THE 9th ANNUAL AHS TUNING IRELAND BALLINROAD 5K .
One couldn’t ask for a better start both weather wise and numbers taking part than last Friday evening as the clubs summer road racing programme for 2024 got under way with the staging of 9th annual AHS TUNING IRELAND sponsored Ballinroad 5k.The village community came out in force as there was a great number came along for the walk which was held in association with the 5k race itself, and as mention already the weather played a big part in the nights success which helped bringing out big numbers to Ballinroad. As has been the case for the past 9 years the club are delighted to be involved in this event with proceeds going towards the local Ballinroad AFC who do so much for the growing community in the Ballinroad area,as they have become one of the largest junior clubs in the county now catering for a big number of teams for boys and girls as well as senior club teams also. Both clubs put in a great amount of work pre-race for the event and this paid dividends as a record entry of 272 runners and a large group of walkers took part .In our club we try to have different prize structures in place for many of our races and for the Ballinroad event we saw prizes awarded to the top 5 men and women and then we presented lots of spots to everyone else in the race which see’s many receiving a prize that might not ordinarily get among the prize winners.Many thanks to the huge turnout last Friday night as its encouraging for us to see that the athletes are supporting our efforts as we always try to give good value races which cater for all levels, a well marshalled safe course, results and photos posted ASAP. Our sincere thanks to all who helped with the race especially our race sponsor John Coleman of AHS tuning Ireland for supporting our club event. The Coleman family have been steeped in our club for many years indeed all members of the family were and are involved one way or another with the club and thanks to David of DC Images who looked after taking the photos for the event Friday evening, the Colemans are always on hand to help the club out whichever way they can when called upon. Special thanks to Conor who came along and presented the winners with their prizes as well.To all our stewards who once again did a terrific job on the night, To Conor, Jamie and crew on traffic management duty another splendid job, to our registrars and timing personnel, finishing area team another flawless effort. To Liam O Donnell on van duty along with our chairman Tom and Jim and his team for looking after the beautiful spot prizes on the night. Thanks to the Beresford family crooked bridge for their help with the event. To Ann Dunford our club secretary who looked after the series and race entries and to all at Ballinroad soccer club a big thanks and well done to you on your efforts, keep up the great work the club is doing for the Ballinroad community.Finally a special mention to those runners many from our clubs Lets run group who were completing their first 5k Friday evening keep up the good work we hope to see you throughout the Summer running more of the clubs summer races.Next race in the summer programme is The 27th Annual Round Tower Hotel Ardmore 5 mile on Friday May 24th at 7.30 pm.
ON THE DOUBLE FOR BLACKWELL’S AT RECORD BALLINROAD ENTRY.
A unique outcome to last Friday evening’s Ballinroad 5k was the fact that for the first time going back many years indeed back to the height of the Harty family Philip and William doing the same feat , two brothers have won the same race as in 2017 Niall Blackwell took the honours at the Ballinroad 5k and last Friday evening his younger brother Mark was top of the podium, in a faster time than his brothers winning time I might add. Mark a young man studying at UL deserves great credit as he stuck to his chosen sport through thick and thin like all sports people you have good days and many bad days but when it might have been easier to pack it all in the gusty Mark kept his nose to the wheel and has now deservedly achieved a long overdue race victory. He was always in contention from the get-go on Friday night and broke away from a group of 3 with 2 kms to go, coming home a clear winner in a time of 16.05 ahead of a West Waterford 123 with last week’s Hamburg marathon hero Aidan Connell taking 2nd place in 16.13 and the ever green Raivis Zakis 3rd in 16.15, so a great night for the club filling the top 3 positions here. Craig O’Brien Ferrybank AC 16.28 was 4th and the same position he finished in last year’s race and West Waterford AC’s Conor Hennebry put ina great run on the night for 5th place with a time of 16.34.Well done to all who ran with many super performances and pbs recorded on this fast flat course.
MENS RESULTS.
1 BLACKWELL, Mark West Waterford A.C. 16:05
2 CONNELL, Aidan West Waterford A.C. 16:13
3 ZAKIS, Raivis West Waterford A.C. 16:15
4 O’BRIEN, Craig Ferrybank A.C. 16:28
5 HENNEBRY, Conor West Waterford A.C. 16:34
SARAH MULCAHY WINS LADIES RACE.
A welcomed visitor to Ballinroad last Friday evening was our race winner Sarah Mulcahy from up the road in St Catherine’s AC a club who are currently producing some fine athletes both at senior and especially juvenile level with great work going on in and around the Conna area of East Cork they are going from strengths to strength, well Sarah has sprung onto the road running scene in recent times and was their female club athlete of the year in 2022.She ran a superbly time race Friday night to take the honours with a time of 18.42 which was 14 seconds ahead of another Cork Lady running with Togher AC Bernedetta Balostro who took 2nd place in 18.56 with Carrick On Suir AC athlete Grainne Brennan finishing 3rd in 19.12,there was a great local club battle for 4th place between Angela Tobin and her club mate Grainne Moore with Angela just dipping on the line to take 4th in 19.21 and Grainne 5th in 19.22 .Well done to all our female competitors in Ballinroad we hope to see you throughout the summer running more of the clubs summer races.
YOU CAN STILL ENTER THE SUMMER RACE PROGRAMME AND RECEIVE THE CLUBS 30TH YEAR CELEBRATION SINGLET.
WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB SUMMER RACE PROGRAMME.
CELEBRATING OUR 30TH YEAR OF SUMMER RACING.
We are delighted to announce our Summer Schedule of races 2024 starting in Ballinroad with our very popular 5k race on May 10th and finishing in Ballinameela on the 19th July in another very popular 5k route .As it is our 30th year we are celebrating in style where all participants can take home our very nice running singlet specially designed denoting our 30th year, A once off very nice piece of running apparel which will become a collector’s item in years to come. This is a unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! So get your entries in quickly and be ready for a super summer of racing once more. We are all looking forward to getting our summer programme underway and we hope to see all the old familiar faces and many new ones in the coming months. You can now enter all 6 races 60 Euro which is brilliant value or you can enter 5 of the races individually for 10 euro per race online. Individual race entries will open two weeks before each race. If you come along on the night of any race it will be 15 euro so get your online entry in is the answer here. The Dromana 5 mile this year is celebrating its 30th edition, so thanks to our sponsors of 30 years Dungarvan Leader we will be distributing a very nice Nike yes Nike running Tee Shirt to all participant’s who complete the run on the night. The fee for this race will be covered if you have enter all the series for 60 euro and if not it will be 15 online entry and 20 euro on race night.
Eurofins Greenway Half Marathon will have a separate entry nearer the date.
- 10-May Friday Ballinroad 5k
- 24-May Friday Ardmore 5ml
- 07-Jun Friday Dromana 5ml
- 28-Jun Friday Ballymac 5ml
- 05-Jul Friday Deise College 10k
- 19-Jul Friday Ballinameela 5k
ONLINE ENTRIES HERE.
https://eventmaster.ie/event/dWGLSnGSwV
27th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER ARDMORE 5 .
After a terrific race last Friday evening at race 1 in the clubs summer race programme the Ballinroad 5k our focus now will turn to race 2 the 27th Annual Round Tower Ardmore 5 mile. Once again this year we are delighted that Aidan Quirke of Round Tower Hotel has agreed to sponsor the event as he did last year for the first time. Our sponsor Aidan and his team lead up a family run business Round Tower Hotel lwhich is located in the beautiful village of Ardmore. Round Tower Hotel is a Fáilte Ireland approved 3 star hotel. The hotel offers guests and visitors the opportunity to enjoy their break in one of Ireland’s oldest Christian settlement villages.The race will be held on Friday May 24th at 7.30 pm.The Ardmore 5 is one of those races which we love heading to with ease of mind because as has been the case for 26 years we know that Michael Hennessey, Richie Stilwell and all the team in Ardmore will have all pre-race work in place making the trip to the beautiful part of our county once again to meet many of our old friends a pleasure. The course will remain the same as previous years with the 2 lap circuit. Registration and changing will be at the Ardmore GAA club pavilion ( by kind permission ) and we sincerely thank Ardmore GAA for the use of their fine facility as they have done now for many years. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female athletes and after that prizes will be awarded to the following age race categories.Men-Junior,40,50,60 Women-Junior,35,40,50.Entry to this race is only 10 Euro if you enter online, at Eventmaster.ie and our course if you leave it until the night of the race to enter the fee will be 15 Euro,so get your online entries in ASAP.See ye at the round tower guys.!!
ENTER 27th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5 ONLINE NOW.
Online entry for the 27th Annual Round Tower Hotel sponsored Ardmore 5 is now open on Eventmaster.ie and the Cost is only €10.00. Numbers can be collected on the evening of race. It is of great help to us the race organisers if you can please enter online and it will save you time queuing on the night. If you come to entry on the night it will cost you 15 euro, so get your online entry in today.
https://eventmaster.ie/event/e0qrirKF8x
FINAL ROUND OF THE MASON MORTGAGES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COLLIGAN LEAGUE.
The final round of the Mason mortgages and financial services Colligan league took place last Wednesday evening and another great turnout of runners took part on another ideal night for running in this gem of a local facility. It was flat to the boards last week as many were vying for the various league honours as many divisions were quite close right up until the final round of the league. We will carry a full end of league report in next week’s notes.
BIG MARATHON PERFORMANCE BY AIDAN IN HAMBURG.
Very well done to club member Aidan Connell on a brilliant 2.43.57 at the recent Hamburg marathon.
LUCY 3rd AT MILERS CLUB 800.
An Irish milers club meet was held last Friday evening at the Mary Peter track in Belfast and club member Lucy Holmes was in action over 800 meters.Lucy from the field of 8 finished 3rd in a time of 2.07.24 behind winner Clare Mooney Crusaders AC 2.6.38 and runner up Hannah Cameron Aberdeen AC 2.6.89.Great run Lucy well done.
SUCCESSFUL DAY 2 FOR WEST WATERFORD AC ATHLETES AT COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Day 2 of the county track and field championships were held last Sunday morning at the RSC track Waterford with a full juvenile junior youth and senior programme of events. Elaine Langley took gold in the senior ladies 3.000 meter ‘s and Yev Chizhikov also took gold in the senior men’s 800 meters. In the Junior girls 3k race walk Doireen Hickey took gold. One of our clubs newest members Pat Kennedy had double silver in the senior Hammer with a distance of 24.33m and also the Shot Put where he threw a distance of 8.06m .In the Junior Discus competition Saoirse Quinn took gold in a close competition with a throw of 26.94 just edging out Avril Buckley Finnisk Valley AC who threw a distance of 26.35The youths and juvenile results will be covered in our juvenile notes. Well done to all who competed at day 2 of the country track and field championships
CLONMEL 10K.
The annual KPM Power fitness equipment sponsored Clonmel 10 k was held last Saturday evening and a field of 153 competed on the day. Overall race winner was Sergiu Cobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC in a time of 32.34 and the ladies winner was Kealy Tideswell in 36.12 finishing 8th in the race overall.West Waterford AC were represented at the race also when Michael Dunford was our first runner home in a time of 42.44 with Mick Concannon next in 45.04,he was followed by club chairman Tom Leahy 467.34 and next was Onra Power 55.27 Patricja Daly clocked a time of 57.59, well done to all our members who travelled to Clonmel for the event.
