THE 8th ANNUAL AHS TUNING IRELAND BALLINROAD 5K .
The clubs summer road racing programme for 2023 is up and running as last Friday evening we launched into our programme with the staging of 8th annual AHS TUNING IRELAND sponsored Ballinroad 5k.We always have in the past and last Friday evening again got a great community involvement with this race as there was a great turnout for the walk which was held in association with the 5k race itself. Like all outdoor events held in this county we rely greatly on the weather and thankfully we had a good night inded it was the best Friday weather wiase in many months so we were blessed last Friday which helped and brought out big numbers to Ballinroad.The club are delighted to be involved in this event with proceeds going towards the local Ballinroad AFC who do so much for the growing community in the Ballinroad area,as they have become one of the largest junior clubs in the county now catering for a big number of teams for boys and girls as well as two senior club teams also.Both clubs put in a great amount of work pre-race for the event and this paid dividends as a field of 215 runners and a large group of walkers took part .The prize structure for the race saw prizes awarded to the top 5 men and women and then we presented lots of spots to everyone else in the race its encouraging for us to see that the athletes are supporting our efforts as we always try to give good value races which cater for all levels, a well marshalled safe course, results posted ASAP. Our sincere thanks to all who helped with the race especially our race sponsor John Coleman of AHS tuning Ireland for supporting our club event. The Coleman family have been steeped in our club for many years indeed all members of the family were and are involved one way or another with the club and are always on hand to help the club out whichever way they can when called upon. Special thanks to Conor who came along on presented the winners with their prizes. To all our stewards who once again did a terrific job on the night, To Conor, Jamie and crew on traffic management duty another splendid job, to our registrars and timing personnel, finishing area team . To Liam O Donnell on van duty and Jim Fleming and his team for looking after the beautiful spot prizes on the night. Thanks to the Beresford family crooked bridge for their help with the event,To all at Ballinroad soccer club a big thanks and well done to you on your efforts, keep up the great work the club is doing for the Ballinroad community. Thanks to the parish for the use of St Laurence’s hall. Finally a special mention to those runners who were completing their first 5k Friday evening keep up the good work many are part of the clubs “letsrun” group we hope to see you throughout the Summer running more of the clubs summer races.
EVAN FITZGERALD WINS BALLINROAD 5K.
Clonmel AC provided us with our winner at the Ballinroad 5k last Friday evening in youngster Evan Fitzgerald who just like his father John many moons ago has won a race organised by our club, John was an excellent athlete in his day so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as Evan has burst onto the road running scene in recent months and is winning many races in and around the area. He was always in contention from the get-go on Friday night and broke away from a group of 3 with 2 kms to go, coming home a clear winner in a time of 15.28 the 2nd fastest time ever ran on this course behind Philip Harty’s 15.25 in the inaugural race in 2014.The AHS Tuning Ireland sponsored event saw Dermot Gorman Carrick AC taking the runners up spot in 15.44 with the fast finishing and former race winner Noel Murphy Waterford AC 3rd in 16.01, Noel won this race in 2022 when he clocked a time of 16.06,so he was 5 seconds faster last Friday night. long-time race leader Craig O’Brien had to settle for 4th in a time of 16.09 this was 1 second faster than his time of 2022 when he finished 2nd in 16.10.First West Waterford AC finisher was Mick Ahern who once again had a brilliant run to take 5th in 16.21.Well done to all who ran with many super performances and pbs recorded on this fast flat course.
MENS RESULTS.
1st Evan Fitzgerald Clonmel AC 15.28
2nd Dermot Gorman Carrick On Suir AC 15.44
3rd Noel Murphy Waterford AC 16.01
4th Craig O’Brien Ferrybank AC 16.09
5th Mick Ahern West Waterford AC 16.21
KATE VEALE RUNS COURSE RECORD TO WIN LADIES RACE.
Just living round the corner from the start and finish line local lady Kate Veale ran a blinder last Friday evening to not alone win the ladies race but she smashed the course record into the bargain.Kate well know race walker loves to take in a few road races whens he can and the Ballinroad race she tries to support each year.Sally Forristal St Joseph’s AC 5 times winner of this race set the course record back in 2018 when she posted a time of 18.03,Kate turned this time on its heels when she became the first Lady to break the 18 minute mark with a time of 17.46 a brilliant new course record.Taking 2nd place was another Lady who posted a time which on another night could very well have won the race Louise Morgan Ferrybank AC clocked 18.02.Great to see Siobhan Heylin Waterford AC back running so well again as she finished 3rd in a time of 20.08.One of our young athletes in our club making the transition from Juvenile athletics to the senior ranks is Grainne Moore and she had a fine run to take 4th place in 20.18 just 2 seconds ahead of Elaine Horgan Clonmel AC who ran 20.20.Well done to all our female competitors in Ballinroad we hope to see you throughout the summer running more of the clubs summer races.
LADIES RESULTS.
1st Kate Veale West Waterford AC 17.46 (course record)
2nd Louise Morgan Ferrybank AC 18.02
3rd Siobhán Heylin Waterford AC 20.08
4th Graínne Moore West Waterford AC 20.18
5th Elaine Horgan Clonmel AC 20.20
26th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER ARDMORE 5 .
After a terrific race last Friday evening at race 1 in the clubs summer race programme the Ballinroad 5k our focus now will turn to race 2 the 26th Annual Round Tower Ardmore 5 mile. Once again this year we are delighted that Aidan Quirke of Round Tower Hotel has agreed to sponsor the event as he did last year for the first time. Our sponsor Aidan and his team lead up a family run business Round Tower Hotel lwhich is located in the beautiful village of Ardmore. Round Tower Hotel is a Fáilte Ireland approved 3 star hotel. The hotel offers guests and visitors the opportunity to enjoy their break in one of Ireland’s oldest Christian settlement villages.The race will be held on Friday May 26th at 7.30 pm.The Ardmore 5 is one of those races which we love heading to with ease of mind because as has been the case for 26 years we know that Michael Hennessey and his team in Ardmore will have all pre-race work in place making the trip to the beautiful part of our county once again to meet many of our old friends a pleasure.The course will remain the same as previous years with the 2 lap circuit. Registration and changing will be at the Ardmore GAA club pavilion ( by kind permission ) and we sincerely thank Ardmore GAA for the use of their fine facility as they have done now for many years. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female athletes and after that prizes will be awarded to the following age race categories.Men-Junior,40,50,60 Women-Junior,35,40,50.Entry to this race is only 10 Euro if you enter online, at Eventmaster.ie and our course if you leave it until the night of the race to enter the fee will be 15 Euro,so get your online entries in ASAP.See ye at the round tower guys.!!
ENTER ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5 ONLINE NOW.
Online entry for the 26th Annual Round Tower Hotel sponsored Ardmore 5 is now open on Eventmaster.ie and the Cost is only €10.00. Numbers can be collected on the evening of race. It is of great help to us the race organisers if you can please enter online and it will save you time queuing on the night. If you come to entry on the night it will cost you 15 euro.
YOUGHAL 5K.
The annual Youghal 5k was held last Thursday evening and a field of 272 ran on the night. The race winner was Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC in a time of 15.47 with the Ladies win going to Fiona Santry East Cork AC in a time of 17.14.West Waterford was well represented at the race and our first finisher was Garry Cantwell who finished 15th overall with a time of 16.58,the clubs first Lady home was Stephanie Iisley in 22.10, well done also to Mick Concannon who took the men’s over 60 prize on the night just in ahead of team mate Ron Iisley who was just 2 seconds behind of Mick in the same category, well done to all.
Garry Cantwell 16.58
Mossie Keogh 18.36
Jerry Power 20.43
Mick Concannon 21.18
Ron Iisley 21.20
Stephanie Iisley 22.10
Rose Kinsella 23.01
Lisa Collins 23.47
Michael Coakley 25.20
Onra Power 25.58
CLONMEL 10K.
The Clonmel AC promoted Tipperary Water sponsored 10k race was held Saturday evening in glorious sunshine and a field of 136 ran on the night. Overall winner was David Mansfield of the host club Clonmel AC in a time of 31.36. National Marathon champion from Dublin last Year Courtney Mc Guire also of Clonmel AC was the Ladies winner in a brilliant time of 34.35,Courtney finished 4th overall in the race. West Waterford had a handful of runners who made the trip with Michael Dunford first home in a time of 40.48,Onra Power was next in 56.38 and Joanne Dunford was next in 64.43, well done to all.
LUCY 4TH IN BELFAST.
The Belfast Irish Milers meet was held last Saturday at the Mary Peters track Belfast with a big number of graded race’s over many distances .Club member Lucy Holmes ran her first track race of the season in the B 800 meters and finished 4th with a time of 2.08.50, an excellent seasons opener for Lucy who will next race in Oordegem Belgium in two weeks’ time 27th May at the International Flanders athletics meet where she will again compete in the 800 meters, we wish her well.
MICHAEL RUNS BANTEER 5.
The Banteer 5-mile road race was held last Sunday and attracted a field of 187 runners, the race was organised by Mt Hillary AC. Michael Coakley made the trip and completed the flat fast course in a time of 46.30, well done Michael,
LINDA WINS HALF IN CASTLECOMER.
The Searlait Tywang Memorial Road Run in aid of Aoibheann’s Pink tie took place today Sunday in Castlecomer Co Kilkenny with distances of 5k 10k 10 mile and half marathon catered for at the event. Club member Linda Foley made the trip and it was to be a successful day for her as she finished 7th overall with a time of 1.39.06 to take first place in the half marathon.Another club member also took part when Patricia Daly ran the 5k event and finished 25th in a time of 28.14, well done to both Patricia and Linda.
