32nd ANNUAL DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5.
A sincere thank You following the 32nd Running of the Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 mile road race.As we celebrate the 32ndt running of this event, we would like to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to everyone at the Dungarvan Leader, particularly Billy Coleman, John Byrne, and all the staff, for their unwavering support over the years. Their continued coverage of our club activities, through weekly notes and photographs, provides a valuable platform that keeps our members and community connected throughout the year.A special word of thanks to John Byrne and his son Sean, who joined us on race night to present the prizes to our deserving winners. We are equally grateful to Colm Nagle and the entire Nagle family for their long-standing association with this race. It was wonderful to welcome Colm, Kim, Thomas and Ava , who were on hand to present the prestigious Michael C. Nagle Trophy.The success of an event such as this depends on the efforts of many people, and we are indebted to all who contributed to its organisation in both Villierstown and Cappoquin. Our thanks go to Vinny Menin from VECP for his help. To our traffic management team of Conor, Jamie, and John, whose professionalism and dedication ensured the event ran smoothly and safely. We also extend our gratitude to the many stewards who gave their time and assistance along the route .Following the race, athletes were treated to refreshments thanks to the hard work of Trevor, Mark, Debra, and their team of helpers in the hall. We also acknowledge our timekeepers, entries and results administrators, van crews, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the evening a success. We are especially thankful to the Cappoquin Hall Committee for generously making their facilities available for refreshments and the prize presentation. Their support was greatly appreciated by all involved .Finally, we wish to acknowledge the tremendous work of our local race co-ordinator, Trevor Mason. Much of what makes this event successful happens behind the scenes, and Trevor’s commitment, organisation, and attention to detail once again played a central role in delivering another memorable race. To everyone who helped, supported, participated, and attended, thank you. We look forward to welcoming you all back for the 33rd running of the event next year.
AIDAN CONNELL SPLASHES HIS WAY TO VICTORY TO CLAIM THE MICHAEL C.NAGLE MEMORIAL TROPHY.
The 32nd annual Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 attracted a field of 175 finishers on a wet and dreary evening for the traditional race from Villierstown to Cappoquin. Despite the challenging conditions, runners benefited from a helpful tailwind on the course and this brought fact times for most.Taking his first Dromana 5 title was Aidan Connell of West Waterford AC, who crossed the line in an impressive 25:08. Aidan was 4th in last year’s race when he ran a time of 26.52, so his improvement in the 12 months is remarkable with his hard work paying dividends. Connell had to work hard for the victory all the same wih mile splits of 5.05-4.58-4.56-501 and a final mile split of 5.01, securing back-to-back wins in the summer series after also claiming victory in Ardmore the previous week. Aidan increased his tempo throughout the race, mile one he passed in 5.10 ,mile 2 was 5.05 and mile 3 in 5.00 going on to put the hammer down on the chasing Sweeny over the final 2 miles. Second place went to Gavin Sweeney of Togher AC, Cork, in 25:18, while Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir AC finished third in 25:48. Pat Fitzgerald of Waterford AC was fourth in 26:40, with Noel Murphy Waterford AC taking fifth place in 27:13.The first junior male home was Jack Casey of KCK Athletic Club, who produced an excellent performance to finish in 27:17.In the team competition, West Waterford AC claimed first place. Their scoring team consisted of Pat Hennessy (6th), Liam Beresford (10th), and Dermot Gough(14th), giving them a total of 30 points. Second place in the team standings went to Waterford AC, with Conor Cavanagh (9th), Ben Breslin (12th), and Jamie O’Keeffe (15th) combining for a total of 36 points.The event brought another successful chapter of the famed Dromana race to a close, with strong performances throughout the field despite the difficult weather conditions. Well done to all.
MENS
1st Man Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 25.08
2nd Man Gavin Sweeney Togher A.C. 25.18
3rd Man Dermot Gorman Carrick on Suir A.C. 25.48
4th Man Pat Fitzgerald Waterford A.C. 26.40
5th Man Noel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.13
Male Junior Jack Casey K.C.K. Athletic Club 27.17
MENS TEAM PRIZEWINNERS EXCLUDING PRIZEWINNERS
1st CLUB
West Waterford A.C.
Pat Hennessy 6
Liam Beresford 10
Dermot Gough 14
Total Points 30
2nd CLUB
Waterford A.C.
Conor Cavanagh 9
Ben Breslin 12
Jamie O’Keeffe 15
Total Points 36
NATALIE SHEEHAN CLAIMS MASON FAMILY CUP AFTER TRILLING LADIES FINISH
Natalie Sheehan West Waterford AC was to Claim the Mason Family Cup After what can only be described as a thrilling Ladies’ Finish at last Friday’s 5.You could throw a blanket over the top Lady finishers with only seconds separating the top 5 home. Natalie came out of the bunch to produce a superb performance to win the ladies’ race in 32:46. Natalie finished 3rd here in 2025 when she ran a time of 33.43. In one of the closest finishes in the history of the event, the top five women were separated by just six seconds, making for a thrilling contest all the way to the finish line. Sheehan was pushed all the way by her West Waterford AC teammate Niamh O’Donovan, who finished second in 32:49, just three seconds adrift. Third place went to Liz O’Shea of Grange-Fermoy AC in 32:51. Angela Tobin of West Waterford AC was awarded fourth place in the same time of 32:51, with the finishing order determined by the judges. Completing the top five was Siobhan Heylin of Waterford AC in 32:52, only one second further back.The ladies’ team title was won by West Waterford AC. Their scoring trio of Elaine Langley (11th), Kate Keogh (13th), and Ciara Barry (14th) combined for a winning total of 38 points.Second place in the team competition went to the West Waterford AC Ladies B team. Geraldine Lacey (15th), Frieda McGrath (16th), and Helen Keating (18th) scored a combined total of 49 points.The ladies’ race provided one of the highlights of this year’s Dromana 5, with an exceptionally competitive field and only seconds separating the leading runners. It was a memorable contest and a testament to the strength of women’s distance running in the region. Well done to all.
1st Lady Natalie Sheehan West Waterford A.C. 32.46
2nd Lady Niamh O’Donovan West Waterford A.C. 32.49
3rd Lady Liz O’Shea Grange Fermoy A.C. 32.51
4th Lady Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C. 32.51
5th Lady Siobhain Heylin Waterford A.C. 32.52
LADIES TEAM PRIZEWINNERS EXCLUDING PRIZEWINNERS
1st CLUB
West Waterford A.C. LADIES
Elaine Langley 11
Kate Keogh 13
Ceire Barry 14
Total Points 38
LADIES TEAM PRIZEWINNERS EXCLUDING PRIZEWINNERS
2nd CLUB
West Waterford A.C. LADIES
Geraldine Lacey 15
Freida Mc Grath 16
Helen Keating 18
Total Points 49
29th ANNUAL DOOCEYS BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5.
The 29th annual Doocey’s Bar sponsored Ballymacarbry 5 mile road race which is race 4 of the summer programme will be held on Friday June 26th at 7.30 PM .This race attracts a great crowd and this year again it will be an out and back course along the Nire Road. The entries are online and numbers can be collected at the local Community Hall where showers and changing will also be available. The entry fee is 12 euro online at eventmaster. Entry on the night will be 15 euro. Prizes in the usual categories.
RACE CATAGORIES FOR DOOCEYS BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5a
Men 1st 3 Senior, 1st Junior, 1st 0/40, 0/45, 0/50 and 0/60
Ladies 1st 3 Senior, 1st Junior, 1st 0/35, 0/40, 0/45 and 0/50
JODY RUNS PORTUMNA MARATHON.
Club member Jody Hynes was up bright and early last Saturday as he lined up for the Portumna Forest marathon. The annular event which caters for many race distances from 5k to Marathon which are run over a flat 5K loop, with extra distance added for the half marathon and full marathon. The course is run on tarmacked roads and forest paths that are solid compacted even gravel. Jody can be delighted with his time of 3.57, well under the 4 hour target time. Jody finished a very creditable 16 from the field of 50 marathon starters.
MUNSTER TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
PAT KENNEDY LEADS THE WAY WITH CHAMPIONSHIP BEST PERFROMANCE FOR WEST WATERFORD AC’s WEEKEND OF MEDAL WINNING PERFORMANCES.
The Munster track and field championships were held over last weekend at the MTU track Cork. West Waterford athletes were to the fore all weekend both Saturday and Sunday with some outstanding performances over the two days. One such athlete who has to be crowned club athlete of the week is Pat Kennedy competing in the over 70 category Pat got his weekend off to the preverbal flyer taking gold in the Shot with a distance of 10.38 shortly after this competition Pat was in action in the WFD and again he took gold with a mighty championship best performance throwing of 8.40, this was the best throw of all age categories over the whole competition, his 3rd and final competition of the weekend was the Hammer and with a throw of 33.89 his 3rd gold was secured. In the under 20 Ladies 400 meters one of the best performances of the weekend on the Track came from Isabelle Gaffney when she ran a time of 56.81 to take gold under 20 just outside the champion best performance time. It was a weekend of triple gold medals for Angela Tobin in the 1.500 meters Angela took the over 35 gold with a time of 5.42.37 and in the 400 meters she again took Gold in a time of 1.14.07 finishing off a great championships with her 3rd gold over 3.000 meters clocking 12.09.67.Tina O’Leary was competing in the Masters Ladies over 35 categories and here she did very well when taking gold in the 200m in a time of 32.70 and over 100m clocking a time of 15.48 the fastest time recorded by a master athlete in the distance Tina took her 2nd gold medal. Tina also added a Silver 400 meters medal to her collection in a time of 1.20.43 on Sunday. Mossie Keogh in the 1,500m over 45 ran a solid well-paced race when he took gold in a time of 5.03.40, he went on later to add the 800m gold to his weekend tally with a time of 2.30.57.Gearoid Coffey competed in the senior men’s 1,500m ran very well to take silver in a time of 4.32.89, a time he will be pleased with .And in the senior men’s Garry Cantwell over 800m finished just outside the medals in 4th place with a time of 2.14.27.Very well done a very successful Munster championships by all our club members.
PAUL KENNEDY WINS IMRA GALTY CROSSING 2026.
The Galty crossing race is posted as the ultimate mountain running challenge on the IMRA web site . Are you ready to test your limits across Ireland’s highest inland mountain range as this is not just a race—it’s an epic, self-navigated endurance challenge across the spectacular Galtee Mountains. Well one West Waterford AC member was more than ready and took on the challenge last Saturday and took on the best mountain runners, Paul Kennedy did all that and took the winning banner also as he crossed the finish line clear of the field to take the title for 2026.Paul has been mountain running for some time now and is always in the top 10 or so finishers or so but today was his finest hour to date .Starting the route which was a Point-to-point from Angles borough (Co. Limerick) to Cahir Castle (Co. Tipperary) climbing a whopping 6,500 ft . The Stats of the run are not for the faint hearted with 32km of wild terrain, 1,500m of gruelling ascent and all this with a difficulty Rating: 10/10 (Extreme). The race took in places listed as Templehill,Lyracappul Wall, Galty Mór Cross ,Galty Beag , Greeaun Cairn , Slieve an Airde Fence , Bane trig point ,Hammerhead /and a Forest fire road finish. Congratulations to Paul on a great achievement
