29th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5.
The 29th Annual Round Tower Hotel sponsored Ardmore 5 mile road race was held last Friday evening and was race number 2 of the clubs summer programme of road races.The weather was a little damp for our annual visit to our friends in Ardmore last Friday evening but this didn’t deter from a superbly organised event.A field of 231 ran and finished on the night which was a mighty turnout which the sponsor and club were delighted with.Once again we say that these local road races cannot go ahead without a huge amount of goodwill from the local community and we must firstly sincerely thank our sponsor Aidan Quirke of Ardmore Round tower Hotel in Ardmore who sponsored the race and he and his staff ensured that all the runners were well cared for with plenty of food and refreshments afterwards, Its sponsors like Aidan that keep the spirit Alive and well in the community by supporting locally organised races. Our thanks to our local race coordinator Richie Stilwell. Richie and his big team of stewards and local helpers in Ardmore had everything working like clockwork on the night. All at our club are very thankful for the work put in by all our race helpers in Ardmore. The GAA club in Ardmore have also been great supporters of this race over many years and have always put their facilities at our disposal for the race each year, we thank all at Ardmore GAA club for this and their on-going support of the race.Our thanks to Tony and all the members of the Ryan family who came to the race and presented the first man home with the Veronica Ryan cup.Special thanks to our entire club crew for another flawless effort on the night, as usual they were as efficient as ever with the entries and the finishing times and results. Thanks to Ann for looking after the Prizes as usual and all who looked after entries results and finish line duties.Many thanks to Conor, Jamie and John and the Gardai and all our great help who every year come along and look after the safety of the runners on the road. All in all another’s great evening of road racing brought to you by West Waterford athletic club. See you all in Dromana on Friday 5th June.
AIDAN CONNELL IMPRESSES IN VERONICA RYAN CUP TRIUMPH.
The 2026 winner of the 29th Annual Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 last Friday evening was that West Waterford AC athlete Aidan Connell who gave a very impressive performance to claim the Veronica Ryan cup for the first time. Aidan has been most impressive this year with some top notch performances which have seen him rarely outside a podium position in all local races , Indeed speaking of podium a term used also in the sport of cycling which was Aidan’s first sport for some years where he also exceled at this when completing the famed Rás Tailteann on a number of occasions, a race not for the faint hearted and as we go to press that very event is currently taking place around the high ways and byways of Ireland .Aidan turned his efforts more towards running a short few years ago and this results last Friday evening doesn’t come as a big surprise really as his work rate and discipline in the sport is of a very high standard. After the leading group broke up after the first half mile or so in Ardmore 2 athlete broke clear in Aidan and Sergio Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC and by mile 2 they had opened up a huge gap back to the chasing pack which was being led along by Pat Hennessey West Waterford AC . By mile 3 it was clear this year’s winner was going to be from the two leaders as they battled away side by side. As these two came towards the 4 mile marker Aidan made a bold move on a fast part of the course and in a few strides had put a distance between himself and Sergio. This is how it stayed until the finish line with Aidan breaking the winning banner in a time of 25.12 to take a famous victory for the Aglish athlete with Ciobanu well clear in 2nd place crossing the finish line in 25.21 and Pat Hennessey did manager to draw clear of the chasers coming home 3rd in 26.58. Aidan Connell was 3rd in this race last year when he clocked a time of 26.29 , so his effort last Friday 25.12 tells its own story.The first over 40 was Noel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.23, Noel also won his category last year. Our over 45 winner this year comes from West Waterford AC Dermot Gough in a time of 29.33, The winner of the over 50 category was Michael Corbett St Finbarrs AC 28.05.The over 60 category was won by Cathal O’Connell St Finbarrs A.C. 29.07 and our Junior Man was Daniel Murphy Waterford AC in an impressive time of 27.33 Well done to all who came along to support the club and this race.
Men’s Prize Winners
1 Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 25.12
2 Sergio Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 25.21
3 Pat Hennessy West Waterford A.C 26.58
Male Junior Daniel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.33
Male 40 Noel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.23
Male 45 Dermot Gough West Waterford A.C. 29.33
Male 50 Michael Corbett St Finbarr’s A.C. 28.05
Male 60 Cathal O Connell St. Finbarr’s A.C. 29.07
KEALEY TIDESWELL CLAIMS THE NOEL FAHERTY CUP IN STYLE
The Ladies race last Friday evening was won very impressively by Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC in a time of 29.07 , Kealey no stranger to this Ardmore course as she set a new course record on it in 2024, was once again last Friday evening a notch above the field as she finished in 12th place overall. A prolific road and mountain racer she is rarely outside the top 3 placing’s in all races overall distances and is one of the country’s finest Female athletes on the circuit presently. Two West Waterford AC athletes had a ding dong battle for the runners up spot when team mates Angela Tobin and Natalie Sheehan fought nip and tuck all the way to the finish line outside our sponsors premises the Round Tower Hotel, but eventually it was Angela who was to prevail by just the slightest of margins 5 seconds separated the 2 at the line Angela clocking a time of 32.43 and Natalie 32.48 , well done to both girls on a fair and respectful race to the line.First Lady over 35 went to Niamh O’Donovan West Waterford A.C. in a time of 33.05 ,with the over 40 category going to Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C. in 35.44,our over 45 winner was Anne Moore West Waterford AC in 35.23. The over 50 category was won this year by Kate Wall Clonmel AC in 34.19 and our first junior home was Jessica Grigor West Waterford AC with a time of 41.45. Well done to all our prize winners and to all who supported the race.
Women’s Prize Winners
1st Kealy Tideswell Clonmel A.C. 29.07
2nd Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C 32.43
3rd Natalie Sheehan West Waterford A.C 32.48
Category Winner
Junior Jessica Grigor West WaterfordA.C 41.45
Female 35 Niamh O’Donovan West Waterford A.C 33.05
Female 40 Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C 35.44
Female 45 Anne Moore West Waterford A.C 35.23
Female 50 Kate Wall Clonmel A.C. 34.19
32nd ANNUAL DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5.
The 32nd Annual Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 will take place on Friday, June 6th at 7.30pm, and once again promises to be one of the highlights of the local road racing calendar. Now in its 32nd year, this hugely popular event will return to the familiar and much-loved course along the stunning Dromana Drive from Villierstown to Cappoquin, a route that has provided memorable racing and beautiful scenery for athletes over the past three decades.West Waterford Athletic Club are once again delighted to have the continued support of the Dungarvan Leader newspaper as title sponsors of the race. The club extends sincere thanks to Billy John and all at the Dungarvan Leader for their long-standing commitment and support of both the race and the club over many years.The race winner will receive the Michael C. Nagle Memorial Trophy, and the club would also like to acknowledge and thank Colm and the Nagle family for their continued support of this prestigious event. Locally, the race has been organised over the years by Trevor and the Mason family in Cappoquin, whose dedication has helped make the event such a success. Some years ago, the Mason family also presented a beautiful perpetual cup which is awarded annually to the first lady home.The Dromana 5 has built a strong reputation as a fast and enjoyable race that attracts runners of all abilities each year. With its unique setting and welcoming atmosphere, it continues to be a favourite among athletes both locally and further afield.Entries are now open online through RaceMaster, with advance online registration costing €12. Entry on the night will be €15. The race is open to all athletes over 16 years of age on race day.Prize categories include the first five men and women home, along with prizes for the first two men’s and first two ladies’ teams of three, excluding individual prize winners. Please note that only fully paid-up 2026 members will be eligible to score on West Waterford AC club teams.Athletes are also reminded that there will be no bus provided to transport runners to the start line this year, so alternative travel arrangements should be made in advance.The course records continue to stand as impressive markers of quality on this challenging route, with Pauline Lambe holding the women’s record of 29:20 set in 2010, while Olympic legend John Treacy’s outstanding time of 23:49, set in 1999, remains the men’s course record.With another strong turnout expected, organisers are looking forward to welcoming runners, supporters and spectators once again for what promises to be another fantastic evening of athletics in West Waterford.
Course record:
Pauline Lambe 29.20 (2010)
John Treacy 23.49 (1999)
WALLS OF FETHARD 5K .
A field of 282 competed at last Friday Evenings Walls of Fethard 5k race which was held on a dull but dry night in the Co Tipperary venue. Overall race winner was the inform Sean Tobin Clonmel AC with a fast time of 14.42 setting a new course record. Laura Cooney also of Clonmel AC too the Ladies victory in 17.14 for a 6th place finish overall. West Waterford AC was represented at the race with 3 athletes making the trip to Tipp. First home here was up and coming young athlete Siun Cunningham with an excellent time of 20.22 which saw her take the first Junior prize. Joe Gough was next home in a time of 20.34 to finish first over 70 and Gillian Prendergast put in another notable performance finishing in a time of 27.04.Well done to all.
MICHAEL IN BUTTEVANT 4.
Well done to club member Michael Coakley last Sunday who ran a time of runs 39.03 in the Buttevant 4 Mile in what was the final race of the Rebel Diamond League.
MICK ON THE HILLS OF WICKLOW.
Club member Mick Concannon was on the hills of Wicklow Saturday when he ran the Glendalough lap of the gap marathon on Irelands Highest Marathon with plenty hills and over 800 meters of elevation involved. The event started in Glendalough and climbs all the way the Sally gap and then descends past Lough Tay finishing in Laragh , a lovely scenic course but not one for the faint hearted. Mick completed the run i 4.42 .Well done to both Mick .
