Senior News,February 02 2025

A DAY TO REMEMBER AT THE 33rd ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 MILE ROAD RACE.

 

TWO COURSE RECORDS SMASHED.

 

 

What a brilliant day we had in Dungarvan last Sunday when we celebrated the 33rd running of the John Treacy Dungarvan 10. It’s a mammoth task to organise this race each year as it has now grown in size to become the largest 10 mile road race in the country. From the off the day saw our 2 course record’s smashed when both Men’s and Ladies were lowered substantially. Both athletes ran the fastest 5 mile times in over 5 years in Ireland such were the standard of the times recorded. The town was a buzz of excitement from Saturday when the throngs of runners and visitors started to arrive for the big event on Sunday. Leaving the town a bustling haven of runners over the two days with every bed and restaurant full to capacity. The event is the largest sporting event by far in the county but of course it took years of dedicated work by the club over many years and of course with great help from many along the way to make this the best 10 mile road race in the 32 counties. The weather is always a factor this time of year but last Sunday we couldn’t have asked for a better one with good temperatures and the overnight rain had cleared well in advance of 11 am start time, in fact it was ideal for the runners. We were delighted to have with us this year a very special starter in Liz Treacy Bullen who was the inaugural winner of this race 33 years ago in 1992, it was great to have Liz along with members of her family as the first winner starting the race 33 years later and of course to mention she is also twin sister to the man which this race honours the great John Treacy. With over 100 stewards putting their names forward to give us our yearly dig out. All your help was really and truly appreciated and every person no matter what their role was at the event your help made the day what it was, a superb day for our club and for our town, a huge thank to Karen Ryan who coordinated this mammoth task again this year. Before Liz got the race under way from the Youghal Road we observed a few moment’s reflection on the passing of two people who passed to their eternal reward the past week, Pauline Tobin who’s two daughters Angela and Anita are valued members of our club along with son in-law Bernard who were due to be pacers for the event and in our thoughts also is one of our club members who was also due to run Patrick Bergin who tragically lost his brother Aidan during the week, may they both rest in peace. It was a sight to behold at the Youghal Road as the huge field made its way on the short 1 mile town loop before heading for the country. This year once again for the 9th year we had the services of Myrunresults a professional chip timing company, this took a lot of pressure off our timing crew and we thank myrunresults for their professionalism and having the results out in the fastest time imaginable. West Waterford athletic club were fortunate also once again this year to have on board our race associate sponsors. Flahavans, Nike Ireland,AIB Bank, Intersport Elverys,  The Country Stores Dungarvan,Kevin Forde Daybreak Dungarvan Garveys SuperValu , Kenetica Sport, with much help also from Cappoquin Logistics, Eurofins . Along with a host of other local businesses who supported the event in so many ways. To Waterford city and county council, Josephine Mc Grath, John Leonard, Anthony Reddy and all the staff for their invaluable help ensuring that the course was in top order for the race we are most grateful. To all the staff at Dungarvan Sports Centre who accommodated our goody bag packing Saturday. To all who donated to and helped to pack the goodie bags on Saturday many thanks.Over the weekend we had plenty of help with keeping the streets and roads as we found them so to all who were on hand helping with the clean-up many thanks. Thanks to all on duty at the start line and finish line crew they did brilliant all weekend.  Thanks to Dr David O Mahony and our nurse Anita Kiely for their invaluable help on the day. To Liam O Donnell on van duty and our PA man Martin Drake .Dirk Baumann and his crew for their superb sound system and music.And the job very few queue up to do the sweeper van cleaning up along the course ,we have the best two you could imagine on this thanks Pat and Paul.David Coleman and John Troy for their photos and all other photographers who were there on the day and Anthony Foley for his Drone film.A big thanks to those who looked after the water stations and for the great job they did in cleaning up the litter after. To Denise Regan and her crew on goodie bag duty many thanks. A very special mention to three people who we simply couldn’t operate without, for their work with the traffic management and practical help leading up to race day and on the day itself and that’s Conor Norris, John Mc Grath  and Jamie Mills, many thanks lads. Thanks to Dungarvan Cycling club for all their invaluable assistance also and to our own Juvenile club members and committee for all their help. We must extend our sincere thanks to all at Dungarvan Garda for their continued support with this and all our events, the Garda role is vital to the success of this race and they are always most helpful and understanding in their dealings with us. Thanks to the Medicore for their professionalism and for making the trip to Dungarvan for the event, these are a vital cog in the success of this event and as have been proven we are in safe hands when this crew are involved. There are many other people to thank for their help on the day especially all the many stewards out on the course whom without we couldn’t possibly have held the event at all, Motor bike out riders and our friends at DCC . Thanks to all our pacers who are dab hands at it now and to Ann who coordinated here. Finally, a huge thank you to our club committee who worked tirelessly under the stewardship of a great chairman Tom Leahy for all the work put in again this year and of course the lady whose hand is on the overall controls for the event, Ann Dunford , Ann once again left no stone unturned in her efforts in what was a flawless event. To all I have forgotten to thank we do say a big thanks and well done to you all- roll on 2026.

 

 

 

YOUGHAL ATHLETE FEARGHAL CURTIN WINS HIS FIRST DUNGARVAN 10 WITH A NEW COURSE RECORD.

 

 

With a brilliant half marathon time of 61.45 under his belt Youghal AC athlete Fearghal Curtin was the clearest of favourites for last Sundays John Treacy Dungarvan 10, indeed course records were also talked about when his entry was received in the elite entry window and the man himself took the race in a very serious vein as he arrived back from warm weather training in Portugal on Thursday and on Friday came to run the 10 mile course in Dungarvan to familiarise himself with the terrain. Yes his favourite billing held up to its expectation and likewise the record talk which was bandied about the week prior to the race was more than a rumour as he broke the old standard set by Raheny Shamrock AC’s Mick Clohissey of 48.16 set in 2020,Fearghal who spent a couple of years on scholarship at Charleston Southern University lowered and is now based in Cardiff in a running group over there. He clipped with a magical solo run around Dungarvan last Sunday a time of 47.42 which was the fastest 10 mile time ran in Ireland in over 5 years. Runner up was Jamie Fallon Craughwell AC in 49.56 another great performance as Jamie was the only other athlete to break the 50 minute barrier. Third home was Cork AC athlete Sean Doyle 50.26,Sean is coached by no other than Rob Heffernan Irelands best ever race walker .Ger Forde Kilkenny City Harriers AC took 4th 50.36, no stranger to fast times is West Waterford AC’s Evan Fitzgerald 50.58, and last Sunday he had a brilliant run to take 5th place  proving he can run fast times not alone in the clubs  winter league but double the distance over 10 miles also .Evan is usually a 5km or 5 mile racer so he upped the ante by taking on the further 10 mile distance and again with great success. Incidentally all the above 5 times were fast enough to win last year’s race such was the quality of the field last Sunday. We had a comprehensive list of category prize winners also and many in brilliantly fast times , these prizes will be posted out to the winners asap. Big thanks to our team of race day pacers who all did a brilliant job getting runners to reach their particular race goal. There was a big mix of clubs from all over the country again this year and was a great to see athletes from clubs far and near compete, well done to one and all, see you all in 2026 for our 34th outing !

 

 

MEN’S RESULTS.

 

1              Fearghal CURTIN              00:47:42               Youghal A.C.

2              Jamie FALLON                   00:49:56               Craughwell A.C

3              Sean DOYLE                        00:50:26               Cork City A.C.

4              Ger FORDE                          00:50:35               Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.

5              Evan FITZGERALD             00:50:58               West Waterford A.C.

6              Sergiu CIOBANU               00:51:57               Clonliffe Harriers A.C.

7              Pat FITZGERALD                00:52:11               Waterford A.C.

8              Denis HEGARTY 00:          52:19                     Leevale A.C.

9              Matthew MCCONNELL  00:52:24               Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District A.C.

10           Mossy BRACKEN              00:52:28               Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C.

 

NIAMH ALLEN DECIMATES LADIES COURSE RECORD AT JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 MILE.

 

Her coach predicted she would run under 53 minutes pre-race and who knows better than an athlete’s coach, Our Ladies winner last Sunday Niamh Allen Leevale AC  is in the camp of the famed Cork team of Donie Walsh and he had her in record shape for last Sunday ‘s race . Niamh  was on the European cross country team last December in Turkey after she finished 2nd at the national senior cross country early December in Edenderry ran an incredible race in Dungarvan finishing in a time of 52.50 and finishing 12th overall in the race, bettering the old standard set in 2020 by Aoife Cooke 54.53,again this was the fastest time ran by a Female in Ireland in over 5 years. Waterford’s former inter country camogie player Patricia Jackman took 2nd place recording a time of 56.18 a brilliant run by the UK based athlete. Our 3rd home here and the 2nd Cork finisher was Ciara Ryan St Finbarrs AC 61.08 with Winner last year of our Greenway half marathon Katie Wilson CMP AC 4th in 61.31,5th was Leah Lawler St laurnece O’Toole AC 61.03.The age categories were as keenly contested as ever and it was brilliant to see so many Ladies taking on the 10 mile distance, whatever your time or position we are sure that everyone enjoyed the day, a day which was a memorable one and we hope to see you all back in 2026 when we will line up for the 34th edition of the race.

 

LADIES RESULTS

 

1              Niamh ALLEN                     00:52:50               Leevale A.C.

2              Patricia JACKMAN            00:56:18               Waterford A.C.

3              Clara RYAN                          01:01:08               St. Finbarrs A.C.

4              Katie WILSON                    01:01:31               DMP A.C.

5              Leah LAWLER                     01:02:03               St. L. O’Toole A.C.

6              Shona KEANE                     01:02:19               Dooneen A.C.

7              Caroline HASSETT             01:03:02               Templemore A.C.

8              Catherine MURPHY         01:03:04               Eagle A.C.

9              Emma BOLAND                 01:03:16               Newbridge A.C.

10           Becky COUGHLAN           01:04:06               Ennis Track A.C.

 

 

 

JOHN TREACY INTER CLUB CHALLENGE 2025.

 

The John Treacy Inter Club Challenge for men and women is decided by your fist 3 club runners across the finish line counting all categories.

MENS TEAM

Leevale AC

Denis HEGARTY                 00:52:19                              

Shane COLLINS                 00:53:16              

Donal COAKLEY                 00:53:29

 

Total time 2.30.04           

                               

LADIES TEAM

 

St Finbarrs AC

Clara RYAN                          01:01:14                              

Niamh CRONIN                 01:04:41              

Anita LOCKE                       01:05:30              

 

 

Total 3.11.25

 

 

 

6.000 EURO DONATED TO IRISH KIDNEY ASSCOIATION BY THE RUNNERS OF THE DUNGARVAN 10.

 

For the 10th year this year we donated monies from the race to a charity.The Irish Kidney Association was the chosen charity for 2025 and we were delighted that you the runners through your generosity and monies donated form the race itself donated 6.000 euro. Our thanks to Joe and Francis Moynihan  who came along on Sunday and were presented with the cheque on behalf of the race organisers and all the runners who donated to the cause.

 

 

HUGHELY SUCCESFUL 30th ANNUAL FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE CONCLUDES.

 

The clubs most successful winter league concluded last week on what was a perfect night form the mass start and final round.The prize-winners were presented with their prizes by league sponsor Kevin Forde of Fordes Daybreak at a great prize presentation and celebration night held at the Park Hotel last Sunday night. Our thanks to Kevin for his generous sponsorship of the league. Also once again i would like to thank the many stewards and helpers that make these leagues possible. The main stay of its success we feel is the fact that it’s open to all and brings together the elite as well as the fun runner and this is what has made it appealing for so many years, the league has never been won by the fastest runner in any of the 30 years of its existence. A full end of league report will follow.

 

 

 

SEVILLE HALF MARATHON.

The Seville half marathon was held last weekend in the Spanish city with huge numbers taking part on what was a wet morning for the event but very warn and close conditions. The club had 2 athletes taking part when Cathal Reynolds ran a time of 1.31.34 and Eileen Heffernan completed the 21.97km  distance in 1.58.26 .Well done to Cathal and Eileen.

 

SYMPATHY.

 

West Waterford athletic club extends sincere sympathy to the families and friends of Pauline Tobin St. Martin’s Terrace, Dungarvan, and Aidan Bergin Clonea Dungarvan and Denis Moynihan Cloneety Villas,Dungarvan who passed to their eternal reward last week , May they rest in peace.

Upcoming Events