4th ANNUAL BALLINAMEELA 5K .
We were delighted to be back with our friends in Ballinameela last Friday evening for the Ballinameela 5k,after days of great weather the skies were grey and we did get a light shower during the race but thankfully for the good field of 132 runners the rain in the main held off as they left Ballinameela community hall at 7.30 pm making their way out into the countryside on the very fast flat 5k course. The race which was being held for the 4th time as part of the clubs summer race programme and indeed it was a fitting end to this year’s programme of 6 races over the summer months. All events of course need good local community help and this was once again very evident last Friday evening as a huge community effort with no stone unturned in making this the great event that it was. The race was organised by the West Waterford AC with a huge input by both Ballinameela Community Centre and Ballinameela GAA Club without who’s help we could not have held the event thank you also to Cathal Gleeson of Venture Dungarvan who provided the race with spot prizes for some of the lucky winners of same. A donation from the race was presented to the Community hall committee on the night for their funds. Refreshments afterwards were provided by the Ballinameela Community Centre Ladies and the Stewards were organised by the GAA Club. Stewards consisted of local people, club members and players, our thanks to all involved and especially to our own club member Mark Cliffe who was instrumental to the overall success of the race, Mark put in a huge shift in organising this race once again this year.Thank you to chairperson of the community hall Vikki Mulhall who presented the race winners with their prizes on the night. Thanks to the West Waterford athletic club crew on registration, results and traffic duty, once again plenty help was at hand, looking forward to 2023 already.
SERGIU CIOBANU CLAIMS FLAWLESS VICTORY.
It was a gun to tape victory for Clonliffe Harriers AC’S Sergui Ciobanu at last Friday evenings Ballinameela 5k and it was impressive to witness the former national marathon champion cruise around the fast course in a splendid time of 15.10, this was the fastest winning time ever for this race and that said we must impress on the effort of our own Pat Henessey who also put in a brilliant run to claim 2nd just 9 seconds behind the former Moldovan native who has represented Ireland in European and World championships in the recent past. Pat posted 15.19 and in third place in a very good field of some of the south east’s best road runners was another West Waterford AC man Sean Curran great to see Sean back in action in the club singlet and he posted a good time of 16.08.The category winners were over 40 Keith Kelly Youghal AC 16.17,over 45 Mossie Keogh West Waterford AC 18.23 ,over 50 John Murphy Grange Fermoy AC17.39 and over 55 Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C. 19.21 1st junior was Josh Daly Ind 23.41.
MENS.
1 Sergui Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC 15.10
2 Pat Hennessey West Waterford AC 15.19
3 Sean Curran West Waterford AC 16.08
M 40 Keith Kelly Youghal AC 16.17
M 45 Mossie Keogh West Waterford AC 18.23
M 50 John Murphy Grange Fermoy AC 17.39
M55 Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C. 19.21
M Jnr Josh Daly Ind 23.41
FIONA SANTRY A CLASS APART IN LADIES RACE.
If the mens field was stacked last Friday evening the Ladies line up was even more impressive proving that word is out there now in running circles about how fats this Ballinameela course is with any of the top 6 ladies all proven race winners in the past this race last Friday evening was hard to call on the start line, but of course we can have only one winner and it was that brilliant Lady from East Cork AC Fiona Santry who was to be the clear and decisive victor with a time of 17.43 again like the men the fastest ladies winning time for the course ever recorded. Kealy Tideswell Clonmel AC made a welcome return to this side of the country when finished 2nd with a time of 18.22, a young lady who made the trip all the way form Wexford for the race Claire Barrett DMP AC ran an impressive 18.49 for 3rd place.First lady over 35 was Elaine Langley IND A.C. with a time of 21.12,the over 40 ladies was claimed by Tish Ryan Dundrum AC 19.51First over 45 was the inform Karen Ryan West Waterford A.C.24.19,the ladies over 50 went to Angela Mc Cann Clonmel AC 19.39.
Ladies
1 Fiona Santry East Cork AC 17.43
2 Kealy Tideswell Clonmel AC 18.22
3 Claire Barrett DMP AC 18.49
F 35 Elaine Langley IND A.C. 21.12
F 40 Tish Ryan Dundrum AC 19.51
F 45 Karen Ryan West Waterford A.C. 24.19
F 50 Angela Mc Cann Clonmel AC 19.39
EUROFINS WATERFORD GREEENWAY HALF MARATHON ENTRIES NOW OPEN.
EVENT SUPPORTS IRISH COMMUNITY AIR AMBULANCE.
Once again we are delighted to have local company Eurofins as our title sponsor for this unique event and we thank them for their commitment to this race and to our club. In conjunction with Waterford City and County Council this is a 13.1 mile race along the now famous old Waterford/Dungarvan Railway line. This fantastic amenity opened officially in 2017 and has already experienced visitors from all over the country and beyond. Users are amazed by this 46 km spectacular off-road cycling and walking trail along an old railway line between Waterford and Dungarvan.Please note this is a point to point race starting at the Coachhouse Kilmacthomas and finishing near Ballinroad, Dungarvan. Entry fee includes bus from Ballinroad to the start line in Kilmacthomas. As usual each year we try to support a local charity and this year we have chosen Irish Community Air Ambulance.We all know the valuable work this organisation do in our community and hopefully we can raise some much needed funds as they are a voluntary organisation who rely on the public for support.
ELITE ENTRIES.
If you wish to apply as an elite runner for the Eurofins Waterford Greenway half marathon please send your information to info@westwaterfordathletics.org stating your name, date of birth, club and fastest time and location for either half marathon or 10 mile race ran in the last 3 years. Half Marathon time: Under 1.20 for men (1.30 for women) 10 Mile Time: Under 60 mins for men (65 for women
RAS NA RINNE.
Ar an Aoine an 5ú Lúnasa ag a 7:30i.n. beidh an 28ú eagrán de Rás na Rinne ar siúl aríst. Is rás neamhgháthach é seo le formhór de á rith thar ghaineamh an Choinigéir. Beidh tús agus críoch an ráis thuas ó gheataí Choláiste na Rinne. Bronnfar Corn Uí Dhroma (píosa álainn Criostal na Rinne), don mbuateoir i dTigh Mooneys i ndiaidh an ráis, maraon le na duaiseann eile.
Is féidir clárú ar líne ag-
https://eventmaster.ie/event/q3wQiP7SQq
Nó is féidir clárú ar an lá in Halla Pobail na Rinne óna 6:15i.n. go 7:15i.n.I mbliana, tá t-léine nua-dheartha do gach duine a chláraíonn don rás. Chomh maith, beidh siúlóid 4 mhíle ann. Beidh an clárú, tús agus críoch i gcarrchlós an Choinigéir. Tosnaíonn sé seo ag a 7:00 i.n.
LUCY HOLMES RECORDS PB OVER 800.
One of the performances of the weekend came from Lucy Holmes who had a huge win and terrific new pb over 800 meters at a graded meet in Manchester on Saturday, recording a time of 2.07.70 in the C race Lucy knocked a whopping 3 seconds off her previous best itwas a great was a performance as her outdoor track season comes to a finish for this year, she can look forward now to 2023 and have great confidence going forward that she can mix it at senior level with the best ,Lucy also reached the final of the senior 800 meters just a short few weeks ago in Santry which was yet another step in the right direction as she moves into the ranks of Senior competition.
KATE VEALE RECORDS ATHLETIC IRELAND GAMES VICTORY.
The AI games were held last Saturday evening in Tullamore Co.Offaly and the club had one athlete participating, Kate Veale was in action in the 3k walk. Just fresh from the 7th national senior crown two weeks previous over 5k Kate stepped down to the 3k distance with a winning performance at the games ,she had to dig deep on this occasion however as a visiting Austrian athlete Allanah Pitcher Australia who is racing on the European circuit presently and who had been on the Australian team who captured silver team medals in March at the world race-walking championships in Oman, Allanah set a hot pace in front clipping through 1k in 4.22 with Kate on her heels ,it stayed that way through 2k in 9.15, Kate made her move with 800 meters remaining and the Australian visitor had no answer as it was decisive opening up a gap within 50 meters which she held to the line stopping the clock at 13.39.09 with Pitched next in 13.35.82 and 3rd home was Suzanne O’Beirne North Leitrim AVC I 14.13.57.
JOE GOUGH WINS ON GLEN OF AHERLOW.
At a mountain trail race last Sunday morning in the Glen Of Aherlow Joe Gough was in action in preparation for the world mountain running championships to be held in Tipperary in September, Joe duly was first in his age category over 65 on a fresh windy but dry morning for the event.
PAT HENNESSEY 2ND AT GRANGE FERMOY 4 MILE.
It was a case of,as you were at last Sunday morning’s Grange Fermoy 4 mile road race which were held in blustery conditions, The race had the same top two finishers as our own Ballinameela race Friday evening when Sergui Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC taking the victory from West Waterford’s Pat Hennessey,it was the same finish today in Fermoy with Sergui winning the 4 miler in a time of 20.07 and Pat just in behind him clocking 20.15.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the families and friends of John Cahill Coolnacreena Cappoquin. Shauna McGrath Clonscoskeran, Abbeyside. Aisling Kennedy Glasha,,Ballymacarbry who passed to their eternal reward recently , may the Rest In Peace.
