30TH ANNUAL DUNGARVAN LEADER DROMANA 5.
SUPER NIGHT OF CELEBRATION.
Celebrating its 30th year last Friday evening and one of the oldest race’s on our clubs calendar, The Dungarvan Leader Dromana 5 mile road race was held in pretty much good conditions and a huge field of 220 Participated.From the off it would be remiss of us not to mention the contribution of two people who were associated with the race from day one and this time last year were giving their usual helping hand on race night and this year it’s so hard to believe that both are no longer with us and have gone to their eternal reward and that’s Ger and Eily Mason who were greatly missed last Friday evening they were not far from our thoughts on the night and once again we offer our deepest sympathies to their family and friends who miss them most. Before the presentation of race prizes a moments silence was observed by all. The race was held on the usual race course the Dromana drive from Villierstown to Cappoquin as we call it the training route of a champion John Treacy who is still the record holder on the course.Once again this year as has been the case for all of the 30 years of its existence the event was kindly sponsored by Dungarvan Leader who have been brilliant sponsors and supporters of our club and indeed all athletic clubs in the county for many years we sincerely thank Billy Coleman and John Byrne and all the staff for their continued support of this race and indeed the huge paper coverage by publishing or weekly notes and photos every week of the year. Through the generosity of our sponsors a once off Nike running Tee shirt denoting the 30th anniversary of the race was presented to each finisher after the race a great touch and much appreciated by all.We must also mention from day one 30 years ago the foresight and support attained with sponsorship by Colm Nagle and his family who have also been huge supporters of our club and we are delighted that the Michael C. Nagle trophy was last Friday evening and will continue to be presented each year that this race is held to the winner on the day.Thanks to Colm, Kim,Jay,Jonathan and young Ava, Evan and Thomas for coming along to present the trophy on the night. Also our thanks on the night to our race sponsors at Dungarvan Leader John Byrne and his son Sean who came along on the night to present all the winners with their prizes, this was very much appreciated, with apologies from Billy who was unable. To all involved in helping with the organisation of the race in both Villierstown and Cappoquin a big thank you, Many of these people are doing various jobs around this race for the past 30 years as these are the people that make it happen without their input there would be no race at all they keep the show on the road year in year out.Our man who looked after the traffic management on the night namely Jamie a top job as is usual.Thanks to our stewards on the course for giving invaluable help on the night. Our thanks to Mark and Jillian Mason and extended Mason family for all their help with the refreshments for the athletes after the race.To our team of time keepers, entries and results administrators and van helpers. To Cappoquin hall committee and the snooker club for affording us the use of their premises for teas and presentation this was much appreciated. Our thanks to Trevor, Jillian and Mark Mason for presented the beautiful silver Mason family cup to the winning lady on the night,of course Trevor is our local race co-ordinator of the event Trevor Mason and along with Jillian and Mark they put in great preparation and work behind the scenes, in what as mentioned has been a most difficult year for them all, but they were as determined as everyone that the show goes on and this we are grateful for.
SERGIU CIOBANU RECLAIMS THE MICHAEL C.NAGLE MEMORIAL TROPHY.
The weather was fairly good, not a lot of sun but at least it was dry with a slight breeze last Friday evening when we celebrated our 30th edition of the famed Dungarvan Leader sponsored Dromana 5 mile road race.The race got under way at exactly 7.30 from Villierstown and made its way over the beautifully famous Dromana drive and under the gothic arch as the large field of runners reached their destination to the finish line in Cappoquin.One of the largest fields ever assembled faced the starters whistle with 220 registered a huge increase on our field last year which numbered 123.The race for overall honours saw Sergui Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC turn the tide on last year’s winner Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford AC, as these two filled the top 2 placing’s but in reverse order to 2023 when Evan was the victor and Sergiu was the runner up.Just after the 2 mile mark a group of 5 up front were strung out back the road when Sergiu put in a very fast mile to split the field apart he went to the front and stayed there. The Clonliffe man crossed the finish line in Cappoqiuin with a time of 25.41 which was just 1 second outside his time last year when taking 2nd .So Sergiu now gets his name inscribed on the famed Michael C.Nagle perpetual trophy as the winner for 2024.In fairness to Evan he gave it his all on the night but simply was beaten by the inform Ciobanu, Evan ran a time of 25.55 and without question will take many more victories in this race in the years ahead.Pat Fitzgerald Waterford AC was well clear in 3rd place with a time of 26.24 and 4th man home was team mate of Fitzgerald’s Aidan Connell West Waterford AC 27.01, one of our visitors from Cork James Coakley Leevale A.C. took the 5th prize with a time of 27:02.A great battle between club teams was fought out in a sporting manner in the team prize categories as West Waterford A team took the honours the team consisted of Mark Blackwell 6 Daryl Kearns 7 Conor Hennebry 9 with a total score of 22 points and West Waterford b team took 2nd place Gearoid Coffey 12 John Coffey 13 Eoin walsh (74) 24 a total of 49. Well done to all runners and winner.
MENS RESULTS
1 Sergiu Ciobanu Cloniffe Harriers 0:25:41
2 Evan Fitzgerald West Waterford A.C. 0:25:55
3 Pat Fitzgerald Waterford A.C. 0:26:24
4 Aidan Connell West Waterford A.C. 0:27:01
5 James Coakley Leevale A.C. 0:27:02
MENS TEAM
1 West Waterford A.C.
Mark Blackwell 6
Daryl Kearns 7
Conor Hennebry 9
Total Points 22
2 West Waterford A.
Gearoid Coffey 12
John Coffey 13
Eoin walsh (74) 24
Total Points 49
ON THE DOUBLE AS KEALEY TIDESWELL CLAIMS MASON FAMILY CUP.
In the 30th year of this race our Ladies winner last Friday evening claimed a resounding victory and in doing so was also making her own bit of history claiming back to back victories, Kealey Tidewell the Clonmel AC ace runner is unbeatable currently on the road racing scene around the southern half of the country and she is running brilliant time’s to booth also . Last Friday she ran 29.00 dead which was 10 seconds faster than her winning time in 2023.Kealey proved well too strong for the field of Ladies assembled as from the gun she broke clear and was uncatchable all the way to the finish line , a deserving victory for Kealey and she was presented with the Mason Family cup which is presented to the first lady by Mason family of Cappoquin each year. Our 2nd lady home was Sarah Mulcahy St.Catherines AC with a time of 31.47 again very good run by Sarah one of the best improved athletes around the circuit presently. Fast on the heels of Sarah was Emer Mc Glynn Waterford A.C. Just 6 seconds behind in a time of 31:53 with our first West Waterford AC female home on the night in 4th place Angela Tobin 33:14 an excellent performance by Angela. A welcomed regular down these parts Clotilde Fitzgibbon Grange/Fermoy A.C. in 33:18 was 5th lady.In the team award’s the host club West Waterford AC just like the men’s team award’s won both 1st team prize with Elaine Langley 36 Eveleen Drohan 37 Sandra Flynn 52 Total Points 125 and West Waterford A.C b team of Linda Foley 55 Fiona Connell 76 and Tara Ni Reachtagain 80 with a Total of 211 took 2nd team.Well done to all the ladies.
LADIES
1 Kealey Tideswell Clonmel A.C. 0:29:00
2 Sarah Mulcahy St. Catherines A.C. 0:31:47
3 Emer Mc Glynn Waterford A.C. 0:31:53
4 Angela Tobin West Waterford A.C. 0:33:14
5 Clotilde Fitzgibbon Grange/Fermoy A.C. 0:33:18
LADIES TEAM
1 West Waterford A.C.
Elaine Langley 36
Eveleen Drohan 37
Sandra Flynn 52
Total Points 125
2 West Waterford A.C
Linda Foley 55
Fiona Connell 76
Tara Ni Reachtagain 80
Total Points 211
27th ANNUAL DOOCEYS BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5.
The 27th annual Doocey’s Bar sponsored Ballymacarbry 5 mile road race which is race 4 of the summer programme will be held on Friday June 28th at 7.30 PM .This race attracts a great crowd and this year again it will be an out and back course along the Nire Road. The entries are online and numbers can be collected at the local Community Hall where showers and changing will also be available. The entry fee is 10 euro online at eventmaster. Entry on the night will be 15 euro. Prizes in the usual categories.
RACE CATAGORIES FOR DOOCEYS BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5a
Men 1st 3 Senior, 1st Junior, 1st 0/40, 0/45, 0/50 and 0/60
Ladies 1st 3 Senior, 1st Junior, 1st 0/35, 0/40, 0/45 and 0/50
EUROFINS WATERFORD GREENWAY HALF MARATHON SET FOR AUGUST 31ST
On 31st August 2024 at 9 am West Waterford Athletic Club will host our 6th 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. Eurofins Biopharma Product Testing (BPT) based in Dungarvan is a first-class Contract Research Organization (CRO), working with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device clients. The Group covers the whole chain of drug development thanks to an international network of laboratories and testing units with global reach, uniform QA systems and high quality services. The race course along the Waterford Greenway and in conjunction with Waterford City and County Council is a 13.1 mile race along the now famous old Waterford/Dungarvan Railway line. This fantastic amenity opened officially in 2017 and has already experienced visitors from all over the country and beyond. Users are amazed by this 46 km spectacular off-road cycling and walking trail along an old railway line between Waterford and Dungarvan. Entries will open shortly, log on to club web site and keep an eye on entry details at www.westwaterfordathletics.org race information and entry link will be available here. Please note this event is expected to sell out fast.
MAGIC MAGEEAN MAKES HISTORY IN ROME WHILE SUPER VICTORY FOR IRISH RELAY TEAM.
In Rome last Friday evening at the European track and field Championships a piece of Irish athletics history was made by an Irish Mixed Relay team when they won the Gold medals with a terrific team performance by two female and two male athletes including our Waterford’s Thomas Barr Ferrybank AC who ran his fastest leg ever in a 400 metres relay with a lap time of 44.9 seconds Overall it was a terrific team performance by all four from Chris O’Donnell in the first leg then the outstanding Rhasidat Adeleke in the second ,Thomas Barr in the third and what an anchor leg from Sharlene Maudsley who was absolutely outstanding in the final leg, in the end going clear up the straight to win in a time of 3 minutes 9.92 seconds a Championship Record and new Irish Record and not far off a World Record ,Italy were second and Netherlands third. On Sunday evening it was to be yet another gold performance by an Irish athlete when Ciara Mageean in the 1500m final at the Portaferry athlete burst through a gap between the British pair of Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell coming into the final 100 meters, kicking for home to cross in a winning time of 4:04.66.It’s a third European outdoor medal for Mageean after her bronze in Amsterdam in 2016 and the silver won in Munich in 2022.All in athletics have to say congratulations to Ciara and the magnificent relay team and great to see a Waterford man part of it .
