27th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5.
The 27th Annual Round Tower Hotel sponsored Ardmore 5 mile road race was held last Friday evening which was race number 2 of the clubs summer programme of road races.The weather was super for the race with little or no wind and plenty sunshine which was ideal for the nights racing.A big field of 226 (172 last year) ran and finished on the night which was the largest turnout in many years at this race.A great amount of work is being put-in at committee level and this is paying dividends with the first two races in the summer program seeing huge numbers participating.Our sincere thanks to our sponsor Aidan Quirke of Ardmore Round tower Hotel in Ardmore who sponsored the race and he and his staff ensured that all the runners were well cared for with plenty of food and refreshments afterwards.Once again in Ardmore Michael Hennessey and Richie Stilwell and there big team of stewards and helpers had everything working like clockwork on the night. Ardmore always sets a very high standard of race organisation each and every year and all at our club are very thankful to the Ardmore race organisers for their efforts.The GAA club in Ardmore have also been great supporters of this race over many years and have always put their facilities at our disposal for the race each year, we thank all at Ardmore GAA club for this.Our thanks to Tony, Mary,Sean,Eamon and Liam Ryan who came to the race and presented the first man home with the Veronica Ryan cup.Likewise our thanks to Patricia Ann Quirke who presented the Noel Faherty cup to the winning lady on behalf of the sponsor and the Faherty Family.Special thanks to our entire club crew for another flawless effort on the night, as usual they were as efficient as ever with the entries and the finishing times and results, we even had Liam Crowe back for a stint at the finish line.Thanks to Ann for looking after the Prizes as usual.Many thanks to Michael and Richie and all our great helpers who ever year come along and look after the safety of the runners on the road.Thanks also to Conor and Jamie for their help and work on the night and to Liam and special guest Barry Drake on PA many thanks Barry. Thank you to Dave Coleman DC images who stepped in at short notice once again to give us a dig out with the photos,thanks Dave.All in all another’s great evening of road racing brought to you by West Waterford athletic club.See you all in Dromana on Friday 7th June.
THREE IN A ROW FOR SERGUI CIOBANU AS HE CLAIMS THE VERONICA RYAN CUP.
The 2024 winner of the 27th Annual Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 last Friday evening was Sergui Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC.Sergui was indeed claiming his 3rd title in a row at the Ardmore 5 , when he ran a time of 25.06 last Friday evening he was slightly slower than last years winning time but none the less equally convincing when he crossed the finish line 12 seconds ahead of the field to lift the coveted Veronica Ryan cup.Sergui went from the gun running a very fast first mile in well under 5 minutes and even at this early stage of the race was unlikely to be caught despite the great effort of the chasers behind.Mark Walsh Leevale AC running Ardmore for the first time likewise was well clear when taking the runners up spot recording a time of 25.18 . Last years runner up 2023 in this race had to settle for 3rd place this year when Waterford AC athlete Pat Fitzgerald crossed the finish line in 25.59, for the record last year Pat Ran a time of 26.02 so holding his own very well.The first over 40 was Aidan Connell West Waterford AC 26.39, Aidan is in flying form currently. First over 45 was Keith Kelly Youghal AC in 27.26 and the winner of the over 50 category for the second year in a row was Seamus Mc Sweeney Grange Fermoy AC in 28.12, Martin Tobin West Waterford AC took the over 60 category in 35.10 he also won this category in a race in Kilkenny last weekend and our Junior Man was Cody Coughlan IND 32.36 . Well done to all who came along to support the club and this race.
Men’s Prize Winners
1 Sergio Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC 25:06
2 Mark Walsh Leevale AC 25.18
3 Pat Fitzgerald Waterford A.C. 25.59
Over 40 Aidan Connell West Waterford AC 26.39
Over 45 Keith Kelly Youghal AC 27.26
Over 50 Seamus Mc Sweeney Grange Fermoy AC 28.12
Over 60 Martin Tobin West Waterford AC 35.10
Junior Cody Coughlan IND 32.36
SUPER WINNING TIME BY KEALY TIDESWELL TO WIN THE NOEL FAHERTY CUP.
The Ladies race last Friday evening was won by Clonmel AC’s Kealy Tideswell
in a time of 28.34, the fastest time recorded ever on this course for a lady.Kealy finished 15 th overall from the field of 226 runners She is in superb form this year and is literally unbeaten on the roads around the south of the country presently.Second spot last Friday evening went to Sarah Mulcahy St.Catherine’s AC running her first Ardmore 5 Sarah’ s time of 31.37 on another day could very well have given her victory but our winners time this year was exceptional.Third place was claimed by Emma Leahy IND in a time of 32.17,very decent running once again by Emma.First Lady over 35 went to Angela Tobin West Waterford AC in 32.44,one of the best if not the best times recorded by Angela over the 5 mile distance,with the over 40 category going to Elaine Horgan Clonmel AC in 33.12.We also included an over 45 category this year and this was claimed by Eveleen Drohan West Waterford AC in a really superb time of 32.53 and our winner over 50 was Diane Behan Waterford AC 33.50 again just like our previous category winners the times were of the highest standard this year.Grainne Moore West Waterford A.C. just as did last year in Ardmore claimed the Junior Prize with a time of 32.42 and its worth nothing her winning time last year was 35:12 so huge improvement here.Well done to all our prize winners and to all who supported the race.
Women’s Prize Winners
1 Kealy Tideswell Clonmel AC 28.34
2 Sarah Mulcahy St.Catherine’s AC 31.37
3 Emma Leahy IND 32.17
Category Winner
Over 35 Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C 32.44
Over 40 Elaine Horgan Clonmel AC 33.12
Over 45 Eveleen DROHAN West Waterford AC 32.53
Over 50 Diane Behan Waterford AC 33.50
Junior Grainne Moore West Waterford A.C.32.42
30th ANNUAL DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN “THE FOOTSTEPS OF A CHAMPION”.
Now in its 30th year this very popular race will once again be held over the same course along the fabulous Dromana Drive from Villerstown to Cappoquin as it has for the past 30 years. This course was made famous well before us using it as the route that one John Treacy used on his daily training runs to and from his school St Ann’s Cappoquin. To celebrate our 30th year along with our sponsors Dungarvan Leader we are offering each finisher a once of celebratory Nike Dry fit Tee Shirt. We have been so lucky over the past 30 years to have a super sponsor of the race in the Dungarvan Leader newspaper who will continue their sponsorship again this year, our sincere thanks to Billy John and all at Dungarvan Leader for their on-going involvement with our club and this race. The race takes place on Friday June 7th at 7.30 PM. The winning athlete receives the Michael C. Nagle Memorial Trophy and again our thanks to Colm and the Nagle family for their continued support of this race. Our local race organisers of this event have been Trevor and the Mason family Cappoquin and some years ago they presented a beautiful perpetual cup which is presented to the first Lady home each year. This year’s race will be a poignant one for the Mason family after the untimely passing of Ger and Eily in the last few months, however we know and the family know that both would have wanted the show to go on and this we will do in their memory. Entries will be online, please see Facebook page for entry link or click into race master for your online entry. This is a great course and a great race. Entry fee 15 Euro registration. Race entry on the night will be 20 euro.Race open to all over 16 years of age on race day.Prizes-1st 5 men and women and 1st two men’s and 1st two ladies team of 3 outside ind prize winners plus. Please note for team prizes at Dromana 5 that only current 2024 paid up members will be eligible to score on west Waterford AC club teams.
Get your entry in asap online at 15 euro eventmaster.ie
Course record:
Pauline Lambe 29.20 (2010)
John Treacy 23.49 (1999)
JOHN AND KATE IN RACE WALKING ACTION LAST WEEKEND .
In Borsky Mikulas Slovakia last Saturday Kate Veale walking the 20 km Finished 9th in her race in 1 hr 42 minutes 19 seconds and young Tiarnach Costin was second in his under 10 race over 1 km in 6.30 a p.b. one second behind the winner. Meanwhile John Laste was in action at the Munsters masters in Templemore finishing third in his heat and took gold in the Munster over 60 catagory and in what was very windy conditions clocked a time of 29.20. well done to all three.
MUNSTER TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP.
DOUBLE GOLD FOR LUCY AND GOLD FOR ELAINE
Day 2 of the Munster track and field championships were held last Sunday in Templemore Co. Tipperary and West Waterford athletes had a successful day adding to the medals won on Saturday. Having a double gold medal winning performance was Lucy Holmes who won the 1.500 Meters in a time of 4.33.16 and also Lucy ran the shorter distance than her usual race distance but none the less also took gold over 400 meters recording a time of 1.00.24.In the Masters 3.000 meters Elaine Langley finished 3rd in her heat and took gold over 35 in a time of 11.40.06 and finally Gary Cantwell was 8th in the senior men’s 1.500 meters with a time of 4.34.57,well done to all our members who ran the championship on both Saturday and Sunday.
EDINBURGH HALF AND MARATHON.
The Edinburgh half and full marathon was held last Sunday morning and there was a large traveling west waterford AC contingent and friends that made their way over for the event.The results have been difficult to get so below are what we have to date so any amendments please forward to 086 8184762.Very well done to all who completed both distances in what was unpleasant weather for this year’s race.
Marathon
Kim Daly 4.12
Mick Concannon 4.12
Tomas De Faoite 4.12
Joe O’Rourke 4.15
Stephen Curran 4.16
Mark Lenihan 4.20
Catherine Burke 5.17
John Woods 5.18
Half Marathon
Ray Hahesy 1.35.49
Andrea Gaffney 2.00.44
Michael Lenihan 1.46.57
Una Fennell 1.59.06
Eileen Heffernan 1.59.07
Seanie Lenihan 2.22.52
