6th ANNUAL OLD HEAD FINANCIAL BALLINAMEELA 5K .
The final race on the clubs summer programme of races was held last Friday evening when we were in Ballinameela for the 6th annual Old Head Financial sponsored Ballinameela 5k. This year we were delighted to welcome the Old Head Financial as title sponsors of the race and we would like to sincerely thank Marissa Tobin Sean O’Halloran and the Hayes family for being involved with this race which we hope is the start of a long association between both.The evening was ideal weather wise no wind or rain which was a blessing considering the summer were having anyway the good news is that we had a record entry in the event with 203 finishers well up on the 169 from 12 months ago so this was very positive and encouraging for the race organisers to see. On collecting race numbers before the race we presented those runners in the summer programme of races with their special race singlet commemorating 30 years of racing with the club and these were very well received our thanks to Kelly for her work here.As we said this race rounded off a brilliant summer programme of road races for the club with outstanding numbers taking part, in fact in all cases we witnessed numbers that we haven’t seen for many years in our events which we were delighted with. All events of course need good local community help and this was once again very evident last Friday evening as a huge community effort with no stone unturned in making this the great event that it was. The race was organised by the West Waterford AC with a huge input by the Ballinameela Community Centre committee for the use of the hall, refreshments,showers etc.and Ballinameela GAA club without who’s help we could not have held the event, they looked after Marshalls and Stewards and the Parking. Special mention here to Ray Kelly chairman community centre committee and James Maher chairman GAA club. Thank you to our new race sponsors Old Head Financial who have come on board this year. Thank you also to Cathal Gleeson of Venture Dungarvan who provided the race with spot prizes for some of the lucky winners in the draw among all finishers on the night.To Cllr Niamh O’Donovan and Anthony Ready and staff at Waterford City and County Council for repairing potholes on the race course making the route Safe and their help with providing cones on the course also. We thank especially our own club member Mark Cliffe who was instrumental to the overall success of the race, Mark put in a huge amount of organisation into this race once again this year and he is to be congratulated on his efforts. Out thanks to Marissa Tobin, Sean O’Halloran and Shane Hayes representing our sponsors who were on hand to present the race winners with their prizes on the night. A donation from the race was presented to the Community hall committee on the night for their funds and likewise to Ballinameela GAA club. Thanks to the West Waterford athletic club crew on registration, results and traffic duty, once again plenty help was at hand, looking forward to 2025 when we hope to do it all again..
EVAN FITZGERALD AT HIS EASE.
Last Friday evening we witnessed a one man show as from start line to finish tape Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford AC was in complete control totally dominating the race as he sprinted into an early lead from the start and with each stride widened that gap on the chasing group of 6.It is worthy of note also and proving that the Ballinameela course is as good a 5k route as you will see anywhere with 6 athletes breaking the 16 minute barrier and that doesn’t happen too often. A great battle was witnessed for the minor placing’s with 6 athlete locked together for much of the race before a move was made by visiting athlete Conor O’Brien Dooneen AC with a kilometre remaining he opened a slight gap on the pack which proved to be enough as he crossed the finish line in 15.46 just 5 seconds clear of Dermot O’Gorman Carrick On Suir AC 15.51. The category winners were over 40 Male Robbie Wade USA 15.55.Robbie home on holidays is son of two great West Waterford AC stalwarts Michael and Bernie Wade ,1st O/45 was John Hodge West Waterford A.C. 17.26 great time here by John,1stO/50 Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick On Suir A.C. 17.56 almost a minuet faster than his wining time for this category last year, 1st 0/60 Ray Hahesy West Waterford AC 19.45,Ray nicely under the 20 minute barrier here.. Well done to all our prize winners and to all who participated in the race.
MENS.
1st Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford A.C. 15.09
2nd Conor O’Brien Dooneen A.C. 15.46
3rd Dermot O’Gorman Carrick On Suir A.C. 15.51
1st O/40 Robbie Wade USA 15.55
1st O/45 John Hodge West Waterford A.C. 17.26
1stO/50 Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick On Suir A.C. 17.56
1st 0/60 Ray Hahesy West Waterford AC 19.45
CIARA O’NEILL PROVES STRONGEST.
Clonmel’s Ciara O’Neill participating for the very first time in one of our race’s this summer which happens to be our last race in the series proved to strong for the field last Friday evening and she romped home in a time of 17.41 well clear of the field to make a wining début in one of our club events.Kate Veale West Waterford A.C. was 2nd in 19.01, Kate is currently on a break from race walking training and loves to come along to as many club road races as she can on the off season.Third lady home last week was another West Waterford AC athlete Angela Tobin who is making great strides this year clocking a time of 19.37, well under the 20 minuet mark.First lady over 35 was Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C. with a time of 19.58 Elaine also won this category in last year’s race but will be delighted to have improved on last years’ time of 20.29,the over 40 ladies was claimed by Catherine Hribar City Of Derry Spartans A.C. in 20.13, Catherine on holidays in the area from Derry was delighted to have won a prize at the race. Eveleen Drohan West Waterford A.C 19.49 was the first 1st O/45 and she finished 4th overall in the race, we will be joining Eveleen this coming Friday evening for the 30th Ras Na Rinne on her home turf . Ladies 1st O/50 was Diane Behan Waterford A.C. in an excellent time of 22.24,well done to all the Ladies who won prizes last Friday and to all who participated on the night.
Ladies
1st Ciara O’Neill Clonmel A.C. 17.41
2nd Kate Veale West Waterford A.C. 19.01
3rd Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C. 19.37
1st O/35 Elaine Langley West Waterford A.C. 19.58
1st O/40 Catherine Hribar City Of Derry Spartans A.C. 20.13
1st O/45 Eveleen Drohan West Waterford A.C 19.49
1st O/50 Diane Behan Waterford A.C. 22.24
30TH ANNUAL RÁS NA RINNE THIS FRIDAY JULY 26TH.
The 30th Rás na Rinne will be held on this coming Friday 26th July at 7.30 pm.A great unique route that starts at the Barracks cross, An Rinn, heading downhill to An Coinigéar strand. Participants then head out to the tip of the Coinigéar beach, running on the sand side and returning on the grass side, finishing back at the Barracks cross. A beautiful scenic run in West Waterford that has something for everyone.Race numbers will be available for collection from Halla Pobail na Rinne between 6.15pm and 7.15pm on the evening of the race.Hand carved Criostal na Rinne perpetual trophy (‘Corn Ui Dhroma’) for the overall winner. Prizes for individual and category winners.A 42krunning t-shirt for all who register and complete the route. Supported by West Waterford Athletics Club .RACE ENTRY EVENTMASTER.IE 15 EURO
Seamus Ó DROMA AWARD TO BE LAUNCHED AT 2024 RÁS NA RINNE.
In memory of Seamus, who passed away in March of this year, the Ó Droma family are delighted to announce the launching of the inaugural “Seamus Ó Droma Award”. This award will be presented on an annual basis after the running of Rás na Rinne/Cunniger Run. It may be presented to an individual, a group, an organisation, the athletics stalwart, the first-timer, the first home, the last home, the youngest, the oldest- basically the recipient(s) will have made a positive contribution towards running in any of its various forms. Seamus’s approach to running was unique. Never in the limelight but always respected for his achievements both as an athlete and an encourager towards running. He competed in every distance from 5k’s up to 50 mile runs, with the marathon being his forte. He guided and trained many local people to run their first marathon, with a style becoming of his determination and humour. On Friday 26th July, at Mooney’s Pub, the award will be officially launched. It will follow the presentation of prizes for Rás na Rinne. This night will also see a reunion of Seamus’s past team mates from his days with St. Niochlas’s A.C. and should make for a great night of stories and celebration.
EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON SET FOR AUGUST 31ST .
ENTRIES FULL AND CLOSED.
On 31ST August at 9 am West Waterford Athletic Club will host our 8th annual Waterford Greenway Half Marathon. Once again we are delighted to have local company Eurofins as our title sponsor for this unique event and we thank them for their commitment to this race and to our club. The race will be limited to 750 entries which has now been reached so no more entries available for this event. Entry fee includes a specially commissioned Greenway Medal and Dri fit T-shirt !
EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON PRIZES.
The prizes for this race will be as follows.
1st 5 Men and Women
Ladies
1st and 2ndO/35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65
1st Junior
Men
1st and 2nd O/40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70
1st Junior
We will also have 2 Men’s and 2 Ladies team prizes with first 3 finishing positions to score (Outside of prize winners).
Spot prizes will be randomly distributed to runners down the field at the finish line.
Note: Cash prizes will be given to the Men’s and Ladies winners and all category prizes will be vouchers.
“RAPID RESPONSE VEHICLE FOR WEST WATERFORD” TO BENEFIT FROM EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON.
Each year for the Eurofins Waterford Greenway half marathon we partner up with a charity that will benefit from the donated monies by the runners taking part in the event. This year we are delighted to announce our charity partners for the event will be “Rapid Response Vehicle West Waterford”, As all our supporters know we try to raise awareness for important causes and charities with our events and this year the chosen charity we are supporting is Rapid Response Vehicle. Based in Dungarvan, Rapid Response Vehicle West Waterford aims to enhance emergency medical services in the region, ensuring advanced A+E emergency pre-hospital care is swiftly delivered throughout a very large mostly rural 100 square mile area.It is their goal to raise sufficient funding to procure and operate a state-of-the-art emergency vehicle with advanced medical facilities. This Rapid Response Vehicle for West Waterford will have the capacity to bring the A+E to the scene of a critical emergency with cutting-edge equipment to facilitate effective medical intervention. All carried out by a volunteer doctor and paramedics, skilled in emergency medicine .As always we ask your support for this worthy cause that will be a vital asset to the community. We never know the day or the hour that we might need this service so hopefully we can raise as much funds as possible to do our bit for this voluntary organisation who not might but will save lives in our community. For further race information please log on to club web site www.westwaterfordathletics.org and follow the link on home page for GREENWAY all race information and entry link is available here. Please note that entries are now closed as the target number of participants has been reached.
JOE AND ELAINE ON THE MOUNTAINS.
Well done to club members Joe Gough and Elaine Langley who were among the prize winners at last Sunday morning’s IMRA mountain race held in Craig Wood Co. Tipperary over a 9.5 k distance with Elaine coming home 3rd woman and Joe breaking the M70 course record.
MICK COMPLETES OFFALY MARATHON.
Well done last Saturday to Mick concannon who ran the Marathon Club of Ireland organised marathon held in Bracknagh Co Offaly .Held on a 5 loop course on country roads in very wet conditions Mick ran his usual steady pace completing this one in Exactly 4 hours
NATIONAL 10 MILE.
Over 1700 runners completed at last Sundays 123.IE National 10 mile road championship race held in the grounds of the Phoenix Park Dublin.The overall race winner was Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) 49.56 and gold in the ladies went to Grace Lynch (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 56.58.The club had one athlete who competed in the championship event Gary Cantwell ran very well to finish under the hour mark finishing 73RD overall in a time of 59.22,well done to Gary.
SYMPATHY.
West Waterford athletic club extend sincere sympathy to the families and friends of Marion Power 43 Seapark, Abbeyside, and Anthony Cooney,27 Western Bay,Dungarvan,who passed to their eternal reward last week, may they rest in peace.
