ARE YOU READY FOR THE 31st ANNUAL FORDE’S DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE .
The clubs winter league which now enters its 31st year will begin in November. This year the number collection night will take place on the Wednesday October 29th where you can register for this year’s league and we can answer any questions you may have and we will also explain the rules and regulations of the league as well as the two courses of the league .The first official night of the league will be the following week November 05th. For all those that won’t be able to make it to the sports centre on the first night of number collection, you may get your number on the following night. In fact, it’s possible to join the winter league at any stage throughout the course of the league. Winter league payment is a once off payment, with club members paying 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. This amount will cover you for the full duration of the league.
WINTER LEAGUE MISSION.
Our mission is to introduce as many people as possible to running/jogging. We don’t care and it don’t matter how fast or how slow you are we just want you to come along and enjoy the league and see the benefits of running for yourself.
FORDES DAYBREAK WINTER LEAGUE POINTERS.
The Fordes Daybreak Winter League will once again take place from the Sports Centre, Quanns Dungarvan for 11 Wednesday nights commencing on Wed 05th November. We will continue for 7 nights before Christmas bringing us up to Wednesday 17th December.
After Christmas we will return on Wednesday the 7th January and continue for 4 nights with our final night on the 28th January.
Number pick up will take place at the Sports Centre Dungarvan on Wednesday 29th October at 6.30pm or on first night of the league from 6.15pm.
We hope you will join us again for this annual event and if you haven’t been with us before we guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s an 11 week challenge that can maintain your fitness over the winter and start 2026 on a high note.
As usual 2 options to choose from. The first is the “long” route which is 5.2 miles while the second choice is the “short” route and the distance here is approx 2.3 miles. Both routes start and finish at the Sports Centre, Quanns.
No High Vis, No Run. We will not allow any runner take part who doesn’t wear a high vis. No exceptions. It has to be a high vis not a luminous t-shirt.
No watches allowed or No Headphones. This is a very strict rule of this event. We will publish your time asap after the run. Your aim each week will be to run the time you ran the week before or if possible a little faster.
Stewards must be obeyed at all times. Your participation in this event is an indicator of your compliance with this rule.
Rules of the road apply. You must run on the footpath at all times when available and only cross the road at designated points where stewards will direct you.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE LEAGUE INDICATES THAT YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE ABOVE RULES.
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 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
SUCCESS FOR WEST WATERFORD ATHLETES AT GLEN OF AHERLOW TRAIL RACE
The Glen of Aherlow Trail Half-Marathon 21.1km trail race in County Tipperary was held last Saturday, the event is organized by IMRA. The course features a mix of hiking trails, forest roads, and quiet country roads. The club had 4 athletes taking part with excellent performances recorded. Angela Tobin fresh from her world mountain running team medal winning exploits recently in Italy was once again on the podium here in Tipperary today when she won the Female race in a time of 1.54.20 and Freida Nic Craith also complete and finished with a time of 2.25.07.There was success also for our Male athletes when Aidan Connell had a fine run to take the runners up spot and he was closely followed home by another club member Daryl Kearns in 3rd position. James Coade had a fine run also crossing the line in 1.52.51 and Padraig Kennedy also ran and clocked an impressive time of 2.06.41.Well done to all.
THE 2 JOHNNIES 8K.
The 2 Johnnies South Tipp Womens 8K was held in Cahir last Saturday and a large field of 404 runners competed. The overall race winner was Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC in a time of 28.10.West Waterford AC had a group of 7 athletes who ran with Grainne Moore leading them home in a 36.45.Well done to all.
Grainne Moore 36.45
Sandra Moore 37.32
Patrycja Daly 45.02
Sharon Higgins 46.06
Susan O’Mahoney 47.26
Edel Curry 52.32
Deirdre Dally 57.46
TOMAS DE FAOITE COMPLETES THE TOR DES GÉANTS 2025.
The Tor des Géants is widely regarded as one of the toughest ultra-marathons in the world — a 330km single-loop race around Italy’s Aosta Valley, with a staggering 28,000m of climbing. Runners cross high passes, glaciers, and remote Alpine villages, all while battling sleep deprivation and the elements.It starts in Courmayeur, Italy and then travels down the mountainous west side of the Aosta Valley, crosses the valley at Donnas, then returns via the equally rugged eastern side. Runners will take trails at the foot of some of the highest 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps and travel through Gran Paradiso National Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park. Over the past days club member Tomas de Faoite took on the challenge — and of course never in doubt he finished!!Tomas started the race on Sunday 14th and finished it on Saturday morning 27th , yes you read that correct 7 days running over some of the toughest terrain imaginable. “I’m so proud (and relieved!) to have finished what I believe is the toughest race out there, and so he should crossing the finish line in 142 hours 42 minutes and 51 seconds.Tomas himself described it as “the best week of my life — a rollercoaster of highs and lows.” Along the way came unforgettable moments: running with friends, “outrunning hotel polar bears” in Champulac, dodging sheep “the size of cars,” and even discovering the art of awake snoring, considering runners spend most of the time heavily sleep deprived!The scale of the event is extraordinary: 3,000 volunteers kept the race moving, with supplies that included oranges flown in by helicopter to remote aid stations.Congratulations, Tomas — an epic achievement and an inspiration to the whole club!
GARY CANTWELL BREAKS THE 3 HOURS IN BERLIN.
Club member Gary Cantwell was among the 40.000 runners of last Sundays Berlin Marathon , it was another good day for Gary who cut it close but did break the 3 hour barrier when crossing the finish line in a time of 2.59.38, what also makes this achievement better is that fact that he also broke the 3 hour mark only 2 weeks ago when running the Limerick marathon.
Well done Gary.
COUNTY NOVICE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS SUNDAY.
The county cross country season kicks off this coming Sunday September 28th with the county championship day 1 for even ages and Novice men and women at Tramore race course with an 11 am start for juveniles and 12 noon for the Novice. The club will have a full Ladies and Men’s squads competing. This is not a pre-registered event so you pay on the day 5 euro. Please be at the venue in plenty of time.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Pearl Hallissey Rockenham,Ferrybank, Waterford who passed to her eternal reward ,may she rest in peace.
