SPAR EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS ANTALYA TURKEY.
LUCY HOLMES GIVES STERLING PERFORMANCE AT EUROS.
Having performed really well this cross country season with an U23 gold at the Celtic Cross Country international and she was also the winner of the 2023 novice cross country championship held in Navan and a few weeks ago was placed 4th place at the National under 23 Cross Country Championships in Fermanagh. Lucy had narrowly missed out on selection last year 2023 for the under 23 team but Lucy’s Fermanagh performance a few weeks back sealed her ticket and her first Irish team singlet at this level.Lucy had brilliant run against the best under 23s in Europe keeping her pace strong throughout the race on the undulating Dokumapark course which was specially designed and built for the event .Luck finished mid field in 45th place from the field of 72 starters and was 4th Irish home from the team of 6 who finished 5th team overall.The MTU student has entered an elite west waterford ac club of David McCarthy, Micheál Power , Kate Veale , Raivis Zakis and Sandis Bralitis (Latvia) from the club who have ran in these championships in the past for their country. Huge congratulations Lucy may it be the first of many . Else where at the championships Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) won a superb individual silver for Ireland in the U23 men’s race . The nineteen-year-old, who earned bronze in last year’s under-20 race, made a decisive late surge to narrowly miss out on gold behind Will Barnicoat (GBR) who successfully defended his title.
Ireland Team 5th
7th Laura Mooney (Tullamore Harriers)
13th Emma McEvoy (DSD AC)
37th Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers)
45th Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC)
50th Roise Roberts (CNDR Track Club)
54th Amy Greene (Finn Valley AC)
CLEANZONE TECHNOLOGY LTD PADDY JOE CURRAN MEMORIAL OLD PARISH TURKEY TROT.
€3.760 RAISED IN AID OF THE WEST WATERFORD AC TRACK FUND .
Evan Fitzgerald claims the Paddy Joe Curran Memorial Cup at Turkey Trot An Sean Phobal, with Ciara O’Neill from Clonmel A.C the first lady home. The day dawned bright and blustery, and the aftermath of storm Darragh was assessed. Following a route inspection, the event was given the all clear for the 16th annual Paddy Joe Curran Memorial Turkey Trot An Sean Phobal sponsored by Cleanzone Technology LTD. With a field of 151 athletes it was eventual winner Evan Fitzgerald who took on the hilly course, winning well in a time of 25:44. Ferrybank A.C athlete David Cullinane finished strongly in second place, in 27:36. West Waterford claimed third place, with club member Conor Hennebry, using his strength to take third place in a time of 29:17.In the ladies race, Ciara O’Neill Clonmel AC displayed her endurance and speed to claim the win in 29:09. Ciara was third overall and as the club record check continues it is believed that this is the first time a female athlete placed in the top three in the overall standings, this is an incredible feet for the young Clonmel athlete. In second place was the experienced Kealey Tideswell, also Clonmel AC, in 30:45. Janette O’Sullivan from nearby Youghal AC took third place in a time of 34:46. The Junior male prize again went to local Cian Whelan, who defended his win from last year’s race and kept up his proud family tradition in athletics, winning in a time of 31:43. Refreshments were served in the Marine Bar following the race. A total of €3,760 was raised from the run and walk events. This year’s proceeds went to the West Waterford Track Development Fund. This was the first event to raise money for this exciting new venture, which has seen a sub-committee set up by West Waterford AC in April of this year, to push forward in developing a state-of-the-art track and field facility for the West Waterford area. The sub-committee has been very busy identifying possible sites for the track facility, and has met with many stakeholders in recent months to obtain advice in relation to this exciting new venture. A special thank you to Johnny Curran and Cleanzone Technology LTD for sponsoring the event and to our many associate sponsors including: O’ Mahony Business Advisors, Tommy Kiely Car Sales and Auto Repair, Forde’s Daybreak, Venture Clothing, Country Store Fruit and Veg, Murray’s Care plus pharmacy, Zuzana Costin Physical Therapy, McGrath’s Newsagents and the Marine Bar.
17th ANNUAL PADDY JOE CURRAN TURKEY TROT.
OLD PARISH TURKEY TROT.
Male Top 3
Evan Fitzgerald WWAC
David Cullinane Ferrybank AC
Conor Hennebry WWAC
Female Top 3
Ciara O’Neill Clonmel AC
Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC
Janenne O’Sullivan Youghal AC
1st male junior
Cian Whelan
33RD ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.
ENTRIES NOW OPEN ,
West Waterford athletic club are delighted to announce that entries for our 33rd annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race are now open and filling nicely .Its expected the race will shortly be sold out. The entry is an online entry through our race web site www.dungarvan10mile.org or through eventmaster.ie. The event now in its 33rd year has established itself as a must run race on the Irish road running calendar with participants from all four corners of the country and beyond participating. The race has grown year on year from humble beginnings 32 years ago. This year our entry limit will be 3.750 ,this we hope will see all runners wishing to run the event in 2025 getting an entry to do so. Please note that this event usually sells out well before closing date so do get your entry in if you intend running on Sunday February 2nd 2025.The John Treacy Dungarvan 10 brings together the ideal race combination of fun runners, joggers, club athletes and top class internationals who compete over a fast flat 10 mile course around the historic town of Dungarvan as we all look forward to an even bigger and better event on Sunday February 2nd next. To stage such a big event of course requires good sponsor and we are fortunate to have the support many associate sponsors and many local businesses and individuals who are all giving valuable support helping to make the day a great occasion for the town of Dungarvan.
All race details can be found at www.dungarvan10mile.org
516 NOW REGISTERED FOR FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
IT’S THE EVAN FITZGERALD SHOW ON LONG COURSE.
Last Wednesday evenings round 4 of our Fordes Daybreak winter league was from the outset a very lucky one for us all, as at 6.15 it was thundering down like you never saw before but by start time at 6.40 it had all but abated and it made for a great night for the league despite a little wind on the return journey home. Despite the days rain a good turnout ran on the long course with 200 taking part. First home was well known Clonmel AC athlete and winner of many of our various road races Kealy Tideswell who was making her first visit to our league she completed the course in an impressive 33.31. Eoin O’ Riordan was next home in 42.04 and 3 rd past the post last week saw an impressive run b6 Brian Looby who clipped around in 35..06, well done to our top finishers last week. Once again despite the inclement weather it was that man again Evan Fitzgerald was the main talking point on the night as for the 3rd week in succession broke the course record .On week 2 he had broken the old course record when running a time of 27.04, last Wednesday week he once again blitzed that setting a new standard of 26.36 and he then turns around last Wednesday evening to again lowered the standard this time to 26.24,now that is phenomenal running around the streets of the town over the 5.2 mile course which it has to be said again is quite a twisty route.The numbers registered now to date for the league exceed 516 which is unbelievable turn out of runners and by far our highest in the 30 year of organising the league. Despite the evening rain we still had another 9 new comers running for the first time last Wednesday on the long course and if you haven’t already signed up to the best winter league in the country there’s still time for you to come along and make that bold move .A huge thank you again last week to our stewards and finish line personal who once again came up trumps on the long course when it looked like we were in for the mother of all wettings it actually turned out ok but none the less all our stewards were in place no matter the weather, well done to all who ran last week. Remember it’s still not too late to join us each Wednesday evening at Dungarvan sports centre, the clock starts at 6.40 sharp and we have 2 nights remaining before our 2 week Christmas break, don’t forget this Wednesday is Charity night so do try and bring a few extra bob if you can at all for a very worthy cause the IRISH KIDNEY ASSOCIATION.
LUCKY RUNNERS ON THE SHORT COURSE RUNNERS .
As mentioned on report in long course again the runners on the short circuit avoided the worst of the weather and got out and back more or less in the dry. Once again a great crowd of 113 runners gathered in Dungarvan Sports Centre before heading out on the 2.4 mile run. Even at this this stage, there are still new people registering each week as well as those that ran the previous weeks. This section of the league specifically has first timers and beginners in mind and is a manageable distance for most as it covers 2.4 miles in total. First back on the night was Jack Casey in a time of 14:50 followed by Mary Cullinan dead on the 29 minutes. Tasha Lanigan was next in 23.26.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. Please note this Wednesday is charity night with all monies donated to the Irish Kidney Association.
SURPRISE SURPRISE TO BENEFIT FROM WINTER LEAGUE CHARITY NIGHT TONIGHT.
This year’s Christmas charity night at the winter league will take place this Wednesday night 11th December. The chosen charity this year will be the fantastic local group Surprise Surprise who operate in and around the Dungarvan and West Waterford area by giving much needed help in many ways to our community and especially as we are now heading in to a very busy time on the run up to Christmas. All of this coming week the group are busy packing emergency bags of Dignity for GP Surgeries and Caredoc. They are currently also fulfilling orders for Sensory boards for Santa’s little helpers to bring to the North Pole in time for December 24th. It’s the time of year that the group look after the less well off with Food gift hampers and this year this will consist of 500 gift hampers for the elderly alone ,they also operate the Santa Anonymous and they will be working very hard over the festive season with Christmas Dinner and Dessert for the elderly and vulnerable in our community. All these initiatives will be done over the next few weeks and they will spend in excess of €10,000 in total in this period. So all the Surprise Surprise Elves are very busy presently and will be for the next few weeks but all their volunteers will bring the real meaning of Christmas ( Joy & Kindness) from east to west Waterford. This group small in numbers but all with a big helping others ethos deserve to be supported by all of us at the Fordes Daybreak winter league. At this special night at the league on Wednesday December 11th we invite everyone to join us for a night of fun, camaraderie, and giving back, Your support will directly contribute to making the less well off in our community have a better Christmas period so let’s come together as a community to make a lasting impact, Your generosity is the key to helping surprise surprise realise their ambitious Christmas programme. Please be as generous as you possible can all donations will be accepted at the league.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
MICHEÀL POWER WINS NEWMARKET 5 K.
The annual Newmarket Co Cork 5 k race was held last Sunday and a large field of 737 athletes competed.The winner this year was club member Micheál Power in an excellent time of 14.34 with Ryan Creech Leevale AC 2nd in 14.34. The overall Ladies winner was Shona Heaslip An Riocht AC in 15.53. Club junior athlete Naoise Mac Murchadha in a time of 15.40 was 2nd home in his catagory and Joe Gough had another fine run winning the over 70 catagory in a time of 19.57.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Owen Phelan Cúl Mhuire, Cappagh, who passed to his eternal reward last week. May he rest in peace.
