26th ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
MAKE THE MOVE ON JANUARY 8TH AND JOIN THE 435 RUNNERS AT THE WINTER LEAGUE.
The second half of the West Waterford Athletic Club winter league kicks off again on Wednesday 8th January at the sports centre, Quanns, Dungarvan at 6.50 pm. A large crowd is expected for the first night of 2020 and we hope that all those of you who have made the New Year resolutions to improve your health and fitness will come on down and join the league and the other 435 runners who have made the right decision already. Our motto at the winter league is that it’s never too late, so why not come along and get on your way to a healthier and fitter 2020. If tonight is your first night please come along around 6.30 so that we can issue you with a number and explain the procedure to you. Newcomers are welcome each night of the league and if you can’t make it tonight then come along next week and bring a friend or two with you, the more the merrier! Now that we all have had a break from the league it’s time to get back on track and concentrate on the next six weeks of the league. Even if you haven’t managed to get some training in don’t let that put you off coming tonight, we will all be a little bit sluggish tonight for the first mile or two, just adjust your pace and in no time you will be back to your normal running pace. The starting times will vary each week in order to make each run as interesting as possible and also to give us all that extra push and motivation to get to the finishing line as quickly as possible. Don’t forget your reflective bib and your number for tonight. See you at the Sport’s Centre!
THANKS TO ALL OUR WINTER LEAGUE RUNNERS AND HELPERS.
Our thanks to Santa who made a welcome visit on our final round of the winter league just before our customary break for Christmas, the league will resume again on Wednesday January 8th.Now that the first half of the league is over we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those involved in the league as without their help and support the league could not possibly to organise each and every week. We are most fortunate to have a dedicated team of stewards, time-keepers, administrators and traffic controllers who help out week after week regardless of the weather or conditions and we are extremely grateful for their invaluable help. And a very special well done to all of you our winter league runners who have now reached the half way point of this year’s league each and every one of you should be well please and proud to have made the start ,we wish you all a very happy new year and injury free running 2020 see you all again for the 2nd half of the best league in town on Wednesday January 8th. and remember please do bring a friend.
JUST PAST THE HALF WAY LEAGUE.
The final Wednesday night of the 2019 winter league was the second occasion so far this year that our league was cancelled, When we have a yellow alert warning in place we have to take the precaution and last week it was the right call as the winds were very high and it would have been unsafe to have anyone out running in it not to mention our team of stewards also. Its unfortunate that two weeks have had to be cancelled but its safety first always. We hope to have more favorable weather now for the remaining rounds of the league in 2020.You can join in this league any week and we love to see newcomer’s added to the list, so come along and give it a go – in the new year you have nothing to lose. You can make it a new year’s resolution even. This is only the sixth week so remember there is a long way to go and aim to slowly improve. There are six more weeks after Christmas starting on January Wednesday 8th .
“VENTURE CLOTHING” WINTER LEAGUE STEWARDS DRAW.
A huge thank you to Cathal and all at Venture Clothing Dungarvan who donated a beautiful hamper which was raffled among all stewards of our Forde’s Daybreak winter league, the lucky winner of the hamper was Ger Wyley , congratulations Ger and thanks once again Cathal for your kind gesture.
10K KILMACTHOMAS GREENWAY FUN RUN IN AID OF IRISH WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION.
A 10k fun run and 5k walk will be held on Sunday January 5th at 11 am in Kilmacthomas with a proceeds donated to the Irish Wheelchair Association. Entry fee is 10 euro or donation if preferred. Prizes will awarded to the first 3 men and ladies plus lots of good down the field spots on the day. Registration at Kilmacthomas Rainbow hall in the Village from 10 AM with run starting at 11 am. All are welcome, a cuppa will be available for all after event. Come along and bring a friend to support this worthy charity. Main sponsors are Brennan Refrigerated Transport Fews and associate sponsors are Kirwans Pharmacy Kilmacthomas.
29TH ANNUAL MICHEAL ROCHE CARPETS RACE SERIES. race 3.
32nd ANNUAL KIELY MONUMENTAL COLLIGAN CUP.
The Michael Roche Carpets Series will continue on Sunday the 19th January with the 32nd Annual Kiely Monumental Colligan Cup. The Juvenile race starts at 11.00 pm. The senior race is over the usual 5 miles Colligan wood circuit and Juveniles will have a single 1-mile circuit to run. The Colligan cup is a unique event in that it is run on a handicap basis where you simply predict your finishing time over a 5 mile run, with the winner being the person who is nearest to that predicted time. This makes the race open to all no matter what your standard is, everyone has the same chance of taking the title. Now in its 32nd year we would like to thank sincerely our sponsor for all of those 32 years David Kiely of Kiely Monumental for his on-going support for the local running club West Waterford AC. So for a great fun event on the yearly running calendar Colligan is where you need to be come Sunday 19th January
18TH ANNUAL KILMACTHOMAS 4.
The final race in the Michael Roche carpets series will be on Sunday February 23rd 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.
RUN TO IMPROVE YOUR JOHN TREACY 10 TIME..
We are heading onto the last few weeks of training for the John Treacy 10 mile race.
If this is your first time running 10 miles or you need to get some structure into your training why not join us for January.
WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR ? Anyone who can currently run 8k, at any pace, and wants to train to either increase the pace or the distance they can run to complete the John Treacy 10 mile race.
WHAT DO I GET ? A coached running session on a Tuesday evening, training plan for the rest of the week and online support. You will also have the support and camaraderie of the group which makes training ,much easier
If you have any questions by all means contact us. Claire Kennedy 087 911 6997 or Jim Fleming 087 288 1151
CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2020.
The club membership for 2020 can now be paid now. The club membership is for the calendar year January to December. The membership stays unchanged at 25 euro. You can pay your membership at any club event or download a membership form on club web site www.westwaterfordathletics.org and send to registrar Gerry Cantwell Helvick, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. Also you can now pay your club membership online at www.westwaterfordathletics.org
LADIES RUNNING GROUP.
Following on from the success of the inaugural ladies social running group in Autumn 2019 we will continue with this initiative into 2020.The focus for this group is on general fitness not performance but for anyone who needs a goal we will be working towards the Kilmac 4 mile race in mid February. If you enjoy running and can jog for 20 mins then you will be well able for this group. We offer 2 routes 3k or 5k and you progress at your own pace. If you want to walk / jog that is fine and if you want to run fast that is also fine. YOU decide what works for YOU on the night. There is no such thing as too slow.If you finish work at 5pm you can have your run done at 5.30pm and be home by 6.30pm. If you finish work later we also have a 6.30pm group.If you struggle to get out on your own and find running on your own hard come and join us on Monday nights. Nobody gets left behind and we all run with a buddy so the run is over before you know it.For further information and to book your spot contact Irene on (086) 8242348
€2.900 RAISED AT ST. STEPHEN’S DAY JOLLY JAUNT IN AID OF KIERAN POWER MS BENIFIT FUND.
The 22nd annual St Stephen’s Day fun run jointly organised by Dungarvan GAA in association with West Waterford athletic club was held again this year, the run got under way later than the usual morning start as a mark of respect to the late Danny Mc Grath who was laid to rest the same morning.The weather turned out to be a little wet as the event progressed but none the less there was a terrific turn out of runners and walkers raising a brilliant amount of 2.900 euro which was donated to the Kieran Power MS benefit fund, this was presented to Kieran by Dungarvan GAA club chairman David Kiely on behalf of all who participated. Club chairman David Kiely spoke and thanked all for their support on the day. There was a tinge of sadness for this year’s event now in its 21st year as two stalwarts and organisers of the great charity drive were not present and have gone to their eternal rewards, Jim Dee and Paddy Fitzgerald again we extend our sincere sympathies to their families and friends as we think of them this day and the great work they put in each and every year for the betterment of others. Very special thanks once again this year to the catering committee headed up by Imelda Morrissey who provided the cuppa and the sandwiches which greeted the participants on their return to the centre. Thanks also to Tom,Trevor,Liam and Tony who looked after the stewarding and parking. Finally a big thanks to Francis Barry and Pat Kiely who their contribution on what was another very successful St Stephens day charity event.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED FOR JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.
It’s that time of year again when we take on the mammoth task of organising the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile. We have been fortunate in the past to have had help from club members and also from many outside of the club circle who come along each year to give a few hours of their time. This year we are in need of that same help again and even more, with a much bigger field assembled this year we will be under more pressure in making sure these visitors to our town leave with a good experience of what Dungarvan has to offer and we hope such will be the impression we will make on them that they will want to come back again to visit the town for maybe a longer stay. We will need stewards and people to help with catering on the day ,if you have a few hours on Sunday February 2ND please contact stewarding coordinator Karen Ryan on 086-8245683.Support your local athletics club-Many hands make light work!!!!
CLONMEL 4.
A field of 451 completed the St Stephens day 4 mile road race hosted by Clonmel AC and held in Clonmel. The overall race winner was Sean Tobin of the host club in a brilliant new course record of 17.45 which also as far as i can see is a new Irish 4 mile road race record also ,this record was set by Noel Berkley in Peoria USA in 1992 when he ran a time of 17.59,Sean time today will have to be ratified of course but either way it’s some run. The overall ladies winner was Siobhan O’Doherty Borrisokane AC 23.10.From a West Waterford view Pat Hennessey rounded off his year with a brilliant 7th place finish, running just outside 5 minute pace per mile when he clocked 20.06. Colm Ryan can be well pleased with his run clocking a time of 23.23 he then came along to Dungarvan to support the St Stephens day charity run as well. Joe Gough dipped under the 25 minute mark when he ran a time of 24.23 while John Fennell made the trip to Tipp running a time of 32.10 and Michael Coakley fresh from his big trip to Manchester USA ran a time of 36.04,well done to all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
West Waterford athletic club extends new year’s greetings to all its members, sponsors, friend’s supporters and helpers, may 2020 bring you all the health and happiness you desire.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Danny Mc Grath 47 Town Court Dungarvan (brother to John our Juvenile committee member and chair of national Juvenile athletics) who passed to his eternal reward, may he rest in peace.
PORTUMNA MARATHON.
Well done to club members Paul Brunnock and Ted O’Leary who rounded off their 2019 marathon exploits by making the journey to the Portumna marathon last Friday.Ted O’Leary ran a time of 3.43 while Paul completed the course just under the 4 hour mark 3.59 Paul’s brother Paddy Brunnock also made the trip running a time of 4.09.
RUNNING QUOTE.
The desire to run comes from deep within us – from the unconscious, the instinctive, the intuitive.
