28th ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE CONCLUDES.
We had our 11th and final round of the Fordes Daybreak winter league recently which brought down the curtain on the oldest and original national winter league event and it was one of the most successful in its 28 year history, blessed with great weather except one night if memory serves me well, and the numbers participating held up superbly well right to the final night, in fact we finished with some of the highest numbers of participants for some years. The prize-winners were presented with their prizes by league sponsor Kevin Forde of Fordes Daybreak at the presentation night in the Park Hotel recently where a great night was had by everyone who came. Our thanks to Kevin for his generous sponsorship of the league and to his wife Orla who both were available at the league presentation of prizes at the Park. 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 28 years of its existence. The overall winner of the short route for 2022/23 was Phil Coffey while the long route trophy was presented to Tara Ní Reachatágin. Thanks to everyone for such a great turn out on the night, we hope everyone enjoyed the celebrations after 11 weeks of hard running. Once again well done to all the prize-winners and thank you all for your attendance at the presentation night and until next year keep up the hard work. To celebrate the 29th year of the league this year all runners who ran 8 nights of the league were rewarded with a hat. In this week’s notes we will have a look at the Long course league and the following week we will have the short course league report.
TARA NÍ REACHTAGÁIN BECOMES OUR 28TH WINNER OF THE FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
The winner of our famed winter league this year was a Lady were delighted to report , Tara Ní Reachtagáin who only recently joined our club as she moved to the area on a more full time bases so it was nice welcome to the club and indeed the area for Tara originally from Roscrea Co Tipperary to became the 28th runner to claim the famous title of long course victor of the winter league. A delighted Tara after receiving the trophy thanked all who help made the league run so smoothly and thanked the sponsor kevin Forde.Tom Hogan filled 2nd place this year, Tom a regular club runner and member looked like he was going to possible take the overall title as the league drew to a conclusion but just came up short ion this occasion finishing with 1661 points only 15 points behind the inner Tara with 1676 points. In 3rd place was Jack Ahearne on 1646 points Jack came with a late flurry and clawed his way up the leader board over the last 5 or so weeks of the league. There were some great battles throughout the 11 divisions. One that sticks out is division 8 where three runners were separated by just 4 points. With Geraldine Barry Lismore taking that division which went down to the final nights running Ger finished on 1043 points from a very close John Paul Hogan just 3 points behind on 1040 and in 3rd place a lady who battled her way each and every week through the league rounds when taking on the long course Marcella Scanlan only 1 point behind J.P with 1039 points. A total of 36 runners did all 11 nights on long course which was a great number. So all in all it was another great league and the full list of our top 10 as well as our other divisional winners are listed below.
The top 10 were:
1 Tara Ni Reachtagáin 1676
2 Tom Hogan 1661
3 Jack Ahearne 1646
4 Linda Foley 1588
5 Triona Shalloe 1582
6 Emmet Gaffney 1546
7 Eoin Darcy 1524
8 Sinead Ni Fhaolain 1518
9 Geraldine Lacey 1495
10 Katherine O Connor 1474
Division 2.
1 Niamh O’Donovan 1526
2 Seán Costin 1478
3 Freida Mc Grath 1450
Division 3.
1 Yevgeniy Chizhikov 1412
2 Vincent Tutty 1397
3 Ceire Barry 1362
Division 4.
1 Pat Morrissey 1334
2 Anne Moore 1238
3 John Joe Hayes 1212
Division 5.
1 Jim Barry 1337
2 Jack Nolan 1307
3 Christopher Phelan 1278
Division 6.
1 Peter Phelan 1167
2 James Coade 1099
3 Catherine Mc Intyre 1051
Division 7.
1 Nicola Costin 1147
2 Lisa Collins 1070
3 Catherine Bourke 1000
Division 8.
1 Geraldine Barry L 1043
2 John Paul Hogan 1040
3 Marcella Scanlan 1039
Division 9.
1 Claire Power 1014
2 Paul Casey 1003
3 Chris Wade 1003
Division 10.
1 Helen Keating 985
2 Richie Walsh 927
3 Cliodhna Mc Grath 846
Division 11.
1 Grainne O’Brien 949
2 Kevin Forde 945
3 Shane Healy 941
36 COMPLETE ALL 11 WINTER LEAGUE LONG COURSE NIGHTS ON LONG COURSE.
It is a great achievement to get yourself out not for a few league nights over the winter but for them all, this year we had a huge number in fact the largest number ever when 36 runners on the long course completed all 11 nights of the league, a special well done to all of you. The four winners of the prize’s raffled among those 36 who completed each and every night was won by Aimee Moloney,Onra Power,Johnny O’Connor,Gary Hurney
FASTEST MAN AND WOMEN ON THE LONG COURSE LEAGUE.
In this league we give a prize to the fastest man and women on both routes outside of prize-winners who participate for the mandatory 8 nights and appear on the league tables. On this occasion on the long course the very fast Mick Aherne took the title of fastest man on the long route with a superb time of 29.35.Mick ran this time breaking 30 minutes on one occasion and he was the only runner to break the 30 minute mark throughout the entire league. Turning to the ladies long course, our fastest lady was Kate Veale with a time of 32.30.Kate well know race walker mixed the two disciplines walking and running through the league but on one of the league night she gave it wellie and ran the fastest female time ever recorded on this course 32.30.Well done to Mick and Kate.
FEW LONG COURSE LEAGUE STATS.
The total number of runner signed up for the short course this year was 299. Highest number of finishers for long route was week 6 when 230 competed on the night. The long route averaged 184 finishers per night up from an average of 154 the previous year.
ORMOND TOWNHOUSE AND CAFE AWARD’S FOR WINTER LEAGUE STEWARDS.
A very special draw was made at our awards night out when a draw was made among all our stewards who gave so freely of their time to steward this year’s league, three very generous prizes were donated for the draw by David and Judith McNally for their business The Ormond Café and Townhouse on Grattan Square for which we sincerely thank them for their generosity. The winners of these vouchers were Mairead Flynn, John Mc Grath, Padraig De Burca. Well done to all who are long serving helpers and many thanks to all our winter league stewards.
NEXT LEAGUE IS THE POPULAR MARK MASON FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN LEAGUE.
The club’s next big local event is the 5 week Mark Mason’s Financial Services Colligan running league for beginners and regular runners and all are welcome once they are over 16 years of age. We would especially encourage newcomers to come along and join in this league in Colligan wood. For the complete beginner there is the option of doing two laps of the wood, beginning at the wooden bridge and finishing at the wooden bridge. This is 4km in distance or 2.5 miles so it might suit all those that ran the short route over the winter league plus this route is more or less completely on the flat. Another option is to take part in the 5-mile circuit; this is 3 and a half laps of the same flat circuit of the wood mentioned above. The final option is the 5 mile hill route which is one lap of the wood for starters and then up the first hill and down the hill and then across the road for the second hill and finishing in by the wood at the bridge. The entry fee for all runners is €2 each night. The overall winner of the league will receive the Veale family perpetual shield. The league will start on Wednesday March 29th and continue for five Wednesday evenings April 5th,12th,19th and 26th .Mass start each evening at 6.30 pm.
COUNTY BOARD CONVENTION.
The Annual Convention of the Waterford County Athletics Board was held in “The Park Hotel” Dungarvan on Wednesday February 8th. There was a very open and good debate about athletics in the county with very good discussion on many aspects of the sport. The following Officers and Committee were elected.
President Michael Gregan Tramore AC
Chairperson Trevor Walsh Waterford AC
Vice Chair Brid Golden Ferrybank AC
Secretary Fintan Kenny Waterford AC
Treasurer John McGrath West Waterford AC
PRO Fintan Walsh Waterford AC
Facebook Coordinator James Veale West Waterford AC
Children’s Officer Niamh Purcell Ferrybank AC
Committee David Murphy Waterford AC, John Dempsey, Blackwater AC, Tom Leahy ,West Waterford AC,Shane Scanlon Finisk Valley AC, Brett Wesley Ardmore AC Carolyn Walsh KCK AC.
County Track and Field Championship dates are now confirmed,
Sunday April 30th and Sunday May 7th at RSC,Waterford.
County Cross Country Championships dates chosen October 1st and October 8th at venues to be decided.
SUCCESS FOR WEST WATERFORD ATHLETES AT MUNSTER INDOORS.
2nd BEST TIME IN THE WORLD THIS YEAR AS KATE VEALE RECORDS A CHAMPIONSHIP BEST PERFORMANCE.
The Munster indoor championships were held last Sunday In Nenagh Arena, Co.Tipperary and West Waterford athletes were among the medals winners. Kate Veale put in a brilliant performance in the senior Ladies 3.000 meters smashing the 26 year CBP set by Gillian O’Sullivan UCC AC way back in 1997, which was 13.23.50, This for Kate was her fastest time ever recorded indoors over the distance and is ranked the 2nd fastest in the world to date in 2023.In the Junior Ladies walk over 3.000 metres Doireann Hickey had very successful day when she took her first junior silver medal in this competition recording a time of 16.44.40, a very stylish walker with good technique she is certainly a lady to watch for in the future. Eabha Hickey younger sister of Doireann was walking her very fist Munster Juniors and she did really well finishing just outside the medals with a time of 19.04.31.Well done to all three.
MICHEÁL AND PAT IN ACTION.
At the Armagh 5Km Road Race on Thursday evening where 469 finished Pat Hennessey ran an excellent time of clocked 15.15 . In the Windy City Invitational in Chicago Miceál Power competing for Tulsa University in a 5000 metres was 7th overall in 13 minutes 40.56 seconds 22 competed. Well done to both
123.IE NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE AND MASTERS CROSS COUNTRY.
BRONZE FOR PAT AND GOLD FOR JOE.
The 123.ie national intermediate and masters cross country championships were held last Sunday in Gowran Co.Kilkenny and hosted by Gowran AC with big fields participated in all races. Proceedings on the day got under way with the National Juvenile B championships. Our club had two athletes competing with Pat Hennessey running the intermediate race held over 8.000 meters, Pat fresh from his 5k effort posting a time of 15.15 earlier in the week at the Armagh international road race, Pat had a brilliant run to claim the bronze medal when finishing 3rd overall, the race winner was Luke Dismore Annadale Striders AC in 25:33, the silver went to Vinny Connolly Mullingar Harriers A.C.in 25.47 with Pat posting 25.49 for the bronze,and with another few strides could very well have taken silver as he came up the finish straight closing with ever stride on Connolly,but the finish line just came to soon, none the less a great bronze for Pat.Joe Gough was in action in the over 70 category in the Masters race which covered 4000 meters and Joe proved he can run over any distance and in any discipline as he romped home to take gold, his first Gold national masters medal over cross country, well done to both.
