FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
JAMES FENNELL OVERALL WINNER ON THE SHORT ROUTE AT THE FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
This week we take a look back at the short course of our winter league which ended 2 weeks back. Just like the long course which we covered last week the 11 weeks on the short course was keenly competed for in all divisions. We had a big increase in numbers on the short course this year which we are delighted with as many of these were trying out the league for the first time with many trying a bit of running for the first time also.Our short course winner this year was a young man who worked his socks off for the duration of the event over the 11 weeks , I might add and hope he won’t mind me saying that our winner James Fennel wasn’t a regular runner until he started the winter league last November, James a carpenter by trade and works will a local building contractor was deserving winner in the end but had to keep to the task in hand as there were 3 or 4 behind right on his heels throughout .James finished on a totals of 1343 points with Adam Kelly on 1297 in 2nd place, incidentally Adam’s dad Finbarr will be well known in running circles to most of us and he in the year of our lord 2000 finished in 2nd place to one Stephen Curran which also turned out to be a great battle as it went down to the final night I recall. Our 3rd league fini9sher this year was Martina Beechinor 1287 points just 10 points off 2nd place, Martina is from the Youghal direction and a club member for some years now. Cyril Flavin filled 4th position with a tally of 1267 points followed by Jack Donnelly with 1232 points.Congratulations to all who participated on the short course this year at the winter league we hope you keep up your fitness’s now over the next couple of months, why not join us for the upcoming Mark Mason Financial planning Colligan league held over 5 weeks and starting on Wednesday April 1st. We would love to see you on the bridge in Colligan.
:
Division 1
1 James Fennell 1343
2 Adam Kelly 1297
3 Martina Beechinor 1287
4 Cyril Flavin 1267
5 Jack Donnelly 1232
6 Helen Carey 1206
7 Amy Walsh 1158
8 Amy Duggan 1150
9 Michael Coakley 1144
10 Maggie Hally 1130
Division 2
1 Kayleigh Ryan 1103
2 Catriona Crowe 1079
3 Leisa Fleming 1071
Division 3
1 Saoirse Moynihan 1039
2 Caoimhe Veale 1026
3 Helen Cummins 996
Division 4
1 Jean Beresford 925
2 Tracie Drummy 900
3 Lorraine Mc Cormack 869
Division 5
1 Louise Prendergast 862
2 Fionnuala Houlihan 830
3 Aisling Dwane 793
Division 6
1 Jessica Sanderson 753
2 Tracey Fennell 718
3 Melissa Cleary 702
Division 7
1 Phillippa Keating 712
2 Lisa Maher 679
3 Sinead Harty 658
SHORT COURSE FASTEST TIMES RECORDED.
The Fastest Male on the short course this year was Mick Concannon with a time of 16.42, and our Fastest Female Jessica Sanderson in a time of 16.25.There were 19 runners that completed all 11 nights of the league which is a great achievement. We had a raffle of prizes for all who completed the 11 night’s and the winners here were Michéal Moynihan,
MICHEÁL AND SIOBHAN WIN PRIZES FOR FULL COMPLEMENT.
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 record number of 56 runners on the long course completed all 11 nights of the league, a special well done to all of you. At the winter league each year we give a male and a female prize to athletes who completed all 11 rounds of the league without missing any night and the winners here this year were Micheál Moynihan and Siobhan O’Mahony, well done to both.
THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THE LEAGUE.
The successful 31st annual Forde’s Daybreak winter league came to an end recently and once again from the outset it has to be said it was one of our most successful in recent years if not the most successful ever. We must of course sincerely thank our sponsor Kevin and Forde of Forde’s Daybreak on the Youghal Road, a better sponsor there isn’t, many thanks Kevin. And to Kevin and Orla we wish them nothing but good healthy and many years of happiness as they move to the next chapter.As all of us involved know it’s a big commitment each and every Wednesday evening covering a total of 11 weeks in all kinds of weather, to be out helping the club in this way for the enjoyment of others, but of course without these people there would be no league as the 30 or so helpers and stewards take up their position at the same time each Wednesday evening making sure that us runners are safe while running the league. A special thanks again must go to Gerry Cantwell who coordinated all the stewards for the duration of the league, Gerry did this most important job diligently each week making sure if someone was unable to come that there was another person organised to fill this slot, well done Gerry on a great job. To another most important crew, those on registrations and finish line duty each week, a big thanks for all your help. Breda Cantwell, Shirley Flynn, Ann Dunford , Declan O’Callaghan, Sharon Duggan, Ray Burke, Tom Leahy. Thanks to our chairman Tom Leahy for his work this year with the league also and Gerry Cantwell who looked after the league points tables. Our thanks go to Ann Dunford for her on-going work with posting results on the club web site each week and the general administration on the league. To Jamie Mills and John Mc Grath who looked after the safety cones each night and as always did a fine job and to the lads at the Sports Centre who were there every night and provided much needed help and support. Keep on running see you all again in November if not before..
NEXT LEAGUE IS THE POPULAR MARK MASON FINANCIAL PLANNING COLLIGAN LEAGUE.
Spring is in the air when we start mentioning our next big club event the 5 week Mark Mason’s Financial Planning Colligan running league for beginners and regular runners. Open to all once they are over 16 years of age. This league has something in it for all from the beginner to the seasoned athlete with many distances to choose from along with flat courses and hilly courses. Beginning at the wooden bridge and finishing at the wooden bridge. This is 4.4 km in distance or 2.7 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 3 lap which is 6.5 kms or just over 4 miles; this is 3 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. Entry will be online in due course. The league will start on Wednesday April 1st and continue for five more Wednesday evenings April 08th,15th, 22nd and 29th .Mass start each evening at 6.30 pm.
MICHEÁL POWER BREAKS THE 14 MINUTE BARRIER IN ARMAGH 5K.
Club member Micheál Power gave an impressive sub 14 minute performance last Thursday evening at the prestigious Armagh road race over the 5km distance. In a field of 204 competitors the race was won by European cross country champion Nick Griggs in a time of 13.37 with only seconds separating the top 20 finishers Micheál crossed the finish line in a fast 13.53.Micheal will next compete indoors at the national championships in 2 weeks’ time in Abbottstown.
1 Nick GRIGGS Candour AC 13:37
2 Matthew RAMSDEN Blackburn Harriers 13:39
3 Callum MORGAN Candour AC 13:39
4 Alfie MANTHORPE Hallamshire 10 13:40
5 Cormac DALTON Mullingar Harriers AC 13:41
6 Archie DAVIS Brighton Phoenix AC 13.
7 Lughaidh MALLON UCD (11:35)
8 Emil DANIELSSON (13:46)
9 Jamie CROWE Central AC (13:47) 13:47
10 Jack GRAY Cambridge & Coleridge (13:48)
11 Karl OTTFALK (13:48)
12 Finley PROFFITT Trafford (13:49)
13 Matthew MERRICK Belgrave Harriers (13:50)
14 Micheal POWER West Waterford AC 6 (13:53)
CONNELL’S CRUISE ROUND THE STREETS OF SAVILLE.
The 41st Zurich Maratón de Sevilla 2026 was held in Spain last Sunday in the beautiful city of Seville Spain. Held on what is widely recognized as the flattest marathon course in Europe, the 2026 edition attracted 17,000 runners, including 200 elite athletes from over 100 nationalities, setting new participation records for the historic Andalusia event. As is a regular occurrence these days in all international marathon events our club was well represented as husband and wife team Aidan and Fiona Connell made the trip. Both ran the JohnTreacy Dungarvan 10 a few weeks back their final preparation race and with a strong 52.34 showing from Aidan in the that race he was set up for a big run in Seville, he duly obliged with a 2.32.32 effort, brilliant running by Aidan who paced the race to perfection. Aidan ran this same marathon last year clocking a time of 2.35.52 so a nice improvement and PB for his efforts. Fiona also came away from the race a very happy athlete as she also after clocking a good time of 1.18.55 at the JT only 3 weeks ago went on to recorded 4.01.17 in Saville and unlucky not to break the 4 hour barrier.Recent winner of the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 Jake O’Regan Leeevale AC ran time of 2.17.30 here with the overall race winner Shura Kitata and fellow Ethiopian country man Aberehman Asrar both crossed the finish line together in a time of 02:03:59 with Kitata getting the victory on a photo finish which took quite a while to determine.The overall Ladies winner was Finland’s Alisa Vainio who stunned a strong African field to triumph in a time of 2:20:39 a new Finnish national record 2nd was Beatrice Jepchichir Kenya 2:21:56 with Mulat Tekle Godu Ethiopia 3rd in a time of 2:22:0
