123.IE NATIONAL SENIOR INDOORS .
KATE VEALE CLAIMS HER 9th NATIONAL SENIOR INDOOR TITLE.
The Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena was treated to a host of exhilarating performances as the stars of Irish athletics took to national competition last weekend as the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships which took centre stage at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena Abbottstown across two days Saturday and Sunday. It was great to see that Virgin TV covered 2 hours live on Sunday which positively indicates where athletics is at this present time and this added with the sold-out arena sign up early on Sunday morning the sport showcase event was all set for a brilliant day of athletes and this is what was served up by the countries best stars.West Waterford AC had one athlete in action over the weekend Kate Veale in the 3.000 meters walk which was a straight final and held on the Sunday. After a somewhat up and down few months for Kate she was not to be denied her 9th senior indoor title in a row, an in creditable achievement by the Ballinroad Lady. Like all sport there is always younger athletes coming through and it was great see the largest field assembled ever for a nation al senior 3k walks event in the history of the sport with 15 athletes vying for the medals. After 5 of the 15 laps the race came down to a two athlete race for gold with Mullingar’s Aisling Lane setting the early pace with Kate in close proximity, these two had a gap of around 60 meters on Ciara Wilson Bowen Dublin City Harriers AC, the race remained like this until Kate made her move with 3 laps remaining and in the space of 400 meter’s had a huge advantage which she held to the line which she crossed with the clock stopping at 13.50.48 making it 9 from 9 in the 3.000 meters walk for the West Waterford AC woman . Early leader Lane held on in the silver position in a time of 14.07.13 and the bronze went to Ciara Wilson Bowen Dundrum South Dublin A.C. with a time of 14:21.79. Very well done to Kate on her performance Sunday and wearing the club vest with pride on the national stage. We hope in the future to see many more senior West Waterford AC Senior athletes in these championships as we strive to have our own club facility which our club is crying out for over many years now to bring athletes through to this type of top national competition. Watch this space.
Women’s 3000m Walk
1 Kate Veale West Waterford A.C. 13:50.48
2 Aisling Lane Mullingar Harriers A.C. 14:07.13
3 Ciara Wilson Bowen Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 14:21.79
MUNSTER ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS FOR WEST WATERFROD IN KERRY.
There was some fantastic performances last Sunday from the West Waterford A.C Mens and Ladies teams today at the Munster Road Championships in Castleisland Co. Kerry .Angela Tobin had the best result of the day coming 13th in the Ladies 4 mile race and taking home the only individual medal for the club, silver in the O35 Masters category. Pat Hennessy and Naoise MacMurchadha lead the men’s team home with solid performances from Liam Beresford and Mark Flynn to earn a well-deserved Senior bronze club medal. Great to see Naoise coming through the junior ranks to make his debut at Senior level today. The Ladies team represented Angela Tobin, Tara Ní Reachtagáin, Elaine Langley and Anita Beatty competed against over 70 athletes and were delighted to get 2 team medals, Club Novice Team Bronze and Club Masters O35 Team Bronze. Well done to Anita who competed in her first Championship race for the club and ran a new PB. Also it was great to see Elaine back on the road again after a long recovery from injury. A big thank you to the men and ladies who travelled today and ran in wet and windy conditions. It’s important that the club is represented at Munster Championships.It was a great opportunity to see the clubhouse and track and field facilities in An Ríocht Athletics Club as we embark on our own track development project. Thanks to An Ríocht A.C for organising a great race and refreshments afterwards.
Results Ladies 4 mile
13 Angela Tobin 00:26:36
34 Tara NI REACHTAGAIN 00:29:21
41 Elaine LANGLEY 00:29:52
53 Anita BEATTY 00:33:03
Results Mens 4 mile
14 Pat HENNESSY 00:21:19
15 Naoise MACMURCHADHA 00:21:21
36 Liam BERESFORD 00:23:02
39 Mark FLYNN 00:23:07
72 Padraig HEALY 00:24:44
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.
2026 WEST WATERFORD AC REMAINING FIXTURES
1st April to 29th April 2026-Mason Colligan Hill League for 5 Wednesdays
06th April 2026-Aglish CHUI Crumlin charityFun Run
08th May 2026-AHS Tuning Ballinroad 5k
22nd May 2026-Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 Mile
5th June 2026-Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 Mile
26th June 2026-Oriel Bar Ballymac 5 Mile
3rd July 2026- Old Head Financial Ballinameala 5k
17th July 2026- Sherry Fitzgerald Reynolds Dungarvan 10 k
29th August 2026-Waterford Greenway Half Marathon
15th November 2026-Murrays Pharmacy Brickey 5k
06th December 2026-Clean zone Technologies Old Parish Turkey Trot
CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2026.
The club membership for 2026 can now be paid. The club membership is for the calendar year January to December. You can pay your membership online by logging onto the athletics Ireland web site and just follow the instruction under membership, all membership renewals have been sent to your e mail address some weeks ago.
BALLYCOTTON 5.
The Ballycotton 5 was held Sunday and a field of 327 competed. The race overall winner was Donal Coakley in a time of 27.29 and the Ladies winner was Emma Doyle Leevale AC who clocked a time of 31.37.West Waterford AC was well represented with 7 athletes making the trip to the event. First home was Ray Hahesy with a time of 34.21 , a good run by Ray, next was Noel Cliffe in 38.08 followed by Martina Beeachinor our first Lady finisher in 42.37 with Melanie Kelly next past the post in 47.35 shortly followed by Michelle Finnegan 48.45, next was Onra Power 49.57 and Michael Coakley with a time of 50.48 rounded off the club involvement. Well done to all.
CATRIONA RUNS NAAS 10.
The Naas Co Kildare 10 mile road race and half marathon event was held last Sunday with large fields in both. The club had 1 athlete who made the trip when Catriona Crowe took part in the 10 mile race which she finished in a time of 1.34.34. Well done Catriona.
EVAN FITZGERALD WINS STONE MAD HALF.
The Stone Mad Half marathon was held last Sunday in Blarney Co. Cork with a field of 374 competing, the club had one athlete in attendance in Evan Fitzgerald who made it another winning result when he crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 1.06.55 and he was a whopping 11 minutes ahead of the runner up, the Ladies race was won by April Quinn in a time of 1.21.54.Well done to Evan on another very strong result on the roads.
