28th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5.
The 28th Annual Round Tower Hotel sponsored Ardmore 5 mile road race was held last Friday evening which was race number 2 of the clubs summer programme of road races. The weather was a little cooler than the previous days with a slight breeze also, however it remained good and dry for the nights racing. A field of 206 ran and finished on the night which was a great turnout which the sponsor and club were delighted with. There was great excitement at the race this year as RTE reporter and camera man were at hand taking interviews and video footage for a piece on Joe Gough which will be aired in or around July 13th on Nationwide. Our sincere thanks to 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. The race this year was tinged with a lot of sadness for all involved as our long time club member and popular race director for the event in Ardmore Michael Hennessy is no longer with us having passed to his eternal reward some months earlier, We also lost another great Ardmore man in Matt Faherty during the year. Matt never missed the race in Ardmore presenting the Noel Faherty cup to our Ladies winner each year on behalf of the Faherty family. A minutes silence was held in memory of both Michael and Matt before the race began, may they both rest in peace.In the absence of Michael Hennessey his right hand man has taken up the rains in Richie Stilwell Richie was well tutored by the master the past couple of years and Richie and his big team of stewards including Michael’s brothers and other local helpers had everything working like clockwork on the night. All at our club are very thankful for the work put in by Michael and the race helpers in Ardmore and its fitting to his memory that’s this race will continue into the future just as Michael and Matt would have wanted.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.Our thanks to Tony, Mary, Eamon and Gearóid 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 ands to Karen for looking after the Tee-shirt stall sale .Many thanks to Conor and Jamie and the Gardai and all our great helpers 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 6th June.
EVAN FITZGERALD SMASHED COURSE RECORD TO CLAIM THE VERONICA RYAN CUP.
The 2024 winner of the 28th Annual Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 last Friday evening was that young man again who seems unbeatable on the roads at present Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford AC in a course record time of 24.09.From the gun as is now his trademark style of racing he flew away from the pack going through the first mile in 4.35.After that first mile it was race over to be honest as the chasing pack were way back behind even at this early stage of the race , by the 2 mile mark our leader Fitzgerald had almost a minute up on the chasers such was the speed that he was racing at. When he crossed the finish line at the Round Tower Hotel he had smashed the long standing course record by 20 seconds, so the Veronica Ryan cup rests on the mantle of Evan Fitzgerald for 2025 and deservedly so. No disrespect to the rest of the field as Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC was our runner up this year 2 minutes behind our winner in 26.09, which incidentally was good enough in the past to win this race. Aidan Connell West Waterford AC is getting a podium finishing position and last Friday evening he finished 3rd in 26.29 for another fine run.The first over 40 was Noel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.01, great to see Noel back to full fitness again and his never far away from the top spot when his in full running health. Our over 45 winner this year comes from up the road in Youghal AC Keith Kelly in a time of 27.40, Keith retained his over 45 category crown here was he also won it in 29024.The winner of the over 50 category for the 3rd year in a row was Seamus Mc Sweeny Grange Fermoy in 29.11, remarkable 3 in a row for Seamus here in this race. The over 60 category was won by Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C. 33.04, Ray is hard to beat in this category currently.Our Junior Man was Cormac Delaney Ind. IN 40.54.Well done to all who came along to support the club and this race.
Men’s Prize Winners
1 Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford AC 24:09
2 Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC 26.09
3 Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 26.29
Junior Cormac Delaney Ind. 40.54
M 40 Noel Murphy Waterford A.C. 27.01
M 45 Keith Kelly Youghal A.C. 27.40
M 50 Seamus Mc Sweeny Grange Fermoy 29.11
M 60 Ray Hahesy West Waterford A.C. 33.04
AOIFE COOKE WINS THE NOEL FAHERTY CUP.
The Ladies race last Friday evening was won by Aoife Cooke Eagle AC in a time of 30.03.Aoife no stranger to us here in West Waterford as she is a previous winner of the John Treacy Dungarvan 10 in 2020 when she set a course record time which was broken this year and she also won the race in 2022.Aoife who has been injured this past while is making a great come back and hopefully will continue along the road to full fitness. Another top Female in Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. took the runners up spot this year with a time of 30.31, Michelle another of Cork’s finest was running this race for the first time and was very impressed with the nights competition. Back from her race walking travels in Chezhia where she competed for Ireland at the European team championships last weekend Kate Veale West Waterford AC took 3rd place in 31.04.First Lady over 35 went to Natalie Sheehan West Waterford A.C. in a time of 32.55 ,with the over 40 category going to Elaine Horgan Clonmel A.C. in 34.51, Elaine also won this category in last year’s race .We also included an over 45 category this year and this was claimed by Patricia Ryan Dundrum A.C. breaking 35 minutes when clocking a time of 34.19. The over 50 category was won this year by Alice Fitzgerald West Waterford A.C. in 42.33 and our first junior home was Aoibheen Ryan K.C.K. A.C. with a time of 32.28. Well done to all our prize winners and to all who supported the race.
Women’s Prize Winners
1 Aoife Cooke Eagle A.C. 30.03
2 Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. 30.31
3 Kate Veale West Waterford A.C 31.04
Category Winner
Junior Aoibheen Ryan K.C.K. A.C. 32.28
F 35 Natalie Sheehan West Waterford A.C. 32.55
F 45 Patricia Ryan Dundrum A.C. 34.19
F 40 Elaine Horgan Clonmel A.C. 34.51
F 50 Alice Fitzgerald West Waterford A.C. 42.33
31st ANNUAL DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5.
Now in its 31st year this very popular race will once again be held over the same course along the fabulous Dromana Drive from Villerstown to Cappoquin as it has for the past 31 years.We have been so lucky over the past 31 years to have a super sponsor of the race in the Dungarvan Leader newspaper who will continue their sponsorship again this year, our sincere thanks to Billy John and all at Dungarvan Leader for their on-going involvement with our club and this race. The race takes place on Friday June 6th at 7.30 PM. The winning athlete receives the Michael C. Nagle Memorial Trophy and again our thanks to Colm and the Nagle family for their continued support of this race. Our local race organisers of this event have been Trevor and the Mason family Cappoquin and some years ago they presented a beautiful perpetual cup which is presented to the first Lady home each year. Entries are now open online, please see Facebook page for entry link or click into race master for your online entry. This is a great course and a great race. Entry fee 10 Euro online registration. Race entry on the night will be 15 euro. Race open to all over 16 years of age on race day.Prizes-1st 5 men and women and 1st 2 men’s and 1st 2 ladies team of 3 outside ind prize winners . Please note for team prizes at Dromana 5 that only current 2025 paid up members will be eligible to score on West Waterford AC club teams. There will be no bus provided to take athletes to the start line this year so please put alternative arrangements in place.
Course record:
Pauline Lambe 29.20 (2010)
John Treacy 23.49 (1999)
MICK AND TERRI ON THE HILLS.
Club members Terri Gough and Mick Concannon were on the hills of Wicklow last Saturday when they ran the Glendalough lap of the gap marathon. Plenty hills were the order of the day with 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 ion 4.13 while Terri crossed the finish line in 7.412. Well done to both Mick and Terri.
MUNSTER TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP.
MEDALS ALL ROUND.
The Munster track and field championships were held last Saturday and Sunday in Templemore Co. Tipperary and West Waterford athletes had a successful weekend winning championships medals on both days.Pat Kennedy got his championships off to a dream start on the Saturday when he claimed gold in the Hammer over 65 category with a throw of 31.07 in his 2nd effort of 4, he then also took gold in the shot with a throw of 9.59 again in the 2nd throw of 4.John Laste in the 5.000 Meters race-walk over 60 took gold in a time of 31.18.On Sunday Angela Tobin in the over 35 category had a brilliant championships when in the 400 meters sprint took gold with a time of 1.12.99 also gold for Angela in the 1.500 meters with a time of 5.32.98 and her 3rd gold came in the 3.000 meters clocking a time of 11.51.46, in her final event of the championships the 800 meters she took yet another gold with a time of 2.42.96.It was great to see Ashlee Keohan back in the club singlet after some years when she made a gold winning come back in the Javelin throwing a distance of 25.17 for gold. Raivis Zakis was in action in the over 45 3.000 meters and he brought home gold with a time of 9.57.96, Gary Cantwell competed in the Senior men’s 800 meters finishing 4th with a time of 2.16.25 and he also competed in the 1.500 meters finishing 6th in a time of 4.39.49 and Yev Chizhikov was just outside the medals in the over 50 800 meters when finishing 4th in a time of 2.41.12.Garry Cantwell also raced 800 and 1500 , he was 4th in 800 snr men and 6th in the 1500m senior men.Well done to all our athletes who competed at the championships over the 2 days.
