EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
MICHEÁL POWER CLAIMS TEAM GOLD WITH IRELAND.
Last Sunday at the National Sports Campus in Dublin the European Cross Country Championships were held after being postponed from 2020 because of covid. The event saw athletes from all over Europe competed in the seven races and as usual Irish athletes performed very well including two from Waterford .Ruth Heery Waterford AC in the ladies under 23 running a solid race and Micheál Power West Waterford AC, Micheál who is currently on an Athletics Scholarship in Tulsa University USA was home for a week before the event in preparation for what turned out to be the race of his Career to date.In that under 23 race Darragh McElhinney and Great Britain’s Charlie Hicks had a brilliant battle over the final lap, Hicks would ultimately take gold in 24.29, but McElhinney (24.33) looked all class in taking silver just 4 seconds later. Luxembourg’s Ruben Querinjean (24.36) finished strongly to claim the bronze.McElhinney’s performance, coupled with a 6th place finish for Keelan Kilrehil(24.42) and that magnificent 13th for Michael Power (25.03), saw Ireland take the team gold medal, with Great Britain and Northern Ireland having to settle for silver, and France the bronze.Donal Devane secured a top 40 finish (40th) and was followed closely over the line by Jamie Battle (44th), and Thomas Devaney (67th) the other members of the squad. It is a day Micheál will never forget, a proud day for his family,his club and his country as the huge crowds ran every step of every race with every athlete wearing the green singlet of Ireland. Incidentally the last time Ireland won this event a young David McCarthy was a scoring team member back in 2010 in Albufeira Portugal and he has been a big influence on the athletics career of the Ballinamuck man.Onwards and upwards Micheál.
€2.000 RAISED AT FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE CHARITY NIGHT IN AID OF “DREAM FOR DANNY FUND”.
It was another great night, ok maybe a little cold but fine overhead for round 5 of our winter league last Wednesday evening, It was also of course our annual charity night at the league and the runners of the league once again as they always do, dug very deep and came up with a whopping sum of 2.000 Euro for our chosen charity this year the Dream for Danny Fund , Our thanks to Kevin Forde who presented the cheque on behalf of everyone at the league to Lisa Sandvoss. Danny Norris is a young boy of 6 years of age from the Ballymacarbry area who suffers from Neuroblastoma which is a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer and a fund has been set up to try raise €380,000 so that Danny can access further treatment in New York to prevent relapse once his frontline treatment finishes in Crumlin early in 2022.Next Wednesday evening is the final night of the league before the Christmas break, and we will have a special visitor we hope from the North Pole and hopefully some goodies for the good boys and girls on the league. Make sure to keep up the training over the break, even if it’s only the odd run or two it will make all the difference when the league resumes in 2022 on Wednesday, January 5th.For now from all at the Forde’s Daybreak winter league,may you and your loved ones have a lovely Christmas and we hope to see you all in the new year for the 2nd half with another 5 rounds to be completed.
CONDITIONS IDEAL FOR THE RUNNERS ON WEEK 5 OF THE SHORT COURSE.
It was a cool evening but not too bad for running as the runners gathered for last week’s Fordes Daybreak Winter League. Once again a great crowd of 77 runners gathered in Dungarvan Sports Centre before heading out on the 2.4 mile run and like every week to date this week there were more new people registering along with the league regulars.This section of the league has first timers and beginners in mind and is a manageable distance for most as it covers 2.4 miles in total. Even if you haven’t come along up to know, maybe it’s a challenge you could take on for the New Year. After registering online make sure to check your start time posted on facebook. This Wednesday (15th December) is our last night for 2020 before the league resumes on the 5th January. The overall tables are starting to take shape and will be available in the coming weeks. First back on the night was Gerry Lattimore for the 2nd night in succession this week Gerry ran a time of 20.46. Gerry was followed by the improving Paul Veale 23.06 and John Falconer was 3rd in 19.0120.33, next was Lauren Walsh Kett and she was the first lady home last week, well done Lauren her time was 19.39, followed by Christine Fogarty in 24.54. Well done to all who took part, and remember newcomers are always welcome. Also thanks to all out Stewards out on the course and our crew at the Finish Line.
The league tables are starting to take shape with the top 10 on short route after week 6
Declan Kenneally
David Morrissey
Shane Flavin
Gearoid Coffey
Colm Barry
David Power
Lauren Walsh Kett
Brigid Coffey
Seamus Tobin
Eve Dwyer
We currently have 7 from the top 10 placings field by the Men with 3 ladies in the mix, but plenty to play for yet, early days. Full tables will be posted after Christmas break but of remember there’s lots to play for yet.
LONG COURSE RUNNERS START TO SHOW TRUE GRIT.
We had another superb night last week for our league which was also our Christmas charity night at the Forde’s Daybreak Winter League with just this coming week remaining now before we take our annual Christmas break. Well done to all the runners for their generosity on our charity night. The course last week on the long run was altered and the distance covered was a tad longer than usual because of some road works.Gerry O Connor lead the troops home in in a time of 44.4 and he was followed in by Jamie Hynds in 40.00 with Eoghan Drea next home in a time of 43.26.The Ladies were well represented on the night also and first home Catherine Mc Intyre 44.01 she was followed by Louise Conroy in a time of 44.18 and 3rd past the post last week was Phil Dee in 41.23.Just a quick reminder to all our runners to be careful out on the course and obey the stewards at all times. REMEMBER THAT THE ROADS ARE NOT CLOSED SO BE CAREFUL OF TRAFFIC. For safety, high vis must be worn. Also the rules of the league prohibit the wearing of watches. Anyone not wearing high vis or caught wearing a watch won’t be included in the results.Remember to keep up your running over the Christmas period and pleas wear you high vis when out running over the festive season.
TOP 10 LEAGUE LEADERS ON LONG COURSE.
Richie Fitzgerald
John Downey
James O Neill
Joe Grant
Cárthach Shalloe
Ted O Leary
Brian Looby
Ciara Beresford
Ray Hahesy
Geraldine Lacey
After 5 weeks of the league we have two ladies in the leading top 10 position’s and eight men, but as we know the real test comes after the Christmas break and you can expect to see many changes at the top end of affairs before this league is finally over.
ZUZANA COSTIN VOUCHER WINNERS AT WINTER LEAGUE.
The winners of Zuzana’s Costin vouchers in week 5 of the Fordes Daybreak winter league were long course Ian Walsh and short course winner was Mary Claire Harney. Well done to both,we hope you both enjoy your treatment from Zuzana, another two vouches will be up for grabs next Wednesday evening. Zuzana provides treatment and intervention for acute and chronic soft tissue and muscular pain, injury and dysfunction. She practises from The Greenway Health Clinic in Tournore, Abbeyside and can be contacted on 0871218721.
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ST.STEPHENS DAY JOLLY JAUNT IN AID OF DUNGARVAN GAA CLUB DEFIBRILLATOR FUND.
This year’s St. Stephen’s Day Jolly Jaunt will be in aid of the Dungarvan Gaa club defibrillator fund to provide one for the club grounds and local community. The event will take place from the Dungarvan Gaa club grounds, starting at 11am on St. Stephen’s morning. There are two courses available to post Christmas dinner exercise enthusiasts, 2 miles and 5 miles and these are not races but participation events. We again look forward to the huge support and the generosity from everyone this venture gets each year .For now pencil in St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
On behalf of the officers at West Waterford Athletic Club we extend season’s greetings to all our members, sponsors and friends. Remember when running over the Christmas season be safe and be seen. Blessings to you, your families and all your loved ones.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Catherine Whelan Coolagh Road, Abbeyside who passed to her eternal reward last week, may she rest in peace.
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