31ST ANNUAL FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
WERE READY FOR A LITTLE BREAK ON LONG COURSE LEAGUE.
Last Wednesday night was the last night of the Fordes Daybreak Winter League for 2025 before our break for Christmas and we were so lucky with the weather as it had raioned all day and just stopped in time for the first of the runners who were heading off at 6.40 this didn’t deter the runners from coming out in big numbers once again once again with 226 running the long course. The first runner home on the night was Laura Murray with an impressive 37:17 followed in by Rhys Mitchel 47:29 and 3rd home was Tom Beehan 37:34 our friend who makes the long trip from Moycarkey Coolquill ( Google it ) was next home Shane Mullanney 36:05 followed by Moylan Brunnock 50:41 and Darren O Droma ran a time of for 6th.40:16.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 7th.
A DESERVED CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR SHORT COURSE RUNNERS.
Conditions were good once again for the final round of the league before our Christmas break with the daylong rain clearing just before the off for the runners on the short course of the Fordes Daybreak winter league .There was a great number out again last Wednesday when 103 runners took up the challenge. Even on the final round before Christmas we saw 4 new comers r8iunning the league for the first time so word is still spreading out there.First on the night was Tadhg Kelly in a solid time of 20:55 followed in by Declan O Mahony in 22:44,first Lady across the finish line last week was Emma Butler in 23:35 following Emma was Deirdre Daly 21:30 with Fiona Mc Carthy our 3rd lady finisher and 4th overall in a time of 22:53 and 6th was Cyril Flavin who is very close to breaking the 20 minute barrier with his time of 20:12.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 2026.Enjoy the Christmas break and see you all again on January 7th.
THANKS TO ALL OUR WINTER LEAGUE RUNNERS AND HELPERS.
Our final round of the winter league just before our customary break for Christmas, the league will resume again on Wednesday January 7th.Now that were past the first half of the league 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 record number of winter league runners who have now reached 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 2026 see you all again for the round 2 of the best league in town on Wednesday January 17th. Remember please do bring a friend.
PLEASE NOTE COLLIGAN CUP- GUESS YOUR TIME TONIGHT AT WINTER LEAGUE.
We will start back the league for 2026 on January 7th with the Colligan cup style guess your time run. It’s always a great fun night with just about everyone having a chance of coming out on top on the night. Both clocks will operate in the hall “only” on the night and both will be starting at the same time. For the short course runners the clock will start at 35.00 and it will count backwards, so whatever time you think it will take you to run the league short course route you leave at that time and the first runner past the finish line after the clock hits 00.00 is deemed the winner. The long course runners will have the clock starting at 60 minutes and counting backwards also, again you leave the hall at whatever time you predict it will take you to run the course, the first runner crossing the finish line after the clock hits 00.00 is deemed to be the winner .Simple.!
CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2026.
The club membership for 2026 can now be paid. The club membership is for the calendar year January to December. You can pay your membership online by logging onto the athletics Ireland web site and just follow the instruction under membership, all membership renewals have been sent to your e mail address some weeks ago.
37th ANNUAL KIELY MONUMENTAL COLLIGAN CUP ON SUNDAY 11th JANUARY.
Date for the diary and one of the most popular events on our calendar is the 37th annual Kiely Monumental Colligan Cup which will be held on Sunday 11th January.The McGrath Newsagents sponsored Juvenile race starts at 11.00 pm and the Senior event will be at 12 noon. The senior race is 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 37th year we would like to thank sincerely our sponsor for all of those 37 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 11th January.
34th ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.
ENTRIES NOW OPEN AND FILLING FAST ,
West Waterford athletic club are delighted to announce that entries for our 34th annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race are now open to all and filling nicely. Its expected the race will shortly be sold out as we have exceeded the 3.00 mark at time of going to press. The entry is an online entry through our race web site www.dungarvan10mile.org or through eventmaster.ie. The event now in its 34th 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 34 years ago. This year our entry limit will be 3.750 ,this we hope will see all runners wishing to run the event in 2026 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 1st 2026.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 1st 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
- STEPHEN’S DAY RUN/WALK IN AID OF SHAM RYAN RECOVERY FUND.
The Dungarvan GAA club annual St. Stephen’s Day event will go ahead once again this year and all monies collected with benefit the Sham Ryan Recovery fund and all are invited to participate. Please do come along to the Dungarvan GAA Club grounds Clogherane at 11am St Stephens morning and walk or run off all that turkey!! We are delighted to be in a position to support this year’s recipient in Sham Ryan . While hard at work, Sham was unexpectedly stung by a wasp—an incident that quickly turned life-threatening when he went into anaphylaxis and suffered a cardiac arrest. Thanks to the incredible efforts of first responders, he was airlifted to CUH, where the amazing nursing staff and medical team fought tirelessly to save his life. Their care has given him a second chance. But Sham’s journey is far from over. He is now waiting for a bed in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire, where he will begin what is expected to be a long and challenging road to recovery. The rehabilitation process will be intensive, and the costs associated—travel, time away from work, on-going therapies, and unforeseen expenses—will place a heavy strain financially. We are asking for your support to help ease the financial burden during this incredibly difficult time. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and help Sham focus on what matters most: Your support will directly contribute to Shams recovery with all monies raised donate to his fund, Look forward to seeing you .
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 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 Margaret Denneny.Tullamore, Offaly / Ring, Waterford, who passed to her eternal reward last week, may she rest in peace.
