MINNIES SUMMER RUNNING LEAGUE.
The run of good weather has certainly added to the popularity and participation in the very successful Minnie’s Summer Running League. Round six of the league was held in glorious conditions and a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all involved. As we are reaching the final stages of the league with only two nights left to go, we would still like to make you all aware that we are still extending a big welcome to all those who have not yet joined the ranks of the running league. If you come along for the next couple of weeks, the league will certainly give you a taste of what’s on offer and you will see for yourself just how enjoyable and manageable the running league really is, even to complete beginners. You will see that we have a range of distances to cater for the complete beginner, to the improved to the regular runner. So don’t just take our word for it, come along to the Friary College on Tuesday nights and find out for yourself. The league itself begins at 7 p.m. and the registration begins from 6.30 pm onwards. The entry fee is €2 per night and water is provided at the finish for all athletes.
ONE LAP.
We have witnessed amazing performances among all the one lap participants from the beginning of the league up to the present time. Recent newcomer Diane Chizhikovc dipped under ten minutes for one lap and recorded 9.42 for her efforts. Ann Wall whose main goal from the outset was to run a lap under ten minutes is so close to achieving this and with a time of 10.07 for round six we will all be eagerly watching for the remaining nights to see her realise this. She will not be alone as Andrea Gaffney was hot on her heels the other night as was Siobhàin Moore, Marie Donovan, Avril Doocey and Ann Hennebry. Ita Mason, minus the Mp3 for round 6 recorded a pb of 12.11 and will no doubt have 12 minutes as her target.
With the league tables now taking shape it’s a hard one to call at the minute as to who will be come away as division champion. It’s each person’s best six nights that will count in the final tallying of scores and so it will literally be down to the wire as the points are very close at the minute. We’ll just have to wait and see! Well done to all the one lappers and perhaps you might ponder on giving the two laps a go in the next league.
TWO LAPS.
It was fast and furious at the finishing tunnel for the two lap league for round 6 as there was only seconds separating each of the various groups. Yevgeniy Chizhikov once again led the field home. Joe Barry ran a super 16.39 but the other Joe, Joe Byrne fought hard and clocked a time of 16.41 with Tom Byrne also battling it out to finish with a time of 16.42.It doesn’t get much closer than that. Likewise, Damian Travers and Kevin Burke also battled hard to finish with 16.58 and 16.59 respectively. Carol Whelan and Caitrìona O’ Brien, both of whom are edging closer and closer each week to breaking twenty minutes for the two laps, recorded times of 20.07 and 20.09. That’s the beauty of running in an organised league like the Minnie’s summer running league, everybody finds someone that will run to a similar pace as themselves and it’s running alongside these very same people that will help bring you on. Una Tynan and Mary Whyte helped each other along the two lap distance and clocked 23.58 and 23.59 for their efforts. At present there are six divisions in the two lap league and some of the divisions are extremely close. Mary Harney leads division 2 with just one point to spare over Carmel Corcoran on 49 points. Deirdre Cunningham and Marie O’Donovan are on level points in division 3 and so it won’t be clear until the final night. Just a reminder that it’s each athlete’s best six nights that count.
THREE LAPS.
A total of ten took part in the three lap league and some of these may make the move up to four laps in the next league. Johnny O’Connor once again led the field home. He was closely followed by Pat Early and Brian Collins, both of whom had great runs on the night to record 25.54 and 25.56 respectively. Martina Ryan had a great run to clock 30 and a half minutes and Ann Wright will surely break 31 minutes before the end of the league. Eileen Heffernan and Trish Connors must hav been thrilled to break 32 minutes for the distance as was Conor Mulhall to break 40 minutes. Well done to all the three lap participants and we hope you will come along to the next league.
FOUR LAPS.
Pàdraig Healy led the four lap runners home in a time of 28.05. Next to cross the line was Declan McGrath and Kevin Kenneally. Four broke thirty minutes for four laps on the night and three managed to break 31 minutes, Alan and Colin Lyons and Patrick O’Riordan. Mark Vespa, Earl Navin, Richie Kelly and Jim Barry were successful in getting in under 33minutes and showed no fatigue from the Touraneena race the previous night. John Quill and Paul Twomey were marginally outside thirty-eight minutes but on their next attempt should do so with ease. Josie Uì Chuirrìn and Michael Callaghan will be doing likewise.
We hope you all enjoy the few remaining nights of this current league.
SPONSORS.
We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our very generous and helpful sponsors, the O’ Brien family of Abbeyside for their support and financial sponsorship of this very popular and successful league. It is due to their generosity that we are in a position to organise leagues such as this. Many thanks.
UPCOMING LEAGUE-THE TQS RUNNING LEAGUE
Following the conclusion of the Minnie’s league the TQS League will begin. The first night of this league will be Tuesday July 3rd. The TQs League is unique in that it follows a very different format than all the other leagues and it’s this format that contributes to its popularity. The winner each night of the league is not the fastest person but the person that is most accurate in predicting their time. For example John and Mary run the one lap league. John predicts that he will run the lap in 15 minutes even and Mary predicts that she will run it in 16 minutes. John actually runs the lap in a time of 14.30 and Mary runs in a time of 16.02. Mary is the winner as she was closest to her predicted time. This makes the TQS League wholly suitable for newcomers and beginners. The League begins at 7 p.m. with registration beginning from 6.30 onwards. We’ll see you out there.
GER WYLEY SPORTS / NIKE SUMMER SERIES RACE NO.5
THE OLD STILL BAR 5 ON THIS FRIDAY.
All roads lead to Clashmore this coming Friday evening for the 5th Annual Old Still Bar Clashmore 5 mile road race, This race brings us to the half way mark in this years Ger Wyley Sports/Nike summer series, How the time is flying, Sponsored very kindly this year once again by The Salmon family of the Old Still Bar and the club wish to thank them most sincerely for their ongoing sponsorship of the event, Entries will be taken from 7 pm. with the race getting under way at 8 pm. Entry fee on the night is 7 Euro, Changing and showers will be available by kind permission at the Clashmore G.A.A.club grounds,(by kind permission)
PRIZE CATAGORIES IN CLASHMORE.
A very attractive array of prizes will be on offer for this year’s race.1st 5 Senior Men, 1st Masters over 40,45,50,55,and 1st Junior Male. And the ladies prizes are 1st 3 Senior, plus Masters over 35,40,45,50 and 1st junior lady. Team prizes will also be awarded to the first Men’s club team outside the individual winners and the same for the ladies with three to score. There will be plenty of spots for down the field finishers.
SERIES ENTRY.
Time is quickly running out for runners who have not entered the series to date. The Ger Wyley/Nike summer series of road races for 2007 as I already said will reach the half way mark in Clashmore when 5 of the ten races will be completed, Road race co-ordinator Gerry Cantwell has asked me to remind athletes that the Dromana 5 on Friday July 6th next is the final registration night for this years series, So far numbers are well up on any previous year and a record entry has now been reached we thank our sponsors Ger Wyley/Nike for their continued support, and our various race sponsors and organisers and our road racing sub committee for their continued hard work. The overall prize fund is now in excess of 10.000 Euro for this series which is unmatched by any series of its kind in the country.
CLUB TRACK AND FIELD NEWS.
A.A.I.TRACK AND FIELD LEAGUE.
The dates and venues have been agreed for the upcoming A.A.I.Track and Field league, round one is on Sunday July 1ST in Limerick, round two Sunday July 29th Cork I.T. and the finals are on Saturday 11th August in Tullamore.All teams both division 1 and premier-will compete in the full range of events in the early rounds as well as the final. Our club will be sending a full team to these leagues and anyone interested in taking part are requested to contact club secretary Tony 087-7657805.
MUNSTER SENIOR TRACK AND FIELD THIS SUNDAY.
The following club members have been entered for the upcoming Munster Senior Track and Field championships at Cork I.T.on this Sunday June 17th.
Dzintars Klava 1.500 Meters.
Michael Morrissey hammer and discus.
Alan O’Brien 1.500 Meters.
James Ledingham 1.500 Meters.
Sineád Crotty 1.500 and 5.000 Meters.
3RD ANNUAL GET UP AND GO CHALLENGE WITH WEST WATERFORD ATHLETIC CLUB IN AID OF THE SESAME PRE SCHOOL.
“SEE THE SUN RISE ON CRUACHÁIN MOUNTAIN”
The club’s 3rd Annual watch the sun rise challenge for a very worthy local cause takes place on Sunday morning June 24th next. West Waterford athletic club in association with The Sesame Pre School for children with special needs Dungarvan will hold a get up and go challenge to watch the sunrise from the top of Cruacháin mountain with all proceeds going to Sesame pre school. Entry is 20 Euro, which includes a post race breakfast. We will meet at Euro spar car park Abbeyside at 4 AM and travel by car to the mountain base before walking the mile or so to the top of Cruacháin Mountain. Donations from non-participants are also welcome. Spot prizes will be raffled among all participants. Please bring your camera, Bring warm clothes-The higher up you go the colder it gets. And please do bring along a friend or two for a very worthy local cause. Pat and Ann Dunford traditional breakfast run takes place back to Minnie’s Bar Abbeyside after we descend from Cruacháin so bring the gear.
COMMITTEE MEETING.
Next meeting in Minnie’s Bar. Abbeyside on this Thursday June 14th at 8.30 PM.
RUNNING QUOTE.
"Big occasions and races which have been eagerly anticipated almost to the point of dread are where great deeds can be accomplished.” Vincent O’Donovan.
GER WYLEY SPORTS/NIKE SUMMER SERIES RACE NO.6.
MOONEY’S PUB RÁS NA RINNE ON FRIDAY JUNE 23rd.
The Ger Wyley sports/Nike summer series is in full swing and the races are coming up fast and furious, after the Clashmore 5 this Friday evening we will be heading to Ring for the 15th Annual Mooney’s Pub sponsored Rás Na Rinne 6 miler, We would like to sincerely thank Tom and Ann Gough for their ongoing sponsorship of this event. The race this year is race number 6 in the series and it will start at 8 PM.Changing facilities and race entry will be at Halla Phobal Na Rinne from 7 PM.with entry fee 7 Euro. The following are the prize categories for the race 1st 3 Senior Men, 1st over 40,45,50,55,and 60,1st Junior, and 1st Local.1st 3 Senior ladies, 1st over 35,40,45,and 50.and 1st three teams with 5 to score using the handicap system for selecting teams. West Waterford club policy as usual regarding prizes, one prize per athlete. There will also be plenty of spots for non prize winners on the night, and of course the winner will be presented with the O’ Droma family perpetual shield. The presentation of prizes will take place in Mooney’s Pub after the race and refreshments will also be served to all.
FRIENDS OF WEST WATERFORD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.
As we shortly approach the half way stage in this year’s friends of West Waterford athlete of the year competition many of the clubs members are still in a with a realistic chance of winning the title, however that said the man leading after five months and defending champion from last year Raivis Zakis will be hard to knock off the top spot, He is currently on 35 points, But in close contention is Seán Stilwell with 33 followed by Sineád Crotty and Michael Tutty with 29 a piece. These are followed by five runners on 28 points and so on down the line, Remember our chart shows only up till the end of May so many months still to come, If anyone has any query on the tables below please contact Raivis as he is looking after the athlete of the year this year.
Zakis, Raivis 35
Stilwell, Sean 33
Crotty Sinead 29
Tutty Michael 29
Kelly, Richard 28
Wall, Norma 28
Budds, Liam 28
Wall, Triona 28
Dunford, Ann 28
Deegan, Dixie 27
Fleming, Jim 27
Morrissey, Pat 27
Whelan, Anne 26
Hanrahan, Judy 26
Ryan, Martina 25
Colman Tomas 25
Uì Chuirrìn, Josie 25
Kavanagh, Liam 23
Gough, Joe 22
Power, Onra 21
Cantwell, Gerry 21
Power, Paddy 20
Tutty, Vincent 20
Scanlan, Tom 20
