DOUBLE GOLD FOR LUCY HOLMES AT MUNSTER NOVICE AND UNDER 23 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
For the first time in many years the club was represented with teams in both the men’s and women’s Munster novice cross country championships which were held last Sunday in Riverstick Co.Cork on a well laid out but tough cross country course which was very wet in parts. After a great days Juvenile action which saw many of our young athletes take Munster medals which is covered in our juvenile notes it was on to the Novice and under 23 which were run in conjunction with each other. The day in many respects belonged to Lucy Holmes who gave a masterful display of cross country running and was never far from the front of proceedings while setting the pace from the gun she was joined up front by a nice group of athletes on the first lap of two, after the hill section the race split up with Kilmurray/Ibrick/N.Clare AC athlete Roisin Howley joining Lucy at the head of affairs and going out on the final lap the Clare Woman was a few strides ahead of the Waterford Lady with Cork’s Siobhain Hoare Togher AC also in close contention. Howley pressed hard on the very stiff climb and Lucy held her ground and still Hoare was digging deep holding that 3rd position with the rest of the field starting to drift at this stage. When the race came round to the final turn heading into the home straight and looking like a Clare victory to make amends for her 2nd place earlier in the year at the Munster Road championships where Roisin finished in silver place also, there was also danger coming from the Togher women behind who had made up good ground coming down off the climb, Lucy gave her everything as she turned the turbo’s on with 300 meters to go and her traditional fast finish saw her race past the leader with meters to the finish line for a brilliant victory and also in doing so took the under 23 gold medal as well denying the Clare women at the death, with the fast finishing Hoare taking bronze. A deserving win for Lucy and she lead our team home who were most unlucky not to be among the team medals finishing 4th on the day, none the less as we said it was great for the club to have teams compete in both men’s and women’s with some great running from Kelly Fitzgerald who put in a massive effort finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th place, Elaine Langley running her very first time at a Munster Novice cross country race was not deterred by the day as she came home in 33rd position, Angela Tobin is not long back competing with the club again and is enjoying the cross country season Angela was a solid 46th with another great ran by Tara Ní Reachtagain who was a doubtful starter up to the morning of the race finishing 50th, this run by Tara meant we had a full team on the day and that’s what club cross country running is all about very well done to one and all. As mentioned was also had a men’s team competed in the Munster cross country Sunday and they acquitted themselves well. When called upon by the club to run the Novice this year Damien Murphy hadn’t to be asked twice, now living and working in Zurich Damien committed to the club early in the summer that he would make the trip home for this race and he held to his word, putting in a great run Sunday Damien was well up with the leaders over the first of the early laps when the race broke up on over final lap he put in a huge effort to stay in contention coming home in 13th place overall, Sean Curran was unlucky not to take the top 20 placing’s when he came home flying in 22nd place putting in a great shift on one hell of a tough course, next man across the line was Gary Cantwell in 40th place, It’s great to have Gary in the club as will be a key member of many a club team going forward, Sean Stilwell was one who despite the fact that he is running Dublin next week made the club team call and finish 67th place and Yev Chizhikova who is a great team player in fact has never missed a club call-up at any stage over many years finished 96th .This team finish 6th team from 14 team competing, well done lads.
MURRAYS PHARMACY 27th ANNUAL BRICKEY 5k IN AID OF BRICKEY JUVENILE GAA CLUB ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13TH.
Bushy Park GAA grounds is the venue for the 27th annual Brickey Run. Again this year we are delighted to announce that Murray’s Pharmacy Dungarvan are to continue on with their sponsorship of the race we sincerely thank Elizabeth and all at Murrays Pharmacy for this kind gesture. The proceeds from this year’s race will be donated to Brickey GAA Juvenile club. The race distance will be over a very flat fast 5k loop around the Brickey valley starting and finishing at Bushy Park GAA grounds. The race will get under way at 11 am with number pickup taking place from 10.15 onwards in the GAA clubhouse Bushy Park. The Martin Curran Cup will be awarded to the first man on the day and the Jim Lyons memorial shield will be awarded to the first lady. The prize-giving will take place in the club house immediately after the race and refreshments will also be provided for all the runners.
Online entries open now.
https://eventmaster.ie/whatson/West_Waterford_AC
JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 ENTRIES OPEN ON DECEMBER 1ST FOR AI MEMBERS.
As and from December 1st entries will open to Athletics Ireland club members for the 31st Annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 which will be held on Sunday February 5th 2023, with a start time of 11 pm. West Waterford Athletic Club have announced details of the event which has established itself as a must run race on the Irish road running calendar with participants from all four corners of the country and beyond participating. The race has grown year on year and is a pre entry race which will close when 3,500 entries is reached. The race also incorporates the popular John Treacy Club Challenge Cup for men’s and ladies teams which has proved to be hugely competitive. We will again be calling on all the athletic clubs of Ireland to take on the challenge in 2023. The John Treacy Dungarvan 10 brings together the ideal race combination of fun runners, joggers, club athletes and top class internationals who compete over a fast flat 10 mile course around the historic town of Dungarvan, we look forward to welcoming you to our town on February 5th 2023. So remember entries open December 1st.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE 28th ANNUAL “FORDE’S DAYBREAK” WINTER LEAGUE.
Registration is now open for the 2022/23 26th Annual Forde’s Daybreak winter league which will be run over 11 weeks and organised by West Waterford athletic club. The event for those few who are not familiar with it caters for all levels of runners and especially for those that have never ran before, we provide plenty of advice and encouragement so please don’t feel that you might be the only person trying it for the first time as guaranteed there will be many coming along again this year for the very first time just like you. There are 2 distances to choose from and they are commonly known as the long route 5.4 miles and the short route 2.3.miles. When you come along on the night to pick up your number Wednesday November 9rth at 6.30 we will be available to answer any questions you may have on the routes or event itself. Your cooperation with registering online for this event this is much appreciated.
ONCE-OFF REGISTRATION FEE OF 5 EURO.
When you register, there will be a fee of €5 to cover the cost of the waterproof number and timing chip attached. This number and chip will be issued to you and you only and it will be your number for the duration of the 11 week league so it’s most important that you have it and wear it every Wednesday night, please pin it to the front of your bib only. We introduced a once off payment for the entire league and this was taken up by most of all winter league runners who save themselves some money by doing so. For club members you can pay 35 euro (this includes the 5 euro once off number payment) and for non-members you can pay a once off payment of 40 euro which also includes the 5 euro number payment charge.
MICHAEL, ONRA AND MICK RUN THE REBEL 10K.
Well done last Sunday morning to club members Mick Concannon ,Onra Power and Michael Cockley who all ran the 10th Anniversary Rebel 10k held in Cork and finishing on the MTU track. Mick was first home in a time of 46.56 followed by Michael who ran a P.B time of 56.15 and Onra finished the course in 57.26.
REGISTER ONLINE.
You can of course register from the comfort of your own home or work place just long on to our winter league online registration page at
https://eventmaster.ie/event/Pk2YUJDhLe
BEGINNERS RUNNING GROUP.
The club are starting up a new “ Lets Run” beginners running group, commencing 8th November for 6 weeks and we would love to see you come along particularly if you’re not a regular runner or have maybe never ran before ,well this is for you, at a cost of €30 for all 6 weeks you will be given all the help you will need to get you started with our qualified club coaches who will be on hand each week to encourage and help you any way they can. We will meet at Walton Park Abbeyside each Tuesday from 6.30-7.30pm. If interested why not bring a friend just Contact Claire a text or call on 087 9116997.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Mary Toher Carraig Na Bhfear Cork Who passed to her to her eternal reward last week, may she Rest In Peace.
