EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON.
COACH HOUSE COFFEE SUPPORTING EUROFINS GREENWAY HALF MARATHON.
West Waterford Athletics Club are delighted to announce that for 2024 again Coach House Coffee have come on board as an associate sponsor for our half marathon in September. As a club we aim to provide value for money in all of the events we host each year. This would not be possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors. For this race we are very fortunate to have the support and partnership of businesses that are associated not only with the Greenway but share our passion for sports, health and wellbeing within the community. Coach house coffee is as local a business as you will get on the Greenway. Located at the historic Famine Workhouse in Kilmacthomas this is THE place to stop and refuel on the Greenway. It has been an instant hit since it opened in March 2017 and comes highly recommended for its ethically sourced coffee, mouth-watering cakes and delicious lunches. When we ask that athletes please support our sponsors it’s no hardship supporting Coach House Coffee.
FLAHAVANS LOOKING AFTER YOUR NUTRITION AT THE EUROFINNS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON.
Please support our sponsors…..the finish line wouldn’t be the same without them !
As local a business as you will get on the Greenway. The headquarters of Flahavans are a mere stone’s throw from the start line and can be seen as you pass over the picturesque viaduct in Kilmacthomas. Flahavans are a great supporter of West Waterford Athletic Club and have once again come on board as an associate sponsor. Flahavan’s are Irelands oldest Family Food business, operating in Kilmacthomas for over 230 years. They are also the largest oat milling business in the country producing 40 delicious oaty products made here in the county. Flahavans will be providing post-race glycogen replacement in the form of their highly popular flapjacks. They come in 5 varieties and all are made with natural and wholesome ingredients.
http://www.flahavans.ie/health-and-nutrition/fact-or-fiction-establishing-the-facts-about-sports-nutrition/197
SOLAS NA MARA SUPPORTING THE EUROFINS GREENWAY HALF.
The physio is always our first port of call when injury strikes. In an ideal world we should all be visiting a physio / physical therapist for maintenance purposes only, to enhance performance. After a few hard weeks of running it really does help and enhances recovery.Solas na Mara has once again come on board as associate sponsors of the Eurofins Greenway Half for which we are very grateful. If you are planning sports massage to aid your recovery and performance you might consider giving them a turn. For centuries in Ireland it is known that ‘taking the waters’ brings relief from aches and pains, harnessing the minerals of the sea and its seaweed to promote natural healing. A Seaweed baths at Solas na Mara is a great treat for the muscles post-race or sessions. Bookings can be made on (058) 46052
ELITE ENTRIES.
If you wish to apply as an elite runner please send your information to info@westwaterfordathletics.org stating your name, date of birth, club and fastest time and location for either half marathon or 10 mile race ran in the last 3 years. Half Marathon time: Under 1.20 for men (1.30 for women) 10 Mile Time: Under 60 mins for men (65 for women)
Course Information.
This is perhaps one of the flattest routes for a half marathon in the country with a net elevation of -100 mts. Please note that the course this year has a slightly altered start and finish line, the race start is now 2km from the coach house café and the finish line will be 100 meters the Waterford side of the Railway café in Ballinroad. Not only is it flat it also contains some incredible scenery along the way. From the old Workhouse built in 1850 in the beautiful village of Kilmacthomas over the Kilmacthomas viaduct to the stunning views of the Comeragh mountains to the North, cross over Durrow viaduct past Durrow Railway Station where the old platform and station still stand. Then it’s on to the spectacular Ballyvoile tunnel, a 400mt long tunnel which is full of atmosphere (don’t forget to watch out for the fairy door’s on either side). Next you will cross over the Ballyvoile viaduct, blown up in 1922 but now restored to its former glory. From here you can almost smell the sea as you round the headland and take in the spectacular views of Clonea strand and Dungarvan Bay. Then it’s downhill all the way to the finish as you take in the sights along the way, through the 12 mile mark and the playground in Ballinroad to the finish line just 400 meters from the playground area.
EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON PRIZES.
The prizes for this race will be as follows.
1st 5 Men and Women
Ladies
1st and 2ndO/35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65
1st Junior
Men
1st and 2nd O/40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70
1st Junior
We will also have 2 Men’s and 2 Ladies team prizes with first 3 finishing positions to score (Outside of prize winners).
Spot prizes will be randomly distributed to runners down the field at the finish line.
COLM RYAN MEMORIAL RUN TO AID IRISH CANCER SOCIETY.
Touraneena Runners in association with West Waterford Athletic Club are hosting a Memorial run in memory of the late Colm Ryan on Sunday 15th September starting at 11am in Touraneena.Colm was a champion of the Irish Cancer Society and raised substantial monies for this worthy cause before his untimely passing in April 2023. This 5 k run/walk in his memory will continue this great work with all proceeds from the event donated to the society.
KATE VEALE 2ND IN THURLES 5K.
The Annual Thurles Crokes AC 5k Road race was held last Friday evening and a field of 378 competed. Winner of the race was Sean Tobin Clonmel AC in a time of 14.58 with just 1 second seperating him and the 2nd athlete Kevin Moore Mullingar Harriers AC 14.59.Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC was the Ladies winner in 17.12 with Kate Veale taking the runners up spot here in a time of 18.27.Four others from the club also ran with Sharon Higgins running a time of 24.48 and Claire Kennedy clipped around in a time of 24.49,Paschal Proctor clocked 28.28 and it was great to see Margaret Conway back in action when she ran a time of 28.59.Well done to all.
WORLD MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS SWEDEN.
BRONZE FOR JOE GOUGH WHILE JOHN LASTE WALKS TALL.
At the World Masters track and field Championships held in Gothenburg,Sweden last week where the club had 2 athletes competing today Saturday, both Joe Gough and John Laste both gave excellent performances. Joe Gough on Friday finished 3rd in heat 2 in a time of 2 minutes 45 .38 seconds to qualify for Saturdays final in the over 70 category in the 800 meters. In Saturdays final in a very good field of 11 finalists Joe gave it his all as usual and in a sprint finish for the line Joe finished 3rd and in the bronze position with thousands of as second separating the top 3. Joe was clocked at 2 minutes 24.90 seconds which was a new Irish O70 record, The gold medal went to Warren Schmelzer South Africa in 2.24 .49, with Peteris Arents Latvia second in 2.24.60 it was that close, a whisker between them. Another world championship medals for Joe to add to his 10 gold , 2 silver and now 2 bronze.Also competing from the club for the first time on the world stage was John Laste who competed in the over 60 10 k race walk which was also on Saturday and here John put in a sterling effort to finished a creditable 13th overall from the large field of 33 competitors, John recorded a time of 1.06.44 for the distance.Well done to both Joe and John for representing our club and country on the world stage.
PADDY BRUNNOCK COMPLETES HIS 3RD CONNEMARA 100 MILE WITH A NEW PB.
THE Connemara 100 (MILES) on the West Coast of Ireland was held over the weekend, an event not for the faint hearted the course is simply fabulous, taking participants from from Clifden through Letterfrack, Leitirgeish, the Inagh valley, Maam Cross, Leenane, Inagh Valley again,then on to Roundstone, Ballyconeely and back to Clifden to complete 100 miles. Club member Paddy Brunnock was among the starters, this being his 3rd time to take on this enormous challenge.This event is all about getting your running pace right as the distance and terrain will come back to bite later on in the race if you get this wrong. Paddy of course had an experienced crew on board which is a very important element to having a successful race. The team of Johnny Brunnock and his son Oscar along with Kieran Kennedy and of course the moral support from the rest of his family and friends at home in Rathgormack along with his dad John who himself was a key crew member in the past for many of Paul and Paddy’s ultra-races, John on this occasion was keeping close quarter on affairs throughout the race offering encouragement and advice along the way.
This was Paddy’s 3rd time taking on this 100 mile race, having ran here in 2021 2023 and this year he posted a new personal best time of 20 hours 57 minutes 13 seconds taking a whopping 2 hours 20 minutes and 52 seconds off his best mark previous to this. Well done to Paddy, some man for one.
