IRISH LIFE HEALTH NATIONAL 35K RACE WALKING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
KATE VEALE WINS INAUGURAL EVENT.
The inaugural national senior 35k race walking championships were held last Sunday in St Anne’s Park Raheny Dublin and a huge turnout of juvenile and seniors were in action at the last AI championship event for 2021 with distances from 1km to 35 km catered for.This was the first time that the new European ,world and Olympic distance of 35 km was raced at national senior level here and a little piece of history was made by West Waterford’s Kate Veale who was in action over the 35k distance, a gruelling event which is now in place going forward replacing the 50k at all major championships for men and women. Winner of the ladies race was international Polish walker Agnieska Ellward In 3.05.09 with Kate putting in a real solo effort around the 2k circuit clocking an impressive 3.07.03 in her very first outing over the new distance. It was a unique day in that the two 35k race winners on the day go down in Irish race walking history as not alone the inaugural winners of this new championships distance but both setting the new national record standers for others to attain. The race day was tinged with a little sadness as it was the first championship since the passing of local race Organiser in Raheny Pat Hooper but it was nice to see the his son David has taken up the mantle as local coordinator and he did a splendid job as did Ray Flynn meeting director and his team. The men’s winner was Brendan Boyce Finn Valley AC in 2.32.49. This is another stepping stone for Kate with a big year coming up in 2022 with three major championship events on the horizon.Congratulations to Kate and also to two young west Waterford ac juveniles walkers with a rich tradition of race walking in their dna , under the stewardship of uncle Jamie and Zuzana Costin the new generation are already making their mark.Eabha Hickey and her sister Doireann.Eabha competed under 15 over the 2k distance finishing 2nd in a time of 13.14 and Doireann in the under 16 3k event was 3rd in 16.31 a one second PB for her there was also another Waterford AC competitor Meabh O Connor walked in then junior 5k finishing in a time of 27.29 taking first place, all in all a good day for the race walkers of Waterford.
27th ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
MAKE THE MOVE ON JANUARY 5TH AND JOIN THE 360 RUNNERS AT THE WINTER LEAGUE.
Once again we were blessed with a beautiful night for round 6 of the Fordes Daybreak winter league as we not take our customary Christmas break. The second half of the West Waterford Athletic Club winter league kicks off again on Wednesday 8th January at the sports centre, Quanns, Dungarvan at 6.50 pm. A large crowd is expected for the first night of 2022 and we hope that all those of you who have made the New Year resolutions to improve your health and fitness will come on down and join the league and the other 360 runners who have made the right decision already. Our motto at the winter league is that it’s never too late, so why not come along and get on your way to a healthier and fitter 2022. Newcomers are welcome each night of the league and if you haven’t been along to date why not come along on January 5th and bring a friend or two with you, the more the merrier! Now that we all have had a break from the league it’s time to get back on track and concentrate on the next five weeks of the league. The starting times will vary each week in order to make each run as interesting as possible and also to give us all that extra push and motivation to get to the finishing line as quickly as possible. Don’t forget to look after your reflective bib and your number for the resumption of the league . See you at the Sport’s Centre on 5th January.
JUST PAST THE HALF WAY ON LONG COURSE LEAGUE.
Last Wednesday night was the last night of the Fordes aybreak Winter League for 2021 before our break for Christmas and once again there was a great number running. The first runner home on the night was Donal O’Donoghue was running the league for the first night Donal was just outside the 40 minuet mark recording a time of 40.07 next home and first lady finisher on the night was Patricia Cullinane in 48.00 and she was followed by Jim Wilson in 49.07.Youghal’s Michael Roche was next 44.40 Mary O,Brien was 2nd lady home and next finisher ion a time of 49.10.35.23 was the time for Kevin Casey and Kevin was followed in by current top of the table leader Richie Fitzgerald with a fast 35.32. You can join in this league any week and we love to see newcomer’s added to the list. There are more people registering for the league each week, so come along and give it a go – in the New Year you have nothing to lose. You can make it a new year’s resolution even and join us for the next five weeks after Christmas starting on January Wednesday 5th.
SHORT COURSE RUNNERS TAKE DESERVED CHRISTMAS BREAK.
Conditions were ideal for the 6th consecutive night at the league as the runners gathered at Dungarvan Sports Centre for the final round of the Fordes Daybreak winter league before our Christmas break. We had a special visitor with us last week also as the man himself Santa was on hand to deliver some spot prizes to our runners as they finished. There was a great number out again last Wednesday when 75 runners took up the challenge, on what was our 6th and final night of the winter league for 2021. It was great to see some new runners that were trying out the league for the very first time. 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 on the night was Joanie Mc Grath in a good time of 23.14, followed by Helen Cummins in 26.34. Helen was followed by Kevin Pollard 17.51 and Christine Fogarty was next in 23.20 with Paul Veale having a much improved time last week of next of 21.52. Well done to all competitors over the past number of weeks especially our short course runners many who are trying the event for the first time, do try and keep up a little bit of running over the Christmas break and come back to us fresh and ready for action in 2022.Enjoy the Christmas break and see you all again on January 5th.
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 Declan Hickey and short course winner was Deirdre Daly. 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.
THANKS TO ALL OUR WINTER LEAGUE RUNNERS AND HELPERS.
Our thanks to Santa who made a welcome visit on our final round of the winter league just before our customary break for Christmas, the league will resume again on Wednesday January 5th.Now that the first half of the league is over we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those involved in the league as without their help and support the league could not possibly to organise each and every week. We are most fortunate to have a dedicated team of stewards, time-keepers, administrators and traffic controllers who help out week after week regardless of the weather or conditions and we are extremely grateful for their invaluable help. And a very special well done to all of you our winter league runners who have now reached just over the half-way point of this year’s league each and every one of you should be well pleased and proud to have made the start, we wish you all a very happy new year and injury free running 2022 see you all again for the 2nd half of the best league in town on Wednesday January 5th. Remember please do bring a friend.
33rd ANNUAL KIELY MONUMENTAL COLLIGAN CUP SET FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 16TH.
We are delighted to announce that on Sunday the 16th January 2022 we are back with a bang for the New Year with the 33rd Annual Kiely Monumental Colligan Cup. The Juvenile race starts at 11.00 pm. The senior race is at 12 noon and will be held over the usual 5 miles Colligan wood circuit and Juveniles will have a single 1-mile circuit to run. The Colligan cup is a unique event in that it is run on a handicap basis where you simply predict your finishing time over a 5 mile run, with the winner being the person who is nearest to that predicted time. This makes the race open to all no matter what your standard is, everyone has the same chance of taking the title. Now in its 33rd year we would like to thank sincerely our sponsor for all of those 33 years David Kiely of Kiely Monumental for his on-going support for the local running club West Waterford AC. So for a great fun event on the yearly running calendar Colligan is where you need to be come Sunday 16th January
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the families and friends of Eileen Mulcahy Congress Villas and Joan Russell Kilmacthomas who passed to their eternal reward recently , may they rest in peace.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2022.
The club membership for 2020 can now be paid now. The club membership is for the calendar year January to December. The membership stays unchanged at 25 euro. You can pay your membership at any club event or download a membership form on club web site www.westwaterfordathletics.org and send to registrar Gerry Cantwell Helvick, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. Also you can now pay your club membership online at www.westwaterfordathletics.org
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR TO ALL.
West Waterford athletic club extends a very happy Christmas and New Year’s greetings to all its members, sponsors, friend’s supporters and helpers. Have a lovely festive season and may 2022 bring you all the health and happiness you desire.
