WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB HOLDS ITS 33rdANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The 33rd annual AGM was held in St. Laurence’s hall, Ballinroad on Friday April 10th. The turnout on the night was fair with a good representation of committee and club members present.ChairmanTom Leahy welcomed all in attendance and commented on another very successful year for the club. Secretary Ann Dunford gave an excellent account of the huge volume of activities throughout the year in her secretary report taking us through each month of our members and the clubs main achievements, an excellent recap from Ann with many hours work put into her detailed report. Treasurer Declan O’Callaghan provided an update on the clubs finances with a detailed financial report and through his excellent work as treasurer the club is in a healthy financial standing presently. The election of officers saw all of the existing officers re-elected for another year. One of our members of the committee who was present stepped down, namely Liam O’Donnell, Chairman Tom Leahy thanked Liam for his great services over the past number of years. One new member joined the committee Kevin Forde. The next item on the agenda was a presentation from Track Development committee member’s Tara Ní Reachtagain and Dermot Gough .Both Tara and Dermot provided a progress report on the Track Development sub-committee which was established at the 2024 AGM. Their presentation was very detailed and it’s great to see and hear what work this committee have done and are doing with this project over the past number of months. This concluded an informative meeting and all in attendance enjoyed some post meeting refreshments to conclude a very successful AGM.
2027 Senior Club Committee.
Tom Leahy – Chairman
Declan O’Callaghan – Treasurer
Ann Dunford – Secretary
James Veale – PRO
Committee Members
Ray Burke
Kelly Fitzgerald
Karen Ryan
Gerry Cantwell
Kevin Forde
Pádraig Healy
WEEK 2 AT MARK MASON MORTGAGES FINANCIAL PLANNING COLLIGAN SPRING RUNNING LEAGUE.
Round 2 of the Mark Mason Financial Colligan Spring League took place last Wednesday evening in the beautiful surround of Colligan wood on what was a perfect evening for running. With round 3 looming next Wednesday we need to remind participants that you need to complete 4 of the 5 rounds of the league to figure among the tables come the final round. So Wednesday 8th will now be the final night of the league. The league starts at 6.30 each Wednesday evening and we ask that all participants must register before taking part in the league each evening. Our sponsor Mark Mason was on hand again last week and we thank Mark for his on-going sponsorship of the league.
MECCA WALL FASTEST OVER THE 2 LAP COURSE.
The 2 lappers saw a field do 22 competing last week and all were led home by Mecca Wall 25.49 who had just 4 seconds to spear over Paul O’Gorman 25.53, Mecca upped her game big time in round 2 having finished 2nd in round one she clipped almost 45 seconds off her previous weeks’ time to claim the number one spot last week. 3rd past the post was Aoife Fennell in a time of 26.09,Our first man last week on the 2 laps was Cormac Curran 27.06.Others to run well in round 2 were Patricia Mulcahy, 28.24 Deirdre Hahesy 30.36 and Pat Ryan 30.47 just to mention a few. Well done to everyone who completed the 2 lap league again last week, keep up your efforts for the next few Week’s where we expect to see more personal best times recorded in the weeks ahead.
PADRAIG HOLDS ONTO NUMBER ONE SPOT OVER 3 LAPS.
Once again last week we had some great running on the 3 lap circuit with 39 runners participating and first home was Padraig Healy ,Padraig was also first home in round one when he recorded a time of 28.27, he went on to better that time last week running 27.26. Ryan Doherty was 2nd past the post in 29.55 and Tom Foran clocked time of 30.20 for 3rd in 4th place was Sean Stilwell 30.42.Tara Ni Rheachtagáin with an excellent clocking of 31.22 was our first Lady finisher over the 3 lap course last week, so well done to our 3 lap flat course runners.
MOSSIE KEOGH PIPS MARK WALSH ON THE 5 MILE HILLS.
Its many years now since we can recall a sprint finish at a league night in Colligan on the hills course, well we witnessed one last week when only a whisper separated first and second place indeed both were awarded the same time of 33.16,after battling it out for the previous 5 miles over the hills of Colligan Mossie Keogh ( jnr ) just pipped Mark Walsh after an epic sprint for the line. Both Mossie and Mark were quicker from the previous week when Mark took the honours but Mossie reversed the standing in round 2, this duel will be very interesting over the remaining 3 nights. In round 2 another great turnout of 63 which was the same as round one took part. James Coade was 3rd man home in 33.32 and 4th place went to Mossie Keogh (Sn) 33.57 with Martin Holmes 35.17 in 5th place. Our first Lady home in round 2 was once again Angela Tobin who just like in round 1 was well clear of the field clocking a time of 37.42. Others to see good improvement last week included David Donnelly 37.26, Cathal Curran 39.21, Donncha Enright 39.37 and Anne Moore 40.37.Well done to all who conquered the hills last week.
THANK YOU.
As always we are indebted to our steward’s and finish line helpers. Ray ,Shirley, Ann, Tom, Jamie , Declan ,Liam, Jim and Gerry. Thanks as always to our sponsor Mark Mason.
MICK AND DEIRDRE RUN BRIGHTON MARATHON.
MICHAEL COMPLETES THE 10 K EVENT.
14.000 athletes were registered to take part in the Brighton Marathon last Sunday which got under way in the city’s Preston Park with Rugby World Cup winner Jess Breach as the official starter. The marathon course threads through the city and then takes participants along the world-famous seafront, past iconic landmarks such as the Palace Pier and Brighton i360. Overall race winner this year was Sam Cooke in a time of 2.25.04 with the Ladies title going to Amy Harris 2.49.38. Again like most overseas marathons these days West Waterford AC were represented at the event when Mick Concannon and Deirdre Daly made the trip finishing together in a time of 5.13.08 in the full marathon and in the 10km event which was part of the weekend of the the running festival Michael Coakley competed in the 10km race which he finished in a time of 59.44.All three are an interregnal part of our team who look after our Tuesday evening beginners running group week in week out and are very helpful to all new comers to this group and to our club. Congratulations to Michael, Mick and Deirdre.
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB.
SUMMER RACING SCHEDULE LAUNCHED.
We are delighted to announce our Summer Schedule of races starting in Ballinroad on the 8th May with our very popular 5k race and finishing with the Dungarvan 10k on the 17th July in another very popular 10k route with all past participants. This is a unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! For your €70 you will be entered into all 6 races and receive a commemorative Gilet Jacket design to follow. Please note: Each race can be entered online separately online prior to the event for €12 but entry on the night will be €15 per race. So get your entries in quickly and be ready for a super summer of racing once more. List of races are as follows: Come along to West Waterford AC organised races over the summer months with Scenic coastal and countryside routes a guaranteed Friendly club atmosphere, races Ideal for all levels—from beginners to competitive runners, all Progressive distances building to a strong 10K finish in July.
Ballinroad 5K 8th May
Ardmore 5 Miles 22nd May
Dromana 5 Miles 5th June
Ballymacarby 5 Miles 26th June
Ballinameela 5K 03th July
Dungarvan 10K 17th July
2026 WEST WATERFORD AC REMAINING FIXTURES
08th May 2026-AHS Tuning Ballinroad 5k
22nd May 2026-Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 Mile
5th June 2026-Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 Mile
26th June 2026-Oriel Bar Ballymac 5 Mile
3rd July 2026- Old Head Financial Ballinameala 5k
17th July 2026- Sherry Fitzgerald Reynolds Dungarvan 10 k
29th August 2026-Waterford Greenway Half Marathon
15th November 2026-Murrays Pharmacy Brickey 5k
06th December 2026-Clean zone Technologies Old Parish Turkey Trot
CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2026.
The club membership for 2026 can now be paid. The club membership is for the calendar year January to December. You can pay your membership online by logging onto the athletics Ireland web site and just follow the instruction under membership, all membership renewals have been sent to your e mail address some weeks ago.
2.800 EURO RAISED AT 12TH ANNUAL AGLISH FUN RUN/WALK IN AID OF CHILDRENS HEALTH IRELAND CRUMLIN.
The 12th Aglish fun run walk in aid of the children’s Health Ireland Crumlin was held on Easter Monday ,It was great to see another yet another great turnout on the bank holiday Monday for this great cause, weather wise it was a brilliant morning despite the threatening rain which thankfully never came condition were ideal for the large number of walkers and runners who took part. A huge thank you on behalf of the organisers to all who contributed to the event with a brilliant 2.800 euro for this most worthy cause, Credit must go to local organiser Liam O’Donnell who had everything running smoothly on the day as usual and many thanks to the stewards out on the course and of course the Ladies who provided the very nice cuppa and treats after the event, finally a huge thanks to all the sponsors for their support also. we are looking forward to the 13th edition next year.
COBH 10.
The annual Cobh 10 mile road race was held last Sunday in good weather conditions, a field of 1.013 competed on the day. Overall race winner for 2026 was Adam Clarke 50.38 and the first Lady home was Lily Partridge in 56.15.the club had 4 athletes taking part and Jerry Power lead these home with a time of 1.16.37 with Josie Uí Chuirrin the first Lady finisher in 1.35.31. Well done to all.
Jerry POWER 01:16:37
Josie UÍ CHUIRRIN 01:35:31
Patricja DALY 01:36:33
Liz CURTIN 01:36:51
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Janine Cummins Ballyguiry Dungarvan who passed to her eternal reward recently, may she rest in peace .
