WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB HOLDS ITS 32nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The 32nd annual AGM was held in the picturesque venue of the Causeway Tennis Club, Abbeyside on Friday April 11th. It was wonderful to see the AGM well attended by members which included some new faces, this is always welcomed as new blood is what keeps a club energised. Chairperson Tom 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 and its main achievements, this was accompanied by a slideshow which showed the year in photos prepared by Kelly Fitzgerald. Treasurer Declan O’Callaghan provided an update on the clubs finances with a detailed finance report, he provided additional commentary on procedures and plans related to the clubs finances. The election of officers saw all of the existing officers re-elected for another year. A new position, Women in Sport Officer aimed at increasing participation number of females in athletics was introduced for the first time this year. Kelly Fitzgerald is elected to this role. Two members of the committee stepped down, namely Raivis Zakis and Shirley Flynn. Chairperson Tom Leahy thanked both Shirley and Raivis for their services over the past number of years. Two new nominees were put forward for the committee and were successfully elected, these were Cáit Verling and Madeline Hearn. The next item on the agenda was a presentation from Track Development committee member Tara Ní Reachtagain. Tara provided a progress report on the Track Development sub-committee which was established at the 2024 AGM. Her presentation concluded with a call to action for club members to support the project through fundraising and providing expertise they may have with track design, grant applications or infrastructure development. Should you wish to support in anyway please contact any committee member or email wwactrackdevelopment@gmail.com Track Development committee member Shane Hayes had reviewed the clubs constitution and some minor amendments were proposed and passed on the night. A discussion was held around the next steps with the track development and plans for club activities for the coming year. All in attendance enjoyed some post meeting refreshments to conclude a very successful AGM.
2025 Club Executive
Tom Leahy – Chairperson
Declan O’Callaghan – Treasurer
Ann Dunford – Secretary
James Veale – PRO
Liam O’Donnell – Vice Chairperson
Ray Burke – Vice Treasurer
Kelly Fitzgerald – Women in Sport Officer
Committee Members
Cáit Verling
Madeline Hearn
Peter Cunningham
Karen Ryan
Gerry Cantwell
Pádraig Healy
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB.
SUMMER RACING SCHEDULE LAUNCHED.
We are delighted to annunce our Summer Schedule of races starting in Ballinroad on the 9th May with our very popular 5k race and finishing in Ballinameela on the 18th July in another very popular 5k route with all past participants. This is an unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! For your €60 you will be entered into all 6 races and receive a commemorative t-shirt.T-shirt design to follow. Please note: Each race can be entered online separately online prior to the event for €10 but entry on the night will €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:
Ballinroad 5K 9th May 2025
Ardmore 5 Miles 23rd May 2025
Dromana 5 Miles 6th June 2025
Ballymacarby 5 Miles 27th June 2025
Dungarvan 10K 4th July 2025
Ballinameela 5K 18th July 2025
Link to enter here https://eventmaster.ie/event/OmQnupmH0Z
MASON MORTGAGES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN RUNNING LEAGUE.
ROUND 2 GOES HELD IN GLORIOUS SUNSHINE.
There was a brilliant turnout last Wednesday evening in Colligan wood for round 2 of the Mark Mason Mortgages and Financial Services Colligan Spring League. The evening was absolutely glorious for the 129 athletes who came along to run round 2 of the 5 week league in the beautiful surround of Colligan woods. Before the off we gave a big round of applause to one of our most popular club members and league runners Jack Nolan who was celebrating his birthday on the day.So our next evening will be round 3 and we hope all those who ran the first two nights will make their way to Colligan to continue the league and help keep up the great numbers participating in the first 2 rounds So see you all on the bridge for 6.30 pm.
2 LAP LED HOME BY AOIBHEEN RYAN.
Aoibheen Ryan led home our 2 lap runners last week with a very fast time of 18.21 the fastest time recorded over the first 2 rounds of this league. In 2nd place past the post was Laura Flavin with a time of 20.59 and in 3rd was Carol Walsh posting a time of 23.18 and 4th was the improving Tina Crotty who broke the 24 minute mark with 23.54.We had 39 running the 2 lap flat course last week and this is very encouraging to see as many are trying the bit of running for the first time, we hope they are enjoying the league and will keep coming along to Colligan for the remaining weeks.
GREAT NUMBERS RUNNING THE 3 LAP FLAT COURSE.
On the 3lap flat course we had exactly the same number of runners as the 2 lap which was 35.Once again as week 1 Jason Travers was first past the post with a time of 28.31, our 2nd runner was running the league for the first time this year when Emilio Moya Rosa was just outside the 30 minute mark posting a time of 30.13 . Keeping the flag flying for the Ladies last week was Kate Wall who finished 3rd in a time of 30.37 while in 4th place was Tara Ni Rheachtagain 31.31, well done to all our 3 lap flat course runners last week, see ye all again Wednesday evening.
SEAN STILWELL HOLDS OFF MARK WALSH ON THE HILLS.
A brilliant number of 59 ran the 5 mile hill course last week and the first runner home had to battle really all the way to the line to take the win Sean Stilwell and Mark Walsh were only separated by 1 second after battling the Colligan hills for 5 miles that’s the closes finish ever I’d say at this league. Sean clocked a time of 33.01 and Mark’s time on the finishing clock read 33.02, only a whisker separating the two. Hot on their heels was Dermot Gough who past the past in a time of 33.39 followed by James Coade in 4th place with a time of 34.05, 5th was filled by Martin Lavin in 34.41 and 6th home was Mark Radley just 7 seconds after Martin 34.48.Keeping the flag flying for the Ladies was Niamh O Donovan in a time of 37.58,Niamh was also 1st on round 1 of the league. Fionan O Cinneide was 2nd Lady Finisher in 40.39 with Madeleine Hearne next clocking 42.42 our4ht Lady was Linda Foley 42.53. .Well done to all who took on this tough course you all did brilliantly, see you all on the bridge Wednesday same time 6.30.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR.
Once again thanks to Mark Mason of Mark Mason Mortgages and Financial Services Barrack St. Cappoquin for his kind sponsorship and also for his attendance at the league each year and last week Mark togged out for a few laps. As always thank you to Shirley,Ray ,Jamie,Ann, Tom, Gerry,Liam and Declan for all their help on the night also.
11th ANNUAL AGLISH FUN RUN/WALK IN AID OF CRUMLIN.
The 11th Annual Aglish Fun Run/Walk is back and will take place on Easter Monday next 21st April 2025. Registration from 11.30am on the day and costs €10 / Donation. The popular 5k Walk and run will kick off at 11.30. All proceeds to Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin. Numerous Spot Prizes. Over the 11 years of this event over 48.000 euro has been donated to Crumlin hospital thank to the generosity of all the participants .Plenty of spots on the day and of course a cuppa in the community hall after the event .All are welcome.
KINSALEBEG NATIONAL SCHOOL 5K
The Kinsalebeg Nation School 5k run and walk was held last Sunday and there was a good turnout of both Walkers and runners for the fundraising event which saw 1.400 euro raised for the local national school. Mark Walsh was the first home in the men’s 5k run with a time of 18.30 while Kelly O’Mahony was the first Lady finisher in 24.35.Well done to all who came along to support the event.
1st man: Mark Walsh 18:30
2nd man: James O’Mahony 18:30
3rd man: Mark Cody 20:15
1st woman: Kelly O’Mahony 24:35
2nd woman: Cait Verling 25:40
3rd woman: Helen Hynes 26:40
LUCY HOLMES WINS GOLD AND SILVER AT VARSITIES WITH 800 CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD.
Lucy Holmes produced a gold and record winning performance last weekend at the Varsities track championships held at Morton stadium Santry .Having eased through the heat on Friday in heat 1 of 2 in a time of 2.15.95 in the 800 meters Lucy was favourite to snatch gold in the final the following day but before that there was the matter of the 1.500 meters straight final which was also Friday evening and here Lucy had another great race when taking silver in a time of 4.28.74 with gold going to Eimear Maher UCC 4.27.15 and bronze went to Neasa Ní Ainifein UG 4.36.98.In Saturdays 800 final Lucy dominated as she did in her heat the previous day and gold was her lot in superb fashion as she raced away from the field with 200 to go, and adding to her great win was the time she did, as it was a very fast record time of 2.07.40 -(as there was a problem with the official timing of the event the exact time is yet to be verified but it was a record performance in any case ) as we go to press the official time is not available for publication.The old standard goes way back to Roisin Smith 2.09.40 from 1984. Silver was won by Holly O’Boyle UL and Hazel Hughes Bronze.For the record Lucy won this same event last year with a time of 2.11.71, so the improvement for her from last year is obvious in the times. Congratulations to Lucy on a brilliant varsities weekend and for her college MTU under the coaching of Ian O’Sullivan.
WEXFORD 10K AND HALF MARATHON.
West Waterford AC was represented last Sunday at the Pettitt’s Wexford half marathon and 10k events which saw a good turnout for both distances. Stephen Shasby had a good run in the Half Marathon when crossing the finish line in a time of 1:44:07 and in the 10k event Pádraig Corbett ran a time of 1:01:26 while Niamh Fennell ran a new personal best time of 1:08:18. Well done to all three.
EVAN FITZGERALD WINS GREAT RAILWAY IN A NEW RECORD TIME.
There was a field of 489 completed Sundays 25KM Great Railway run between Cork city and Carrigaline. The club was represented by 3 athletes on the day, a day which once again belonged to club member Evan Fitzgerald who set a blistering new course record of 1.21.03 for the race, once again an outstanding run by Evan, Paul Moloney Doneraile AC was 2nd in 1:24:55 and 3rd was Donal Coakley Leevale AC 1:29:57.The Ladies winner was Catherine Murphy Eagle AC with a time of 1:41:47. Also competing on the day which turned out to be a very warm one for the event was Stephen Gray who broke the 2 hour barrier clocking a time of 1:56:45 and Brian Walsh can be pleased with his run recording as time of 2:13:28, well done to all.
