HISTORIC BRONZE FOR O’CONNOR AT WORLD INDOORS
Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s AC) won bronze for Ireland at the World Indoor Championships in Poland last week, setting a new national record of 4,839 points on her way to becoming the first Irishwoman to win two World Indoor medals (March 22).O’Connor went into the final event of the day, the 800m, firmly in medal contention and delivered when it mattered most. She produced a personal best of 2:10.26 to secure bronze, finishing just 49 points behind gold medallist Sofie Dokter (NED), who scored 4,888. Anna Hall (USA) took silver with 4,860.This result continues a remarkable run of success at major championships for O’Connor. In 2025, the Dundalk athlete claimed medals at the European Indoor Championships (bronze), World Indoor Championships (silver), World University Games (gold), and the World Outdoor Championships (silver). Only two Irish athletes, Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, have now won more individual global medals at senior championships.The national record holder had a strong start in the 60m hurdles this morning, clocking 8.23 seconds – just 0.02 outside her personal best set at the recent National Indoor Championships. She followed this with a best clearance of 1.81m in the high jump, achieved on her final attempt despite tripping on a cable during her opening run-up.In the shot put, the final event of the morning session, the 25-year-old delivered an excellent series. She opened with 14.59m, improved to a 1cm personal best of 14.65m in her second round, and then extended that further to 14.70m with her final throw.O’Connor began the evening session with a foul in the long jump but once again rose to the occasion, producing a best of 6.38m on her final attempt to keep her firmly in the medal hunt in her final 800m event.It marks another hugely successful championship for Team Ireland and bodes well for the upcoming outdoor season, which will be headlined by the European Championships in Birmingham from August 10–16.
EVAN FITZGERALD 3rd AT MALLOW 10.
1,161 athletes completed the recent Mallow 10 mile road race on an ideal morning for the event. Overall race winner this year was Paul Moloney From the host club Mallow AC in a time of 51.37 from Sean Davin St. Finbarrs AC 51.55 and 3 rd with another top notch performance was club member Evan Fitzgerald in a fast 51.56. First lady home was Glanmire AC in a time of 60.10. The club was well represented at the race and as well as Evan we had Mick Ahern running a time of 1.03.56 and Ann Moore was our first lady home in 1.14.10. Very well done also to John Woods 1.39.02 a huge 13 minute Mallow 10 PB for John . Well done to all.
Mick AHERN 01:03:56
James WHELAN 01:04:55
Niall BARRY 01:05:41
Kenny KELLEHER 01:07:22
Pat FITZGERALD 01:07:37
Jack NOLAN 1:08:28
Ray HAHESY 01:09:58
Michael DUNFORD 01:11:49
David MOORE 01:13:24
Jerry POWER 01:13:58
Anne MOORE 01:14:10
Sandra MOORE 01:16:39
Kieran DALY 01:19:59
Stephen CURRAN 01:19:15
Fiona LONGAN 01:24:20
Joe O’ROURKE 01:24:01
Ellen RYAN 01:26:55
Karen DARCY 01:26:53
Josie UÌ CHUIRRÌN 01:31:04
John WOODS 01:30:02
Kim DALY 01:31:02
Liz CURTIN 01:35:06
Geraldine SINNOTT 01:36:22
Jacqui MURRAY 01:38:49
1.500 RAISED AT KINSALEBEG NS 5K.
Held in good conditions the recent Kinsalebeg National School organised 5k run and walk took place with a large turnout of 140 between the run and walk. A total of 1.500 euro was raised at the event by the Parents Council in Kinsalebeg NS. Overall race winner was West Waterford’s Mossie Keogh (jnr) in a time of 18.58 with the Ladies race going to Dee Ansbro Youghal AC in 21.31. Well doen to the organisers and all who ran or walked.
KINSALEBEG NS 5k
Men:
1, Mossie Keogh jr. 18:58
2, Mark Coady 19:05
3, Mossie Keogh 19:21
Women:
1, Dee Ansbro 20:48
2, Siun Cunningham 21:19
3, Rachel Keogh 21:31
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.
FORMAT OF THE LEAGUE.
Over the course of the 5 weeks of the league we will keep a record of each person’s finishing position. If you finish first you get one point, fifth place will give you 5 points and so on. All runners will be put in to divisions of 5 and after the five weeks the winner of each division will receive a prize. Prizes will be awarded to those in each route and the divisions make it fun and interesting and all the more enjoyable.
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.
12th ANNUAL AGLISH FUN RUN/WALK IN AID OF CRUMLIN.
The 12th Annual Aglish Fun Run/Walk is back and will take place on Easter Monday 06th April 2026. Registration from 10.30 am on the day and costs €10 / Donation.The popular 5k Walk and run will kick off at 11.30. All proceeds to Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin. Numerous Spot Prizes. All are welcome.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The clubs annual general meeting will take place on Friday April 10th at 8pm in St Laurence’s hall Ballinroad . All members are welcome to attend.
LITTLETON 10 MIOLE ROAD RACE.
The Littleton Labyrinth 10 Mile Road Race was held last Sunday with 352 completing the run which was organised un the club banner of Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. Held in conjunction with Tipperary County Council the course was along a scenic route starting and finishing at the Horse and Jockey Hotel.The host club provided the overall race winner in Matt Ryan Marley Coolcroo 54.56 and the Ladies winner was Allison Darren IND 1.03.06.Our club was very well represented at the race with 19 members taking part. Raivis Zakis lead our club on the day finishing 4th overall in a time of 57.49 and he also was a clear winner of the over 45 age category while James Whelan finished 3rd in the over 50 category in 1.04.56.Sandra Flynn was our first lady home and she also won the over 35 category with a time of 1.12.17, very well done to all.
Raivis Zakis 00:57:49
James Whelan 01:04:56
Aidan Ryan 01:06:04
Eoin Walsh 01:11:04
Sandra Flynn 01:12:17
Elaine Langley 01:19:22
Ceire Barry 01:19:54
Ann Dunford 01:27:41
Brian Ormonde 01:29:17
Fiona Ormonde 01:29:18
John Paul Hogan 01:29:50
Denise Conway 01:33:47
Sharon Higgins 01:33:56
Owen Power 01:35:24
Rose Power 01:37:44
Gillian Prendergast 01:38:12
Michael Coakley 01:46:14
Caroline Russell 01:58:12
Margaret Conway 01:58:12
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Rosaleen Sheehan Springfield, Dungarvan, who passed to her eternal reward recently ,may she rest in peace.
