MUNSTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025.
GOLD FOR HOLMES AS WEST WATERFORD ATHLETES SECURE TEAM MEDALS.
The 123.ie Munster road championships 2025 were held last Sunday at the Ballinameela community centre and hosted by West Waterford AC in weather conditions which couldn’t have been better for the event. The course over 4 mile’s was a very fast course starting at the Church and doing the 5k race loop before finishing outside the primary school, fast times were recorded by many on the fast flat course which was met with much approval by the athletes who came to represent their clubs from throughout the province. Our own club had a great day and we had teams in almost all categories on the day which was testament to the work Padraig Healy and Kelly Fitzgerald did in securing the athlete’s to participate. First up was the women’s race for Senior Novice and the Masters Categories as well as team’s running over the fast 4 mile circuit with a field of 57 competing for Munster medal glory. From the gun it soon became a 2 way race between Lucy Holmes from the host club West Waterford AC and Amy Pollman Daamen An Ríocht AC Kerry as they sped through the first mile shoulder to shoulder, as they passed the half way 2 mile mark they were still locked together and the same at 3 miles with neither giving an inch, on a slight incline with half a mile to the finish line Lucy made a decisive move opening up a gap on the Kerry Lady and the distance widened substantially by the finish line with Lucy clocking 22.59 and Amy 23.53,Lucy talking gold to add to her silver over 1.500 indoors last Sunday in the National indoor championships ,not a bad weeks work. Bronze on the day was claimed by Ann Marie Connellen Ennis Track AC Clare in 24.19. Lucy led her club to bronze senior team medals on the day with other’s to score on the team of 4 Angela Tobin, Natalie Sheehan and Grainne Moore, these four mentioned also secured county bronze team for Waterford county here. In the over 35 category Angela Tobin had in a brilliant run to take individual silver, Likewise over 40 Natalie Sheehan also put in a great effort taking bronze individual, Siobhan Kennedy took a bronze over 60 category after another fine performance. In the senior club championship as mention we took bronze and in the over 35 category the club brought home bronze again with the team of Angela Tobin, Natalie Sheehan ,Niamh O’Donovan and ,Anne Moore. For road championships the team placing’s are most important and with this in mind we must say a very well done to all our Ladies who competed and wore the club singlet for the club on the day , Helen Ryan, Fiona Connell,Tara Ní Reachatagain,Danielle Crowley,Linda Foley who all played a mammoth role on the day. Turning to the men’s race where we had a very strong field of 133 athletes competing the overall senior winner was Paul Harnett East Cork ASC ,Paul also first Novice on the day, the senior silver went to Jeremiah Sheehan North Cork AC and bronze to Declan Moore Bilboa AC. The club had a brilliant field of 17 men running on the day and all put in sterling performances, Ravis Zakis took gold in the men’s over 45 category and John Coffey took bronze. Our Novice Men ran very well taking a team silver behind winners East Cork, our scoring members here were Juastin Ryan, Damien Murphy, Gearóid Coffey and Mark Blackwell and these four along with John Coffey scored on the county team who took silver. Justin Ryan and Damien Murphy both scored on the senior men’s county team which took silver behind Cork. In the Masters Men’s team over 35 West Waterford took bronze club team Raivis Zakis John Coffey Alan Gibson and Padraig Healy. And for the county team silver was won by Raivis Zakis,John Coffey and Alan Gibson and likewise our men’s over 50 club team took bronze with the scoring members Dermot Ryan Eoin Walsh,James Whelan and Ray Hahesy and these four also brought home the county team bronze. As we said for the Ladies the same applies to our men who ran on the day for the club Liam Beresfrod ,Anthony Flynn, Eoin Walsh, Tom Hogan, Liam Fitzgerald and Yev Chizhikov are all to be commended on wearing the club singlet on the Munster stage. All in all a great days racing from all our club members. Our thanks to Ray Kelly and hall community committee in Ballinameela, Gerry Cantwell who measured the course, Conor and Jamie for traffic management, to all our stewards who came along to help much thanks. Thanks to our medical cover who thankful had a quiet evening, our thanks to Shirley, Mary Rose and Breda who looked after all the athletes with teas etc after the event and to the Ladies who made the lovely cakes etc, thanks to Munster athletics our thanks to Myrun results who make the timing so much easier in these races and finally thanks and well done to our club athletes who represented their club on the day.
MARK MASON FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN LEAGUE.
Spring is in the air when we start mentioning our next big club event the 5 week Mark Mason’s Financial Services 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 2nd and continue for five more Wednesday evenings April 09th,16th, 23rd and 30th .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 earn 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.
DATES OF THE LEAGUE.
Round 1: April 2nd at 6.30 p.m.
Round 2: April 9th at 6.30 p.m.
Round 3: April 16th at 6.30 p.m.
Round 4: April 23th at 6.30 p.m.
Round 5: April 30 at 6.30 p.m.
11th ANNUAL AGLISH FUN RUN/WALK IN AID OF CRUMLIN.
The 11th Annual Aglish Fun Run/Walk is back and will take place on Easter Monday 21st April 2025. Registration from 11.30am 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 11th at 7.30 in Abbeyside Tennis Club pavilion. All members are welcome to attend.
BEGINNERS RUNNING GROUP.
There’s a beginners running group every Tuesday evening at 6.30 to 7.30, this s a 9 week running programme for beginners leading up the the Ballinroad 5k in May. The fee is 40 euro per person including athletics Ireland membership and training by qualified coaches. In Walton Park Abbeyside contact Claire 087 90116997 or Jim 087 2891151 to book a place.
