29th ANNUAL DOOCEYS ORIEL BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5 MILE ROAD RACE.
There was a good Turnout for the 29th Annual Dooceys Oriel Bar Ballymacarbry 5 Mile Road Race last Friday evening. The event marked an incredible 29 years of continuous sponsorship by the Doocey family at Dooceys Oriel Bar Ballymacarabry . On behalf of the club, we extend our sincere thanks to Tony, Michael, and the entire Doocey family for their steadfast, on-going support. This year’s race saw a turnout of 137 runners.The established out-and-back course took competitors from Ballymacarbry village out along the Nire Road, hitting the turnaround point at the 2.5-mile mark before heading back. By the 7:30 PM start time. We were very lucky with the evening as the threatening rain held off until after the race ended. The race was got under way by honorary starter and one of the race founder’s way back 29 years ago, Frank Bolger.We extend our gratitude to sponsor Tony Doocey for presenting the winner prizes on behalf of Doocey’s Bar.A huge thank you to the catering volunteers and Doocey’s Bar staff, for providing well-earned tea and biscuits. The all our race crew on the night. the event was a highly enjoyable evening of road racing for everyone involved.
AIDAN CONNELL WINS HIS FIRST BALLYMACARBRY 5.
The local road racing king presently around these parts is Aidan Connell West Waterford AC and again he proved why last Friday evening when once again when he took a somewhat easy victory in the 29th annual Doocey’s Bar Ballymacarbry 5 mile. Aidan had such an easy win that nearly 2 minutes separated him from the runner up, you don’t usually see such a time gap between 1st and 2nd in many race especially over the 5 mile distance. The Villierstown man now make it 3 victories in our summer race programme to date, as he already had wins in Ardmore and also Dromana adding the Ballymac race to that list last Friday evening. Aidan’s winning time was 26.03, in last year’s race he finished 3rd in a time of 27.18 ,so his improvement is there to be seen. Our runner-up was Pawel Hoc Clonmel AC who finished in a time of 27.58 and 3rd man hone was Mikey Coleman West Waterford AC 28.27, another improving performance by Mikey who is steady improving his race times. The over 40 category was claimed by Jamie Byrne Clonmel A.C. 32:09 with the over 45 category going to 45 Robert Speer Clonmel A.C. 31:00. Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick On Suir A.C.29.46 won the over 50 section for the 3rd year in succession and Ray Hahessy West Waterford A.C took the over 60 category in 33.24 for the 2nd year in a row. Well done to all.
MENS RESULT
1 Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 26:03
2 Pawel Hoc Clonmel A.C. 27:58
3 Mikey Coleman West Waterford A.C. 28:27
Category Prizes
M 40 Jamie Byrne Clonmel A.C. 32:09
M 45 Robert Speer Clonmel A.C. 31:00
M 50 Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick On Suir A.C. 29:46
M 60 Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C. 33:24
MICHELLE KENNY SETS NEW COURSE RECORD FOR LADIES.
Records are there to be broken, but it took quite a while for this one to go in fact it took all of 29 long years for the Ladies record to go in Ballymacarbry, but go it did last Friday evening when Leevale’s Michelle Kenny went hard form the gun and not alone finished in a record time of 29.24 but was 4th finisher across the finish line, a super run from the Cork athlete and a deserving winner of our cash bonus for her efforts .West Waterford’s Angela Tobin gave another fine display when finishing 2rd in a time of 32.58 ,Angela was 3rd in the race in 2025 so a pleasing move in the right direction. The winner in 2025 Kate Veale had to settle for the 3rd spot on the podium this year Kate ran a time of 33.13.The category prizes were over 35 Céire Barry West Waterford A.C. 36:05, Ciara is a member of the clubs training group lead by Tom Leahy on Tuesday evenings and her improvement is very noticeable these last few months.Another of our members Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C. 35:30 took the over 40 prize. The over 45 winner was Elaine Horgan Clonmel A.C. 36:10.The over 50 category win went to Andrea Gaffney West Waterford A.C. in 40:35 with the Junior prize going to Jessica Grigor West Waterford A.C. 42:07 .Very well done to all our ladies individual winners. Hope to see all these ladies and more next Friday evening for the Ballinameela 4 mile..
Ladies results.
1 Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. 29:24
2 Lady Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C. 32:58
3 Kate Veale West Waterford A.C. 33:13
Category Prizes
F 35 Céire Barry West Waterford A.C. 36:05
F 40 Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C. 35:30
F 45 Elaine Horgan Clonmel A.C. 36:10
F 50 Andrea Gaffney West Waterford A.C. 40:35
F Jnr Jessica Grigor West Waterford A.C. 42:07
ENTRIES OPEN SHORTLY FOR 8th ANNUAL WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON SET FOR AUGUST 29th.
On 29th August 2026 at 9 am West Waterford Athletic Club will host our 8th annual Waterford Greenway Half Marathon .Entries will open July 1st for this event. The race course is along the Waterford Greenway and in conjunction with Waterford City and County Council covering a distance of 13.1 miles 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. Entries will open July 1st at 9 am, log on to club web site and keep an eye on entry details at www.westwaterfordathletics.org race information and entry link will be available here. Please note this event is expected to sell out fast, so for now put the date in your diary.
8th ANNUAL OLD HEAD FINANCIAL BALLINAMEELA 4 ON THIS FRIDAY JULY 03rd .
The next race in our club summer programme of road races will be the Ballinameela 4 mile road race which will be held on this coming Friday July 03rd at 7.30 pm. This race was held over a 5km course in the past but we have changed this distance to a new 4 mile course which is the fastest 4 mile course in these parts bar none, we used this new course for the Munster road race championships last year and it provided pb times all round so we expect this to be the case Friday evening again.
We are delighted that our sponsor the past 2 years Old Head Financial are coming on board once again to sponsor this year’s race. Old head financial are a local company started up in 2020 and is headed up by Shane Hayes who is a club member, Old Head Financial is a multi-disciplinary financial planning and wealth management firm based in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. They handle pension, protection, life assurance, investment and mortgage matters for clients of all ages – whether you are just starting out in your financial journey, ready to draw down your pension, or anywhere in between, Old Head Financial can provide you with the guidance you require and with access to the financial products you need. They are a trading partner of Hayes & Hayes Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers – should you also require expertise from a tax perspective, your financial planning and tax advisory needs can all be catered for seamlessly.Registration online for the race is set at 12 with number collection at Community hall from 6.15 pm. entry fee on the night will be 15 euro. This course is as flat as you could imagine and one which will throw up many 4mile PB’s. Showers and Changing Facilities and of course the important refreshments will be available at the centre afterwards.
32nd ANNUAL CÉIM AR CHÉIM RÁS NA RINNE FRIDAY JULY 24th.
The 32nd Rás na Rinne will be held on Friday 24th July at 7.30 pm. A great unique route that starts at the Barracks cross, An Rinn, heading downhill to An Coinigéar strand. Participants then head out to the tip of the Coinigéar beach, running on the sand side and returning on the grass side, finishing back at the Barracks cross. A beautiful scenic run in West Waterford that has something for everyone. Race numbers will be available for collection from Halla Pobail na Rinne between 6.15pm and 7.15pm on the evening of the race.Hand carved Criostal na Rinne perpetual trophy (‘Corn Ui Dhroma’) for the overall winner. Prizes for individual and category winners. A 42 krunning t-shirt for all who register and complete the route. Supported by West Waterford Athletics Club .RACE ENTRY EVENTMASTER.IE 15 EURO
JOE GOUGH ON IRELAND WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING TEAM WHO TAKE SILVER.
The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) 2026 World Masters Mountain Running Championships was held in Janské Lázně, Czechia, this past weekend on and around Krkonoše Mountains, where Czechia welcomed athletes from around the world for an unforgettable championship edition. Nearly 1,000 of the world’s top master’s mountain runners descended on the historic spa town of Janské Lázně representing 38 nations, racing under the joint banner of the World Mountain Running Association and World Masters Athletics setting out to prove that competitive drive on the world stage doesn’t fade with age. The 2026 event was just 150 kilometres from Prague, Janské Lázně is a picturesque spa town set at the foot of Černá hora. With a base elevation of 620 meters and access to some of the region’s most stunning alpine trails, it offered the ideal location for a world-class championship. Among the large number of Irish participants was West Waterford’s Joe Gough who competed in the over 70 uphill event on the
Sunday as there were the 3 race options over the weekend with Joe competing in the uphill event which had a distance: 9.0 km and an Ascent and Descent of 550 m. The Irish team with 3 to score for each nation was lead home by Alexander Matthew 6th in time of 1.11.23 with Joe next in 7th place accredited with the same time as his team mate and their 3rd finisher Joseph Lawlor was 13th from the 17 starters in the over 70 category with a time of 1.20.126. These 3 combined was good enough for the team silver medals for Ireland. A great result for considering the difficult conditions for the race with temperatures soring throughout the day which saw many casualties on the mountain and a high percentage of none finishers. Congratulations to Joe and his team mates.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS SUPPORT WEST WATERFORD TRACK DEVELOPMENT.
The primary school sports is the first exposure to athletics for many primary school students across the region. Regional qualifying competitions were hosted by athletic clubs across West Waterford, with three nights hosted by West Waterford AC in St Augustine’s College including the Western Small School Finals and Big School Finals. This is the location where earlier this year West Waterford AC secured a long term lease for a site to develop a 400m athletics track and field facility with a clubhouse for the West Waterford region. At a recent West Waterford AC juvenile championship presentation evening, the funds raised from the admission fee from parents and supporters from the three nights hosted in St Augustine’s College were donated to the Track Development Fund. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the primary school teachers and many volunteers who helped out in any way at both the regional events and the finals, without your on-going support major events like this would not be possible.
