MARK MASON MORGAGES AND FINANCIAL PLANNING COLLIGAN LEAGUE.
SUCCESSFUL COLLIGAN LEAGUE CONCLUDES FOR 2026.
The fifth and final night in Colligan of our Mark Mason Financial Planning Spring Running League once again saw a great crowd of 103runners take to the beautiful surround of Colligan wood on what turned out to be an ideal evening for the final round of the league, Indeed we have to be thankful as all 5 rounds of this year league were held in great weather.We were delighted this year to see so many new faces at this event of course we also had some of the older members as well joined us for a taste of the Colligan hills which we hope they all enjoyed.It’s hard to believe that the league has come to an end already as the weeks seem to have passed very quickly, As this was the last night of this league the overall prizes were presented after running. Our club Chairman Tom Leahy welcomed everyone especially our sponsor Mark Mason of Mark Mason Financial Planning, Cappoquin, he thanked all the runners for supporting the league and hoped that they enjoyed coming to Colligan wood for the 5 weeks, with a special mention especially for the newcomers. He went on to thank all those who helped out with the organisation of the league and of course Coillte for allowing us to use the Colligan venue .League sponsor Mark Mason was on hand to present the prizes and we would once again like to thank Mark for his generous sponsorship once again this year.
ON THE DOUBLE FOR MARK WALSH AS HE IS CROWNED KING OF THE HILLS 2026.
The main event of this particular league is the 5 miles on the hills circuit with the title of “King of the hills 2026” going to Mark Walsh who was winning this league for the 2nd year in a row. Mark it has to be said from the onset didn’t have it all his own way with stiff opposition on all 5 rounds of this year’s league, the Grange man did finish first on 4 nights with Mossie Keogh jnr taking that spot on the 5th night, however only seconds separated the 2 on nearly all rounds of the league and a great battle took place on the hills of Colligan between the two. Mark was awarded 5 points and Mossie only 2 points behind with 7 points and after 5 hard weeks of running that’s how close it was in the end. In 3rd place on the 5 mile hills was the elder Keogh ,Mossie snr on 15 points, Great running by all 3 here and it made it all the more interesting for them as it was so close each week.In Division 2 on the 5 mile hills course our winner was David Moore with 43 points and he held off the challenge from Eoin Walsh who finished just 6 points behind on 49 points and 3rd here was David Nixon with 54 points .If the top 2 divisions were close the 3rd division was equally so, with Donncha Enright taking 1st place on a total of 72 points just 4 points ahead of Johnny Mc Grath who finished on 76 points and Michael Dunford on 79 was only 3 points behind Johnny. Patrick Power with 109 points took the win in division 4 from Tony O’Donoghue 116 in 2nd place and 3rd here was Liam Fitzgerald with 122 points.Well done to everyone that took to the hill over the past 5 weeks – running the hills will definitely make you stronger and will have you in good shape for the races to come over the summer months.
ANGELA TOBIN OUR QUEEN AMONG THE LADIES.
Our winner these years in our Ladies 5 miles hills coarse event is no stranger to hill running and is indeed a world medallist from the championship held in Italy last year when she was a scoring member of the Irish Masters team who captured the gold team award there. Angela Tobin won all her rounds in Colligan finishing well up the rankings each week along with the top male finishers . Angela finished on 4 points, Kate Wall finished 2nd on 9 points, Kate was getting stronger with each passing week on the hills and will figure well in the upcoming summer road racing scene. Anne Moore another lover of mountain running battled really hard each week and was only 1 point behind Kate for that 2nd spot with 10 points, very close here between the two ladies, Anne also finished 3rd in last year’s league. In Division 2 for the Ladies we saw victory going to Una Fennell with 34 ponits, Una stuck steadfast to the task on the hills each week and was deserving winner despite the close attention form Ann Dunford who was only 4 points behind in 2nd place with 38 points and a further 2 behind was Fiona Ormonde on 40 points. Well done to all the Ladies who ran the mighty hills of Colligan this year, it was great to see so many close battles going on with little between many after the 5 rounds of the league..
SHANE POWER’S HIS WAY TO VICTORY.
The 3 lap flat course proved to be most popular this year with both men and Women and numbers taking part here were very strong, the course was 3 laps of the road/wood circuit starting and finishing at the wooden bridge. In the division 1 league our winner was Shane Power on 6 points, It was great to see Shane back running the Colligan league after a little with break for a few years, however his fitness is still in good fettle a she zoomed around the course in Colligan. Ryan Doherty keeping Shane in his sights each week and only finishing 3 points behind with 9 points it was great to see Ardmore’s Sean Stilwell back in action at the league and Sean finished 3rd with 11 points.
TARA ELECTRIC ON 3 LAP FLAT COURSE.
The Ladies section of the 3 lap flat course was most popular this year and we had 3 divisions in total such were the high numbers taking part. Division 1 saw victory going to Tara Ni Reachtagain who won her section on the 4 nights she ran which gave her 4 points from a possible 5 , 2nd place was Mary Kate Prendergast on 9 points just holding off another primary school teacher like herself Áine Máire Ni Aodha on 11 points in 3rd place.I n division 2 we had a great battle with only one points separating 1st and 2nd after 5 weeks of running,it was Sinead Moore on 42 ponits was to take victory but only just as Patrycja Daly was only one points behind on 43 with Colligan cup double winner Melanie Kelly on 48 points 3rd.Division 3 was claimed by Caoimhe Veale with 74 points from Laura Barry 88 and again just one points behind was Colette Barry with 89 points , very well done tot all, who ran the 3 lap flat.
CORMAC BEST OF THE CLAN.
Cormac Curran proved best of the clan at the league this year, as one of four brothers taking part he proved to be the only one among the prize winners in the end and has the Curran household bragging rights for 2026.Cormac finished on 7 points from the runner up Micheál Moynihan a regular league runner who finished with 9 points followed by Martin Collender 18 for 3rd place.
MECCA IS MEGGA ON 2 LAP COURSE.
In the Ladies 2 lap league whish also consisted of the road/wood circuit it was Mecca Wall with 6 points who proved to be the fastest over the 5 weeks and she was followed by Hayley Akehurst with 9 taking the runners up spot ahead of Aoife Fennell on 12 points. Again very well done to all who took part in the 2 lap course this year we hope to see you all now over the summer months taking part in our various road races ,starting in Ballinroad this coming Friday evening with the 5km race which kick starts our summer race programme.
THANK YOU.
As always we are indebted to our steward’s and helpers with the league Jamie who looked after the signage each week Gerry and Liam stewarding and Declan, Shirley, Ray and Ann who did the tables each week ,it goes without saying without their input there would be no league. Thanks to our sponsor Mark who was on hand to present the prizes to the various winners. For his on-going support of our club which is greatly appreciated. Once again a special thanks of course to Coillte who give us permission to hold this league and without whose co-operation this league and of course the Colligan Cup would not take place each year.
OVERALL LEAGUE PRIZE WINNERS 2026.
2 Laps
Mens Division 1
1st Cormac Curran
Ladies Division 1
1st Mecca Wall
2nd Hayley Akehurst
3rd Aoife Fennell
3 Laps
Mens Division 1
1st Shane Power
2nd Ryan Doherty
3rd Sean Stillwell
Ladies Division 1
1st Tara Ní Reachtagain
2nd Mary Kate Prendergast
3rd Áine Máire Ní Aodha
Ladies Division 2
1st Sinéad Moore
Ladies Division 3
1st Caoimhe Veale
5 MILE Hills
Mens Division 1
1st Mark Walsh
2nd Mossie Keogh (Jn)
3rd Moosie Keogh (Sn)
Mens Division 2
1st David Moore
Mens Division 3
1st Donncha Enright
Mens Division 4
1st Patrick Power
Ladies Division 1
1st Angela Tobin
2nd Kate Wall
3rd Anne Moore
Ladies Division 2
1st Una Fennell
RACE ONE WEST WATERFORD SUMMER ROAD RACE PROGRAMME.
THE AHS TUNING IRELAND 11th ANNUAL BALLINROAD 5K THIS FRIDAY EVENING.
So all road lead to Ballinroad this coming Friday evening for our first race in the clubs summer road race programme for 2026 as we kick start the season when the AHS Tuning Ireland sponsored Ballinroad 5k gets underway on Friday May 8th at 7.30 pm. Once again we sincerely thank John Coleman of AHS for his continued sponsorship of this race which he has sponsored for the past 11 years. John operates a very successful car tuning company from his new premises recently opened in Ballyvoile. This year once again we are delighted to be able to help and support the local community in Ballinroad as the local soccer club Ballinroad F.C. will be the benefactors of the race, with monies donated towards the club’s underage teams. The race will incorporate a fun run/walk with proceeds from them going towards the clubs fund. The race will start at 7.30 pm. St Laurence’s hall is the race H. Q. A huge turnout is expected if previous year’s is anything to go by as we deem the race to be the fastest flattest 5k course around. As you know in West Waterford AC we like to cater for all and have different prize structures in all our races, for the Ballinroad race we will have prizes for the top 5 men and women with lots and lots of spots for down the field finishers. Through the generosity of our sponsor we will this year be offering a cash performance bonus for both men and women,100 euro is an the added offer to the first Male to break 14.50 and the same to the first Female who can break 17.00. The entry fee is 12 euro pre entry online. (15 euro on race night). Of course you can sign up for the 6 races and receive a gift of a running Gilet, the full entry fee is set at 70 euro. The course chosen for the race is an excellent out and back course which is very flat so if it’s your first attempt at the 5k distance or you’re looking for a fast time on a flat- fast course this is your opportunity to shine. Please note the prize presentation will take place in the hall where a cuppa will be provided by Ballinroad FC. See you all Friday 8th May for race one of what promises to be another fun filled summer of road racing with West Waterford AC.
ENTRY LINK TO AHS TUNING IRELAND BALLINROAD 5K
https://eventmaster.ie/event/b95qU9AHjr
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB SUMMER RACE PROGRAMME.
We are delighted to announce our Summer Schedule of races 2026 starting in Ballinroad with our very popular 5k race on May 08th and finishing in Dungarvan on the 17th July in another very popular 10k route . This year all participants can take home our very nice running Gilet specially designed for this year’s race programme, A once off very nice piece of running apparel which will become a collector’s item in time. This is a unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! So get your entries in quickly and be ready for a super summer of racing once more. We are all looking forward to getting our summer programme underway and we hope to see all the old familiar faces and many new ones in the coming months. You can now enter all 6 races 70 Euro which is brilliant value or you can enter the races individually for 12 euro per race online. If you come along on the night of any race it will be 15 euro so get your online entry in is the answer here.
Ballinroad 5K 8th May
Ardmore 5 Miles 22nd May
Dromana 5 Miles 5th June
Ballymacarby 5 Miles 26th June
Ballinameela 5K 03th July
Dungarvan 10K 17th July
JOE 1st OVER 70 AT GALBALLY 4.
The Michael Curley Cunningham 4 mile road race was held last Wednesday in Galbally and hosted by Moreabbey Milers AC.Well done to club member Joe Gough who took the M70 prize in a time of 26.46.
KATE VEALE RECIEVES WATERFORD SPORTS AWARD FOR MARCH.
Club member Kate Veale has been announced as the March recipient of the Waterford sports monthly award in association with WLR FM and The Granville Hotel. Kate received the award in recognition of winning her 9th Senior indoor title at the 123.ie National Senior Indoors Championships in Abbots town where she took gold in the 3.000 metres. Congratulations Kate from all at your club.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the families and friends of Ursula Beatty Seapark Abbeyside and Alice Walsh Shanakill Kilmacthomas, who passed to their eternal reward, may they rest in peace.
DERMOT O’NEILL PHARMACY PORTLAW 5.
The Carrick On Suir AC promoted O’Neill Pharmacy sponsored Portlaw 5 mile road race held this evening Friday in good weather conditions, the event was race number 2 in the 18th annual Outfield Sports 3 county challenge series for 2026.A field of 123 competed and all Proceeds from the race were donated to The Red Cross Portlaw branch that do great work in the community all around area and beyond. Overall race winner this year was Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC in a time of 25.19 and he received the Tom Jordan perpetual trophy which is presented each year in memory of the late Tom who was an athlete of immense talent from the area back in the 80’s and 90’s and overall Ladies winner was Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC in 28.49.West Waterford AC had a large number of athletes who travelled on the night with Raivis Zakis first man home in 3rd place overall with a time of 26.37,our first Lady finisher was Bridget Coffey in 39.456. Well done to all who travelled .
Raivis Zakis 26.37
John Coffey 27.13
Mark Walsh 29.05
James Whelan 30.31
Dermot O’Neill 31.45
Tom Hogan 32.17
Eoin Walsh 32.20
Jamie O’Brien 32.42
Ray Hahessy 33.07
Gary Collins 33.31
Michael Dunford 34.42
Stephen Shasby 35.30
Patrick Lannen 36.29
Patrick Beausang 39.18
Brigid Coffey 39.56
Joanne Lannen 40.59
Josie Ui Chuirrin 42.47
Niall Herlihy 43.22
Eamon Curran 44.06
