS MUNSTER SENIOR POLE VAULT TITLE.
Well done last Sunday to Yuri Kanash who won the Munster senior pole vault gold in Nenagh Stadium.
PAT HENNESSEY TAKES NEWCASTLE 5K.
161 competed in Sundays Newcastle 5k race in Tipperary, it was another memorable day for West Waterford’s Pat Hennessy who once again proved what a great talent he is when winning with a time of 15.25 from his club mate Raivis Zakis who ran a time of 16.01,Colm Ryan also secured a top finish when he was 5th in 17.51, also making the trip to Tipp was Mick Concannon who completed the course in 22.26 and Michael Coakley ran a time of 28.34.The ladies winner was Angela Mc Cann Clonmel AC who finished 7th in 18.42.
FRANK LEAHY 5 MILE.
The Frank Leahy 5 mile was held in the city Sunday and our club had 3 athletes participating. The overall winner was Noel Murphy Waterford AC with a time of 25.53 while the Ladies title also went to a Waterford AC athlete Anna O’Connor in 30.55.West Waterford’s Jason Travers broke the 30 minute barrier for 8th place in 29.43,Martin Tobin was well under the 35 minutes when he ran 34.19 and Owen Power completed the course in 44.21
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Vinny O’Mahony Tournore Abbeyside who passed to his eternal reward last week ,may he rest in peace.
RUNNING QUOTE.
If I lost running, I lost who I was.
