2.500 EURO DONATED TO HELVICK RNLI AT EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON.
Last Saturday our club hosted the 5th Annual Eurofins Waterford Greenway half marathon and to say the event was a success would be an understatement as it was much more, this unique race has grown into a must run half on the busy national athletics race calendar as can be seen from the diverse number of finishers club categories with athletes from all over the country taking part in this year’s race. What makes this race so popular since we started it 5 years ago is that it’s the only race of its kind in the country and of course it showcase’s to all especially the many visiting athletes our famed Waterford Greenway which hopeful many will return with their families on another occasion. Of course weather plays a big part in an event like this also and this was ideal last Saturday, a good dry day but got probably a tad too warm but no rain and no wind, giving all our visitors a great Waterford Greenway experience which as we said should draw them back to Waterford again. The one aspect of the day was our porta loos supplier left us down which meant that the quantity of pre-race toilets were limited ,this said we must thank our friends in the Coach House who facilitated us on this front. The Eurofins half marathon this year saw its biggest number of finishers to date in the event which we are delighted with 593 finishers crossed the finish line in Ballinroad having made their way towards the coast line from the starting point at the Coach House in Kilmacthomas.A huge thank you to all who came along from near and far to participate as without the athletes there would be no race , so we really do appreciate you supporting another West Waterford athletic club event. Congratulations to all the runners who donated to this year’s chosen charity RNLI Helvick who were represented on the day by Dolores Walsh and Nick Hannigan whom we sincerely thank for taking the time to come along on the day. The fantastic organisation that is the Helvick RNLI was presented with a cheque of 2.500 euro on behalf of all the runners of the race. To all who helped and there were many both pre-race and on race day. To the huge number of stewards all along the 13.1 mile course a sincere thank you. Thanks to all our very good friends in Kilmacthomas for their invaluable help and to all those who helped out on our4 water stations along the course a big thanks to you all. To our chip timing squad myrunresults a very professional job once again, thank you to Ballinroad AFC for affording us the use of their dressing rooms/showers, and Ballinroad community hall for the use of the hall for race HQ.To our all our medics a sincere thanks. Of course, all events need great sponsors and we are fortunate to have had a brilliant sponsor again this year in Eurofins Dungarvan. Our thanks to Kevin Healy Facilities Manager and all the team at Eurofins and to Kevin for coming along on the day to present the winners with their prizes this was much appreciated.To many associate sponsors including our good friends at Flahavans, Sólás Na Mara, Lidl Dungarvan, Coach House kilmacthomas.A massive thank you to Johnny Brunnock Waterford Trails officer at Waterford city and county council for his and there assistance, without the local authority’s help it would not be possible to hold such an event.Our thanks to our cycle outriders Michael Dunford, Niall Beanie Byrne.Thanks to all our pacers who all came up trumps on the day and really made the event so enjoyable for many who were trying to achieve their goals. Our thanks to the Gardai in Kilmathomas for their assistance on the day, Thanks to Conor Norris and John Mc Grath and Jamie Mills, for all their work on the course and in so many other ways over the weekend. Thank you to local Farmer’s James and Anthony Beresford for the use of their land for parking, and to Ger Wyley and Cllr Thomas Phelan who looked after the parking. Our thanks to Niall Barry Kilmacthomas for his assistance, Thank you to myrun results for their prompt and professional race results. Many thanks to our great team of photographers. Our thanks to Joe O’Rourke and family for their assistance on Saturday also and for the use of the van. Thank you to our club committee at West Waterford AC who put in Trojan work over many months in organising this event. Finally a huge thank you our club chairman Tom Leahy and also club Secretary Ann Dunford who both but in huge work to make this event happen, and to anyone I have omitted, a big thanks to you all.
PAT FITZGERALD WINS PAUL BRUNNOCK PERPETUAL CUP.
The Paul Brunnock perpetual cup was presented this year to our deserving race winner Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC, The beautiful trophy will going forward remember one of our most popular members Paul Brunnock who passed to his eternal reward some months ago, we are delighted that this cup will now keep Paul’s memory in everyone’s thoughts each year this race is held and our grateful thanks to the Moylan Brunnock who made a huge effort to be here with us on Saturday to came along on the day to present the winner with the cup, as the old saying goes the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, thank you Moylan. Our race winner last Saturday was one of our pre-race favourite’s Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC,Pat bust on to the local running scene some years ago and has improved year on year with this is possibly his biggest win to date.Pat had to battle hard for the victory however as the 2nd man home matched every move the Waterford man made, Paul Smith Drogheda and District AC was shoulder to shoulder with Pat every stride of the way and despite Pat opening a small gap at the 9 km mark Paul battled back and going through the Durow tunnel they were side by side again in fact it with only a couple of kms to go that Pat got to grips with the Drogheda man opening a gap which was 20 seconds which he held to the finish line in Ballinroad .The finishing times for both were 1.12.19 to Pauls 1.12.38.Our 3rd man home was another well-known Waterford AC athlete Noel Murphy who clocked a time of 1.14.50 with team mate of our winner Robbie Keane 4th in 1.15.29 , 5th place was filled by Mark McKenna Waterford AC 1.16.46,so that was 3 Waterford and 2 Drogheda athletes in the top 5.Other club runners to figure among the prizes were John O’Rourke 2nd over 40.Dermot Ryan 2nd over 45.Gerry Cantwell 2nd over 65.Fionn Burke 1.49.14
. MENS RESULTS
Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC 1.12.19
Paul Smith Drogheda and District AC 1.12.38
Noel Murphy Waterford AC 1.14.50
Robbie Keane Drogheda and District AC 1.15.29
Mark McKenna Waterford AC 1.16.46
Over 40
Jim Harty St Catherine’s AC 1.09.04
John O’Rourke West Waterford AC 1.19.15
Over 45
John Hodge IND 1.18.42
Dermot Ryan West Waterford AC 1.19.08
Over 50
John Murphy Grange Fermoy AC 1.22.34
Garrett Casey St Finbarrs AC 1.25.47
Over 55
Pat O,Connor Eagle AC 1.27.12
Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy Clonmel AC 1.21.33
Over 60
Patrick O’Grady Drogheda and District AC 1.18.02
Michael Mc Grath Eagle AC 1.31.52
Over 65
Michael O’Gorman United Struiders AC 1.36.48
Gerry Cantwell West Waterford AC 2.39.07
Teams
West Waterford AC -Walter Drohan ,Dermot Gough and Conor Hennebry 70 pts
Kilkenny City Harriers AC – Paul Moran,Shea Roddy and Mike Cullen 86 pts
ERIKA DOWLING WINS PAULA COLLINS PERPETUAL CUP.
The Paul Collins perpetual cup was presented to our ladies winner this year in loving memory of Paula who passed to her eternal reward some time ago, Paula was a very well loved member of our club and is greatly missed by us all, this cup will keep Paula’s memory in our hears each year when the race winner will receive this beautiful cup and it is fitting award for the beautifully person she was and our grateful thanks to the members of the Collins and Nugent family who came along to present Paula’s cup to our inaugural winner Erika Dowling Kilkenny.On her very first visit to this race Erika Dowling was to make it a memorable one as she won the race on her first attempt.The Kilkenny athlete ran a time of 1.24.11 to just hold off the Mallow AC athlete who was close to our winner throughout the race Breda Gaffney 1.24.50. Aoife Mahony ran a very solid half also to take that 3rd spot in a time of 1.27.52 with Tara Malone filling 4th place in 1.27.59 and out 5th lady home was Eileen Mc Cullagh Thurles Crokes AC 1.30.05.West Waterfrod athleets had just one category prizes winner Eveleen Drohan was 1st over 45 in 1.27.26,Our Ladies took 2nd team prize Niamh O’Donovan,Linda Foley and Elaine Langley on 45 pts.Very well done to all the ladies who took part on the day.
LADIES RESULTS
- Erika Dowling Ind 1.24.11
- Breda Gaffney Mallow AC 1.24.50
- Aoife Mahony Ind 1.27.52
- Tara Malone IND 1.27.59
- Eileen Mc Cullagh Thurles Crokes AC 1.30.05
Over 35
- Orla Hayes Leevale AC 1.31.25
- Elaine Walsh Ballinatotis Fit4life AC 1.36.54
Over 40
- Claire Dermody Kilkenny City Harriers AC 1.31.32
- Maria McDonald Wexford Marathon AC 1.32.48
Over 45
- Eveleen Drohan West Waterford AC 1.27.26
- Anita Byrne Kilkenny City Harriers AC 1.35.26
Over 50
- Kate Murphy Crusaders AC 1.44.16
- Louise Murphy IND 1.44.58
Over 55
- Catherine Ronan United Striders AC 1.51.28
- Aine Keating Ind 1.51.44
Over 60
- Helen Ryan Ind 1.50.17
- Bernadette Mitchell Ind 1.58.41
Over 65
- Geraldine O’Sullivan Bantry AC 1.49.18
- Philomena Carroll Waterford Greenway Joggers AC IND 2.20.05
JNR Saoirse Bolton-Dowling Ind 2.31.25
Teams
West Waterford AC Niamh O’Donovan,Linda Foley and Elaine Langley 45 pts
United Striders AC Aisling Moran, Sandra Young and Liz Conway 100 pts
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford Athletic Club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of The death has occurred of Thomas O’Dowd Killiney, Dublin / Beaumont, Dublin who passed to his eternal reward last week, may he rest in peace.
GARY CANTWELL 9TH IN DINGLE MARATHON.
The club had one representative at last Sundays Dingle marathon when Gary Cantwell put in a good shift to run a time of 3.07.01 in very warm conditions, this time gave Gary 9th overall with 670 athletes completing the course, well done Gary.
