Success for local athletes at Munster Schools Championships
The Munster Schools Cross Country Championships were held in ideal conditions at Tramore Racecourse last Thursday. West Waterford athletes had plenty to cheer about, as they helped the Friary to a win in the minor boys event and Ard Scoil na nDeise in the intermediate girls. Robbie Mulligan 5th was the leading athlete in the friary minor team, which also included West Waterford’s Cian Dwyer and Darach O’Casathaigh. Edel Roche led the Ardscoil team when finishing 15th and she was closely followed by Rebecca Maher, Nicola Coffey, Claire Collins and Kate Kennedy. Thhis is the same team that finished third in last years championships The Ard Scoil na nDeise team has now qualified for the All Ireland Schools Championships in Belfast in early March. Kate Veale competing with the Friary ran a strong race to finish 4th in the Intermediate girls race and book her place for the All Ireland as did the CBS senior team of Declan Power, Jim Curran, Tom Curran and Gavin Whelan when they finished third in the senior boys event. Declan Power was the lead athlete in the team finishing in 5th place.
All Ireland Awards for Kate Veale and Thomas Houlihan
The AAI National awards dinner will be held in Arklow on March 21st. Two athletes from West Waterford will be honoured at this event. Kate Veale will be awarded the Roisin O’Callaghan award for her walking achievements during the year which included a record breaking performance at the British AAA championships. Roisin was herself a talented athlete who tragically lost her life in a road traffic accident. Thomas Houlihan will be presented with the Robin Sykes Achievement award for his exploits in the pole vault event in which he broke a thirty-year-old record at the national championships in Belfast last year.
Credit Union Awards
The final of the Credit Union Awards has been set for Friday April 3rd in Waterford. West Waterford will have four monthly winners in the final, Elma Nugent (March), Lisa, Thomas and Laurence Houlihan (May), Kate Veale (August) and Sinead Flynn (December). Just in case you were thinking of planning a weekend away or even your summer holidays below find a list of championship fixtures.
Fixtures 2009
3rd March – Munster Schools Indoors – Nenagh – 11am
7th March – Irish Schools CC – UU Jordanstown – 12 noon
14th March – Regional Squad Session Limerick
28th March – Schools International Cross Country Bangor Wales
22nd April – Waterford Secondary Schools T&F- RSC –12.30
26th April – Waterford County T&F Club Championships RSC
29th April – East Munster Girls T&F – RSC – 12 noon
30th April – Primary School Sports Big Schools Friary 6.00pm
6th May – East Munster Boys T&F – RSC – 11.30am
7th May – Primary School Sports Small Schools Friary 6.00pm
10th May – Waterford County T&F Club Championships
14th May – Western Final Primary School Sports Friary 6.00pm
16th May – Munster Schools T&F – UL – 9.30am
28th May – County Final Primary School Sports Friary 6.00pm
30th May – Irish Schools T&F – Tullamore – 9am
6th/7th June Munster Club T&F under 9/13
20th/21st June – Munster Club T&F 14/19
27th June – Tailteann Interpro T&F – Tullamore – 11.30am
11th/12th July – National Club Championships 13/19 Tullamore
18th July – Schools International T&F Belfast
19th July – National Club Championships 13/18 Tullamore
26th July – National B Championships Tullamore
1st August – Celtic International
16th September – Munster Schools Multi-Events – venue/time tbc
26th September – Irish Schools Multi-Events – venue/time tbc
