ANGELA TOBIN WINS 3 MEDALS AT WORLD MASTERS MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
JOE AND SEAN HAVE STERLING PERFORMANCES.
94 Irish masters’ athletes travel to Italy recently for the 24th World Masters Mountain Running Championships (WMMRC) in Meduno, Italy, from 28 – 31 August 2025.West Waterford AC had 3 athletes among the traveling party Angela Tobin, Sean Foley and Joe Gough and all performed superbly well. The event was held over 3 distances over 3 days and the Irish team saw 72 competing in the Uphill Race, 32 in the Long Distance and 82 in the Classic. Friday’s Uphill 5k had 800m of climbing .Saturday Long Distance 32k 1705m up and down and Sunday Classic 14.1k 735m up and down also. For a small nation, Ireland consistently punches above its weight on the world scene, driven by resilience, camaraderie, and a love of the sport that runs deep through our hills, bogs, and back roads. The first event over the weekend was on the Friday when the Meduno Challenge took place and to say it wasn’t an easy Sunday run would be an understatement as the championships are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Friulian Dolomites, a region famous for paragliding, mountain trails, and steep, punishing climbs. The race was an uphill Race 5 km with 800 m of relentless climbing to Monte Valinis. Angela Tobin got her weekend off to a flier when a member of the Ladies over 35 Irish team who took the gold team medals with Angela finishing 4th overall along with Sinead-Marie McAllister Antrim (5th place) and Katie Mullen Clonmel AC (7th place).Sean Foley was also in action on Friday when he finished 19th in the over 60 category. Next day Saturday it was the turn of the long distance over 34K, a real tough race this one considering the distance alone to be covered. This race was over 1,700 m of ascent and descent – a true test of endurance .Again in the over 35 category Angela had a top 10 finish when coming home 7th overall and once again on the Irish over 35 team who took gold medal’s along with Esther Dickson Newry AC one place ahead of Angela in 6th and Katie Mullen Clonmel AC 13th.The final event of the championships was held on Sunday when the Classic event over 14.1 km through forest, trail, and hard-packed track, with 735 m ascent/730 m descent this time round. Angela Tobin once again put in a sterling performance to finish 7th in the over 35 category after taking a tumble 2km from the finish which required a bit of stitching to her knee after the event and she lead home the Irish silver medal winning team which again included Sinead-Marie McAllister from Antrim in 9th place and Katie Mullen Clonmel AC 12th.Joe Gough was in action here Sunday also and he finished creditable 6th in the over 70 category just outside the team medals when Ireland were 4th behind Italy, Austria and Spain. Sean Foley in the over 60 category was 15th man home with the Irish team outside medal positions here. Very well done to all 3 athletes on representing their club and country over the weekend on the Italian hills.
31ST ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE.
The winter evenings are quickly cutting in on us and with the summer road racing scene now behind us and our very successful half marathon completed recently it’s that time of year when our thoughts start turning towards the club’s annual winter league event and this coming winter league see’s it entering its 31st year. The club committee have been working away behind the scenes in organising this year’s event and are delighted to say that Forde’s Daybreak on the Youghal Road have committed once again to sponsoring this great event for the coming league term. Registration night this year will be on Wednesday October 29th The following week the league will begin officially on November 05th. We will provide more information in the coming weeks but for now all you need do is pencil the date into your diary.
GARY 7TH IN DINGLE MARATHON.
Club member Gary Cantwell ran the Dingle marathon today Saturday which was held in showery and blustery conditions. Gary had a great run to finish 7th overall with a time of 2.55.08 which was another sub 3 for the Rathgormack native. Also in action in Dingle was Mick Concannon and Mick completed the course in 3.53 to notch up another on his growing list. Well done Gary and Mick .
EVAN RETAINS GOWRAN CROWN.
Club member Evan Fitzgerald was one of 79 who were in action Friday evening last at the Gowran Co.Kilkenny 4 mile road race. Evan won this race in 2024 and was back to retain his crown and this he did with some style clocking a time of 19.06, Evan’s winning time of last year was 19.48 so a nice win with an improved time Friday evening. The Ladies winner was Adele Walsh St.Senan’s AC in 24.17. Well done Evan.
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE IN SWITZERLAND .!!
Three West Waterford AC athletes today ran the scenic Jungfrau-Marathon in Switzerland. The event is a mountain marathon with over 1800m of climbing. Paul Kennedy was first club athlete home in a time of 4.24 for 259th place. The husband and wife team of Ann and David Moore both ran together finishing in a time of 5.20.All three ran this race last year 2024 , and all three improved their times this year, so very well done.
WEST WATERFORD AT GREAT NORTH RUN.
The Great North half marathon holds a great tradition for our club as we are represented at the event for many many years. This year was no different as 3 of our members made the trip to New castle for the event which had 60.000 participants. Runners began in Newcastle, racing through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.Overall winner was Alex Mutiso (Kenya) –in a time of 1.00.52 and first Lady was S. Chepkirui (Kenya) 1.09.32.Our first runner’s home this year was Deirdre Daly and running partner Susan O’Mahoney who both ran and crossed the finish line together in a time of 2.20.03 and shortly after the two Ladies came Michael Coakley with a time of 2.30.27.Very well done to all Susan,Deirdre and Michael.
BE SAFE BE SEEN
It’s that time of the year again when we must remind all those out running on the road to wear a reflective bib, also most important is to wear bright coloured clothing, remember you can see that car but can th e driver of that car see you it’s a simple motto, be safe be seen.
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON IS HERE.
The cross country season is about to kick off and it is again a very busy time of year for our club. The county championship season starts off with the Novice men’s and women’s due to be held in Tramore on Sunday September 28th, here we hope to have a full Ladies and Men’s squads competing. This is not a pre-registered event so you pay on the day 5 euro. The annual St Senans open cross country will be held on Sunday 21st September if anyone fancies a run out before the counties.
Some of the dates for the cross country season.
Sunday Sept 21st St Senan’s Open Cross Country Kilmacow seniors
Sunday Sept 28th County Championships Novice Tramore
Sunday Oct 5th County Championships Senior Friary College
Sunday Oct 12th Munster Novice Clare Venue
Sunday Oct 19th Autumn Open – Dublin
Sunday Nov 2nd Munster senior Cross Country Tipperary Venue
Sunday Nov 16th Munster Intermediate Cork Venue
Sunday 23rd Nov All Ireland senior
Sunday 30th Nov Munster Masters
Sunday 7th Dec National Novice Cross Country Abbotstown
