GER WYLEY / NIKE SUMMER SERIES RACE NO.8.
GLAXOSMITHKLINE 5.
4.000 EURO PRESENTED TO NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND.
The 8th Annual Glaxosmithkline 5 mile road race saw the largest field ever assembled for a road race in the clubs Ger Wyley/Nike summer series. Last Friday evening 248 runners and 30 or so walkers completed the course in conditions which were ideal for the race, despite the rain which fell during the day by race start the evening sky’s had cleared and all was set for another great event with the walkers and runners making there way around the very fast and flat G.S.K.5 mile course, This superb turn out was also it must be said a attribute to our fantastic sponsors Glaxosmithkline and all those who put in Trojan work behind the scenes at the company in organising this charity event. All who ran and walked contributed to collecting a substantial 4.000 Euro for this years chosen charity The National Council for the blind and Brenda Dwyer of N.C.B.I.was on hand to accept the cheque on behalf of the recipients.
The race was an outstanding success from all view points, as already mentioned race organisers Glaxosmithkline had everything done to perfection with every aspect of the race organised in top class fashion and all concerned are to be congratulated on a really super event which was enjoyed by all. The standard in the race was of the highest, and the proof is in the reading of the results which says that 34 runners broke the 30 minute mark, proving without doubt that it really is arguable the fastest 5 mile course in the southern part of the country at least. It was also a night when many personal bests were recorded, some local performances of note included that of Kevin Kenneally, Liam Budds, Martin Hayes, Earl Navin, Triona Wall, Ann Dunford, Karen Ryan, Noel Drohan, Aine Kelly, Tracy Dwyer, Onra Power, Garry McCormack, Brendan Mooney. And there were many more fine performances. West Waterford athletic club had a huge turn out of members taking part when over 130 fully paid up club members participated in the race a remarkable achievement by any standards. We must also take the opportunity to thank and congratulate all who came along and walked the course; you helped in no small way to make the night the success that it was. The usual G.S.K.Goodie bag was awarded to all participants and the traditional quality T- Shirt was well accepted by all participants. Our thanks to cash and carry Dungarvan who supplied all runners with Water after the race. This was much appreciated by the organisers.
BRALITIS JUST OUTSIDE COURSE RECORD.
The race itself was won in a very fast time of 24.53 by Sandis Bralitis West Waterford AC.Sandis who has won all the Ger Wyley/Nike summer series events to date was in super form on the night and made his intentions well known that he was out to have a crack at the course record of 24.47,After a very fast opening mile of 4.39 the record attempt was still on at the half way mark when running on his own Sandis powered through in the half in 12.24.A slower mile from 3 to 4 saw him drop out of course record pace and he came home alone in 24.53 just 6 seconds outside the mark. There’s no doubt Sandis has the capability of breaking this record with maybe a slightly different race approach, but that’s now for next year now. A deserving win non-the less for the recently appointed Glaxosmithkline employee.
In second place was his team mate at West Waterford Raivis Zakis who incidentally was finishing in this position for the third year in succession, Raivis’s performance was somewhat overshadowed by the super run of the winner but he came very close to a major upset when finishing only 5 seconds behind Sandis.Raivis broke the 25 minute barrier for the first time in his career when he clocked a superb 24.58,after a titanic battle with Waterford’s Ed Burke who is living and training in Washington DC but currently back in Waterford on holidays. The two were locked together with 400 meters to go and it took a personal best performance from Raivis to clinch the runner up position. Burke was clocked at 25.04.Last year’s winner Dzintars Klava had to settle for fourth this year with a time of 26.04.Eoin O’Sullivan Tougher AC was fifth overall finishing with a time of 26.25.
Some interesting tussles took place for the Masters categories with the over 40-winner Noel Curtin Youghal AC running a solid 28.03.second here was Vhlera Turchn Clonmel AC 28.16 and third was Dick O’Gorman also Clonmel AC 28.46 (must be something in the bread up Tipp way). There was keen competition also in the over 45’s The winner here was Larry Kennedy Waterford AC 27.54 with West Waterford filling the second and third placings, Martin McCarthy 29.10 and Billy Maguire third 29.20.The winner of the over 50 category was Tom Cody Midleton AC who covered the 5 miles in a very fast 29.20.John Walshe East Cork took the over 55 section in a time of 35.47. The evergreen Pat Connaughton West Waterford AC is back in action after his recent injury and he duly won the over 60’s in a time of 39.48 the Junior prize went to Ferrybank’s Ferdia O’hAodha in 26.46 Gerry Forde Blarney was our sole wheelchair competitor.
CROTTY BREAKS THE MAGIC 30 TO CLAIM VICTORY.
It would certainly be an understatement to say that there’s no stopping West Waterford’s Sineád Crotty who ran her best time to date for the 5 mile distance last Friday evening clocking 29.54.One of Sineád’s targets this summer was to crack the 30 minute barrier for 5 and earlier in the year she targeted the G.S.K.course to give it a go. This she did in fine fashion last Friday evening. Clocking a steady 6-minute per mile strategy and an all out final mile, a tactic that paid off. After some fine recent wins in the series, Friday night last has to go down as her best performance ever on the roads, there are very few Ladies breaking the 30 minutes anywhere around the country presently, Sinead now joins that select club. Well done, yet another first for G.S.K.The second Lady is a household name in athletics circles, Lucy Brennen of Sligo who finished with a time of 30.18 with the Popular St.Senan’s athlete Adele Walsh third in 30.35.Adele also finished second here last year but was 20 seconds faster this year. Waterford’s Sylvia Malone was fourth in 33.39 West Waterford’s Norma Wall was fifth with a time of 34.04.
In the Masters categories for Ladies there was also some great battles for the prizes. The over 35 section saw Brea Cooke Waterford AC won in a time of 33.06 for the second year in a row, She will be delighted to have run 9 seconds faster than her winning time of last year. In the over 40’s West Waterford’s Ann Dunford another teak tough campaigner took the top spot in 33.58.This was a great run from Ann to break the 34 minutes. Josie Uí Chuirrin West Waterford was our winner over 45 in a time of 36.35.Josie can be very pleased with this performance. The over 50 winner was Margaret Power from the newly formed Carrick roadrunners who was clocked at 40.15. Our Ladies category for over 55’s went to Kathleen O’Brien East Cork AC in 39.12,and our final Ladies prize was won by West Waterford youngster Elma Nugent with a fine run 34.55 All in all as with the Men’s individual winners the Ladies times were of the highest order all round. An array of spot prizes was drawn among non-prize-winners.
MARTIN AND TRACEY FIRST GSK FINISHERS.
The race within the race for the first Glaxosmithkline finishers was keenly contested also with great performances all round, in the Men’s section Martin McCarthy finishing 21st overall in a time of 29.10.to win from Martin Murphy 33.12 who was second giving him 75th overall. These were followed home with some sterling performances from Dermot Ryan 33.32.Dermot also finished in this position last year when his time then was 33.56.Eoin O’Riordan was 4th 33.33 and Adrian Kirwan was 5th in 33.56. The GSK Female employees were out in force also Friday evening and were having their own battle, Tracy Dwyer headed them home with a fine run finishing with a time of 40.24,second finisher was Catriona O’Brien in 41.36.Catriona was third last year so she is going in the right direction. Well done to all at G.S.K.on some fine performances.
RACE ORGANISATION.
The organisers of the race Glaxosmithkline would like to thank all who supported the race both runners and walkers, Race committee member Dermot Dwyer on behalf of G.S.K. spoke and thanked all his fellow race committee members who were involved with the organisation of the race, he thanked the runners and walkers for the huge entry making it the most successful event to date, He also on behalf G.S.K. kindly topped up the monies collected to round off the figure to 4.000 Euro, The employees and management alike are to be congratulated for this gesture and they were delighted to hand over the substantial cheque to this years chosen charity The national Council for the blind. Once again the race committee at Glaxosmithkline can be proud of an event which was very well organisation and this reflected on the huge entry on the night, to all the stewards, time keepers, recorders, Dungarvan Crystal sports centre and Dungarvan united football club, all our own crew who had the entries and results out in jig time a big thank you, to Tony and Michael P.A. Special thanks to Conor Norris for his help insuring the road was safe for the runners and walkers on the night. To our overall sponsors of the series Ger Wyley sports and Nike thank you for your continued support of the local athletics scene.
Please note race number 9 in the series the Ballymacarbry 5 will take place on Monday August 6th at 7.30 PM.
GER WYLEY/NIKE SUMMER SERIES LEADER BOARD.
Dermot Dwyer has asked us this week to remind all runners that the Ger Wyley /Nike summer series leader’s board will be available for all to see at the Doocey’s Bar Ballymacarbry 5 mile race on Monday 6th August. There are some very close divisions yet to be decided on and many will go down to the wire at the final race in Ardmore. We have a great entry this year in the series once again with over 150 athletes taking part, remember its 6 from the 10 race programme to count and also note the same rules apply for the 25 Euro voucher. Best of luck to all for the final two races.
TQS RUNNING LEAGUE.
HUGH IS RIGHT ON CUE!!
Round two of the very popular TQS Running League took place in the grounds of the Friary College last Tuesday evening. We were fortunate that the weather held off on the night and the usual flurry of excitement and anticipation was present as each participant attempted to cross the finishing line in the exact time that they predicted.
Indeed it was fast and furious at the finishing line and for round two it was Hugh O’ Connor that managed to get his timing just right and with not a second to spare crossed the line in the exact time he predicted that he would. Out of a total of 71 runners on the night, Hugh was the only one to hit the target. There were 43 runners who ran faster than their predicted time. It’s not that often that you’re told that you ran too fast! Twenty-seven ran slower than their predicted time. For those of you who are unsure as to how this particular league works, it is the person that runs the closest to their predicted time that is the winner and not the fastest person. The winner each night gets 30 points for their efforts, the next person in after them gets 29 points and so on down the line. It will happen that on some nights you may not get any points as you could be too far from your predicted time. However, the very nature of this league means that some nights you may not get any points and other nights you may get maximum points. Your aim for the league is to get as many points as possible. For those of you that cross the finishing line before the clock reaches 0.00, you will also get points. The first person to cross the line just before the clock reaches 0.00 (you may be one or two seconds too fast) will get 20 points. The person to cross the line before this person gets 19 points and so on.
Pat Morrissey was very close for round two as well as round one. Something tells me that all eyes will be on Pat for round three as the runners come in to the final stretch in to the finishing line. No pressure Pat! Pat was only one second outside of his time and Brìd Veale was only two seconds slower than the time she predicted. Josie Uì Chuirrìn wasn’t too far out, only three seconds, Earl Navin just four seconds slower and Onra Power and Liam Moore were both just five seconds slower than their stated time. On the other side of the clock, Paul Brunnock was unlucky as he was just one second too fast. Brigid Coffey and Pearse Moloney were two seconds too fast. Nikki McKenna and George Tutty crossed the line four seconds too soon with Liamy Sandford and John Foley being five seconds too fast.
At the moment, Pat Morrissey is at the top of the league tables having been so close to his time on both weeks. Pat has accumulated 49 points so far out of a possible 60. Brìd Veale is in second position with 46 points and Ann Wall is third on 41 points. However, this could all change after next week and this is what makes this TQS Running League so enjoyable and interesting.
The League continues every Tuesday night for the months of July and August and all are very welcome. No previous running experience is required. If you have never run before, it doesn’t matter its all the more reason to come along. This league was designed with the newcomer in mind. You don’t have to run every night either, just come along on the nights that you can.
The entry fee is €2 each night and water is provided at the finish.
SPONSORS.
West Waterford Athletic Club would like to sincerely thank our sponsors, Tom and Maura Quilty for their very generous sponsorship and support of the TQS Running League. This is our third year in association with TQS and we are delighted to have them on board once again.
CARRICK ON SUIR ROAD RUNNERS.
OUTFIELD SPORTS/ASCIS SERIES.
AUTOPOWER RATHGORMACK 5 IN AID OF THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY
On Friday 20th July over 100 runners are expected to hit the roads around Rathgormack for the inaugural Auto Power Rathgormack 5 mile road race. It has been many years since a road race has taken place in ‘The Village’, however it is no stranger to athletics as it has played host to a number of Munster cross country meetings in recent years.
Runners and walkers can register from 6 p.m. on the night in the fantastic Rathgormack Hiking Centre where changing facilities and showers will also be available. Prizes will also be presented in the Hiking Centre and post race refreshments will be served here. Carrick-on-Suir AC is delighted to welcome Robbie Power of Auto Power, Clonmel Road, Carrick-on-Suir on board as the main sponsor of the event. Due to Auto Power’s generous sponsorship of the event the club is able to offer a good prize-list, which should attract some of the areas top runners. One of the interesting features of this race is a prize for the 1st ‘local’ male and female that are not affiliated to an athletics club so this is a call out to all Rathgormack people who think they have what it takes for the 5-mile distance!!
This event is not all about the top runners as walkers, joggers and fun-runners will all be catered for and participation is the name of the game as people strive to achieve their personal goal. The walk starts at 7 p.m. In the process the organisers hope that as many runners and walkers as possible will raise money for the Irish Cancer Society which is the chosen charity of this race and sponsorship cards are available from Johnny Brunnock at 086-8483210 or Maura Brunnock at 087-9911982. All money raised can be returned on the night as we hope to present it to the Irish Cancer Society soon after the event.
An extra dimension has been added to this race in that the Brunnock family together with Paul, Seán and Darragh O’Donoghue, Tullacrimin, Co. Kerry have donated a specially commissioned trophy which has been designed and hand crafted by local craftsman Eddie Fogarty at his ‘Broadleaf’ workshop. This unique perpetual trophy will be made entirely of yew and bog oak and will be presented to the overall winner of the race every year. The trophy will be called the ‘Joanne O’Donoghue Memorial Trophy’, in memory of Joanne O’Donoghue (nee Brunnock) daughter of John and Maura Brunnock, native of Rathgormack and a popular figure in the area. Joanne lost her battle with cancer in December 2001 and this trophy will serve as a fitting tribute to her life. Her husband Paul and two boys Seán and Darragh will be on hand on the night to present the trophy to the winner.
This race will be race number 2 in the Outfield Sports/Asics Summer Series. The winner of race 1 The Champion Kiely 5k, Ballyneale-sponsored by Clearpoint was West Waterford’s Ravis Zakis is leading the league overall but with this race along with The Carraig Hotel Deadman’s 5 (12th August) it is still all to play for. Entry on the night is €8 but if you are one of the lucky 42 runners who entered the league in Ballyneale then you just have to sign-on on the night, get your number and run!
See you in Rathgormack!
CLUB TRACK AND FIELD NEWS.
WEST WATERFORD AC IN STRONG POSITION AFTER ROUND ONE.
The full results from the E.S.B.National Track and Field championships became availabe during the past week and the news from a West Waterford point of view is very good indeed.In the Mens section we are currently in pole position in Division one with 126 points with City of Lisburn on 118 next and City of Derry on 116 third with St Abbans next 115.With fourteen clubs listed and eight to qualify after the second and final round for the finals we now need to consolidate our position in the next round at Cork I.T. on Sunday 29th next.All this said we need to keep our guard up as the eight club in the table presently is Tir Chonaill who have 109 points so not a huge amount between first and eight.Our Ladies are also in with a relistic chance of qualifing for the final ansd this would be a great achievement by the club if we could have our Ladies and Men’s team in Tullamore on final day Saturday August 11th.The leaders here are Borrisokane with 119 points from Tullamore 113 with Ballymena third 111.Our Ladies team are curently 12th with 90 points but here again very little between first and twelfth so all to play for.The success this year is in no small way due to the commitment of all athletes taking part and to Tony Ryan,Br Patrick Lennon and Michael Tutty who have been working away quitely behind the scene’s making sure we had our full complement of athletes particapating.Keep up the good work.
HOW FAST CAN YOU RUN A MILE.
FIND OUT AT ST.AUGUSTINES.
The club will hold a four week-one mile timed run over the next four weeks starting this coming Thursday evening July 19th at 7.30 PM.The mile in many athletes book is the ultimate track racing distance,but how many of us know how fast we can actually run a straight mile.Bet many of you can’t answer this question.Well this is your opportunity to find out what you can cover the majic mile distance as each of the four weeks will be timesd,individual times will be available each week at the event and to cater for all runners the event will be broken up into four runs each week.Sub 6 minutes,Sub 7 minutes,Sub 8 minutes and over 8 minutes.Keeping in tandem with the West Waterford policy, something for everyone.Come along and join in the fun the following are the dates for the mile league.Thursday July 19th-Friday July 27th –Thursday August 2nd and Thursday August 09th .Starting time each week will be 7.30 pm and an entry fee of 2 Euro each evening will apply.Remember all are caterd for and all are welcome.
DAVID MC CARTHY COMPETES IN EUROPEAN 1.500 METERS ON SUNDAY.
All at the club extends best wishes to David McCarthy for next weekends European Junior Championships which are being held in Hengelo.The Netherlands.David has been running superbly well of late over this distance and enters the race coming off breaking his personal best time last week in Belgium when setting a blistering 3.46.15.The previous week in Watford he recorded a time of 3.47.27.However medals don’t come easy at Europen level and from the big field entered there are some very fine athletes, indeed three have recorded faster times than the Ballinamult youngester and they will have medal prospects in their sights.Ones to watch out for are Otmane Belharbazi of France 3.43.75,Ricardo Longerich of Belgium 3.45.40 and The Polish athlete Lukasz Mianonicz 3.45.87.But of couse as all athlete will know at championships level over the 1.500 meters distance its all about tactics on race day and David is as good a tactision as any one and of course you need plenty of luck also in a race of this magnitute.So all we can say is give it a lash Dave,Win loose or draw the futures bright.
UPCOMING LOCAL FIXTURES.
Thu Jul 19 1 mile league ` 7.30pm
Fri July 20 25th Annual Donoughmore‘7’ 8.00pm
Fri July 20 Rathgormack 5 7.30pm
Sat-Sun July 21-22 National Track and Field champ Santry 12.00am
Tue July 24 T.Q.S.League 7.00pm
Thu Jul 26 Churchtown South ‘5’ 8.00pm
Fri Jul 27 1 mile league 7.30 pm
Sat Jul 29 Ballynonty’10 1.00pm
Sun July 29 National Track and Field round 2 Cork I.T. 11.00am
Sun Jul 29 Newmarket-Kenturk ‘5’ 2.00pm
Tue Jul 31 T.Q.S.League 7.00pm
Thu Aug 02 Clogheen ‘5K’, 8.00pm
Thu Aug 02 1 mile league 7.30pm
Fri Aug 03 Kinsale ‘5’ 8.00pm
Fri Aug 03 Kildysart ‘4’, 7.30pm
Sat Aug 04 Kilmore 4 6.30 pm
Mon Aug 06 Ballymacarbry ‘5’ 7.30pm
Tue Aug 07 T.Q.S.League 7.00pm
Wed Aug 08 Novartis‘5K’ 8.00pm
Thu Aug 09 1mile league 7.30pm
Fri Aug 10 Shanagarry Festival ‘5K’ 8.00pm
Sat Aug 11 National Track and Field Final Tullamore 11.00am
Sun Aug 12 Goleen-Crookhaven ‘5’ 7.00pm
Sun Aug 12 Carrick On Suir 5 12.00 noon
Tue Aug 14 T.Q.S.League 7.00pm
Fri Aug 17 Streets of Cobh ‘5K’ 7.15pm
Fri Aug 17 Ardmore‘5’ 7.30pm
Sun Aug 19 Masters National Track and Field champ 12.00am
Sun Aug 19 Michael Cahill ‘5K’, 2.30pm
Tue Aug 21 T.Q.S.League 7.00pm
Thu Aug 23 Ballycotton ‘5’ 7.30pm
Sat Aug 25 Liscarroll ‘8K’ 6.45pm
Sun Aug 26 Alan Everett memorial T.B.A.
Wed Aug 29 Army/Navy ‘5’ 7.30pm
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford AC extends sincere sympathy to the Queally family on the death last week of Peter Queally, O’Connell St.May he rest in peace.
RUNNING QUOTE.
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face. Paul McManus.
BABY BOY.
Congratulations to Joanne and Mark Langford on the birth of a baby boy last week. Health and happiness to all.
A WORK OF ART.
Our thanks to Jim Fleming and his team in Carriglea for the super job they did on making a box to carry our brand new P.A.system.A work of art indeed it is. Thanks to Kieran Coleman, Tommy Keniry and Pat and Anthony O’Brien.
BUSY BUSY BUSY.
Its all systems go for our top roadrunners; how they do it is anyone’s guess. After winning the G.S.K.5 mile race Friday evening. Winner Sandis Bralitis was on the road early next day heading for The Phoenix Park Dublin and the Adidas Irish Runner 5 mile, Sandis after winning this race the previous year finished 3rd on the day in a time 25.26 again the following day Sunday he was in The Kingdom for the Killarney 5 finishing 2nd here. Raivis who clocked his fastest 5 mile time ever in Fridays evenings G.S.K.5 was in Dunhill for the inaugural 10 k race there the following day Saturday and he duly took the winners prize with a time of 36.32.It was up to Fermoy then Sunday for again the first running of the Fermoy 5 mile and here Raivis completed a very busy weekend when he took the top prize in a time of 25.46.Busy Men indeed.
DUNDRUM 10K.
The Coillte sponsored and Dundrum AC organised 10k road race took place last Wednesday 11th July and the club had one athlete taking part when Eamon Phelan finished 32nd in a time of 39.14.god running to break the 40 minutes. Well done.
