Thursday 20 December 2012

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

McCarthy wins in Old Parish

A total of 250 competitors between walkers and runners took part in
the Paddy Joe Curran Memorial 5 Miles Turkey Trot in Old Parish on
Sunday last over 5 Miles.The run was won by David McCarthy in 27
minutes and 23 seconds, Philip Harty was second in 27.27 both West
Waterford and Danny Smyth Ballynonty was third in 28.04. Corina Walsh
won the ladies section in 33.39, Liz Nyhan was second in 35.48 and
Tracey Dwyer was third in 38.18 all West Waterford. The proceeds went
to S.E.R.T. and the sponsors were Cleanzone Technology Ltd.. On
Wednesday December 11 th at  the West Waterford Winter League in
Dungarvan r 1400 Euro was raised for the WLRFM Lions Club Xmas appeal.
Coming up on St Stephen's morning at Dungarvan GAA Club is a Charity
run in aid of S.E.R.T.

Baldy Man Run.

This year's event in Tramore is on Sunday December 30 th at 12
noon.Entries from 10 am at Majestic Hotel, entry fee 12 Euro or 30
Euro for three. Proceeds to Special Olympics. Contact Michael Flynn.

January Fixtures

 Sunday 6 th Munster Junior, U/23, Senior & Masters Indoor
Championships Nenagh. Sun 13 th Munster Juvenile Cross Country
Relays,Junior & Senior Cross Country Championships Limerick
Racecourse. Sat 19 th  AAI Master Indoor Championships Athlone. Sun 20
th AAI Junior & U/23 Indoor Championships Athlone. Thurs 24 th East
Munster Schools
Cross Country Championships at 12 noon WIT Waterford.Saturday 26 th
AAI Senior, Junior, Master & Juvenile Indoor Combined Event
Championships Athlone, Sunday January 28 th AAI Games Athlone.

Waterford AC Flag Days

Permit from Garda Siochana for Waterford AC Annual flag Days this year
covers Thursday  December 27 th and  Friday December 28 th. contact
Deirdre Chapman.

Information

Lots of information on Athletics Ireland, Munster athletics and most
clubs websites re fixtures, club membership, news etc Many major
International World and European fixtures and Championships coming up
in 2013 including a major European Competition in Dublin in June.
Hopefully some Waterford athletes will qualify for some of the major
events. Here at home in Waterford in 2013 the Waterford Viking
marathon is on Saturday June 29 th all details on their Website

European Athletics for Dublin.

The European Athletics Executive Committee made the decision to stage
European Athletics Team Championship First League in Dublin on 22-23
June 2013.

Official results

At the all Ireland Novice and Under Age Cross Country Championships in
Adamstown Co Wexford on Sunday December 9 th  a breakdown in the
Computer system meant that no official results were available until
the following Tuesday. Here then are the main results from a Waterford
viewpoint. Orna Murray Ferrybank 1 st in under 19 race, Aoife Hamilton
West Waterford third in the under 15 grade and she led West Waterford
AC to the Inter Club Team title and Waterford to the Inter County team
award, the other members being Sinead Flynn, Hannah Power, Meg Ryan,
Kate McGrath and Chloe Fennell all from West Waterford who also had
their boys under 11 team placed third in the Inter Club section. The
following Waterford athletes were on Munster Interprovincial teams
that were placed first: Girls u 15 Aoife Hamilton and Sinead Flynn
West Waterford, Boys u 13 Hugo Blair Waterford, Girls u 11 Lucy Holmes
West Waterford . Munster second team placings Boys u 11 Sean Hickey
West Waterford, Girls u 17 Orla Queally Ferrybank, and Munster team
third placings Boys u 17 Eoin Browne Ferrybank and Girls u 19 Orna
Murray Ferrybank, Lucy O'Brien West Waterford and Nicole Rowe
Ferrybank.

Sunday 16 December 2012

Training this week Dec 17- 23

Older athlets (sprinters / jumpers ) training this week 
Mon 6pm Ursuluine
Wed 5.30pm ursuline
Thurs Circuits ursuline(time to be confirmed)
Sat 11am ursuline

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog


All Ireland win for Orna Murray


At the all Ireland Novice and Under Age Cross Country Championships in
Adamstown Co Wexford on Sunday Last OrnaMurray Ferrybank AC put up
another brilliant performance to win theunder 19 title to add to the
Munster crown she won in WIT a few weeksback. Another athlete to
perform with distinction was Aoife Hamiltonfrom West Waterford who was
third overall in the under 15 race and she
led West Waterford AC to the Inter Club Team title and Waterford to
the Inter County title, the other members being Sinead Flynn, Hannah
Power, Meg Ryan, Kate McGrath and ChloeFennell.  West Waterford also
had theirboys under 11 team placed third in the Inter Club section.
High placings were securted by the following West Waterford; Lucy
Holmes 12 th  under 11 Sean Hickey 15 th u 11 Hannah power 16 th and
Meg Ryan 18 th u 15 and Lucy O'Brien 19 th  under 19 and Aoife O'Brien
20 th u 11. Waterford AC had Hugo Blair placed 14 th in the under 14
section and Lynsey Mc Guire 23 rd u 13  and for Ferrybank AC Orla
Queally 17 th u 17, Eoin Browne 20 th u 17 and Nicole Rowe 27 th u
19..With a breakdown of the computer system results were hard to come
by from the clubs.

Brilliant day for Irish Athletics

Ireland's Fionnuala Britton from Kilcoole Co Wicklow successfully
retained her European Cross Country title in Budapest on Sunday last
over a snow covered course, the first lady to retain this prestigious
title. On a momentous day for Irish athletics Britton led the senior
women's team to the gold medals in front of France, Great Britain and
Spain, the team comprised of Britton , Linda Byrne Dundrum South
Dublin AC, Ava Hutchinson do, Lizzie Lee Leevale AC Cork, Sarah Louise
Treacy Moynalvey AC and Sarah McCormack Clonliffe Harriers AC. Britton
had been in excellent form this autumn and she confirmed it at the
19th SPAR European Cross Country Championships over the course in
Skanzen. She put on a tremendous display of tenacious front running as
she romped to a two second victory over Dulce Felix of Portugal. The
diminutive Wicklow women was to the fore of the field from the outset
and pushed the pace ferociously throughout. With two kilometres to go
the race was between Britton and Belgium's Almensch Belete.However
both Felix and Adrianne Herzog of the Netherlands were starting to
make an impression on the leaders. Britton lifted her game once again
and propelled herself over the finishing line to take the title in a
time of 27:45, ahead of second place Felix 27:47 with Herzog rounding
out the top three in third.Linda Byrne was having the race of her life
as she stormed to an eight place finish and was followed home by Ava
Hutchinson in 20th, Lizzie Lee in 23rd, Sarah McCormack in 36th and
Sarah Louise Treacy in 42nd. The team combined brilliantly to claim
the team gold medals with a score of 52 points. Coincidentally the
Irish team’s score of 52 was the same as France, however Ireland were
awarded the title on count back. Britton also has a 4th placing,a 7th
and an 11 th placing in this event in the last five years so once
again Athletics has been  a winner of a major International event for
Ireland..The senior men’s team was led home by Brendan O’Neill Dundrum
South Dublin AC, as he finished in 22nd place. O’Neill, a former team
gold medallist at U23 level at these championships, performed
impressively on his debut in the senior race. O’Neill showed class to
finish in 22 nd, just ahead of his club mate Joe Sweeney in 27th.
David Rooney Raheny  was the next of the Irish to finish in 38 th
place, followed by Michael Mulhare Portlaoise AC in 44th, Sean Hehir
Rathfarnham WSAF in 52nd and Paul Maher Kilkenny City Harriers AC in
73rd. the team finished a very respectable 7 th of the 13 nations to
finish

Annual Paddy Joe Curran Memorial Old Parish Turkey Ttot
.
The Annual Paddy Joe Curran memorial Old Parish Turkey Trot will take
place this year on Sunday next December 16 th at 12 noon. It’s a 5
mile road race around the local area, plus there’s a 4 mile walk/jog
which gets under way at 11.30 am.Entries will be taken at the Marine
Bar from 10.15 onwards .All monies raised is in aid of cancer and will
be donated to S.E.R.T.Entry to the run/walk is 7 euro/donation.

Paddy Byrne winter League

Again there was a big entry for Race 4 in the Winter League in the
City last Thursday and it continues thisT hursday at the RSC at 7pm,
registration from 6.15 pm then a break until the New Year.

Baldy Man Run.

This year's event in Tramore is on Sunday December 30 th at 12
noon.Entries from 10 am at Majestic Hotel, entry fee 12 Euro or 30
Euro for three. Proceeds to Special Olympics. Contact Michael Flynn.

January Fixtures

 Sunday 6 th Munster Junior, U/23, Senior & Masters Indoor
Championships Nenagh. Sun 13 th Munster Juvenile Cross Country Relays,
Junior & Senior Cross Country Championships Limerick Racecourse. Sat
19 th  AAI Master Indoor Championships Athlone. Sun 20 th AAI Junior &
U/23 Indoor Championships Athlone. Thurs 24 th East Munster Schools
Cross Country Championships at 12 noon WIT Waterford.Saturday 26 th
AAI Senior, Junior, Master & Juvenile Indoor Combined Event
Championships Athlone, Sunday January 28 th AAI Games Athlone

Monday 3 December 2012

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Two  Waterford athletes at European Cross Country Championships

Defending European Champion Fionnula Britton  will lead the Irish
senior team at the 19 th SPAR European Cross Country Championships
which takes place in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday next 9 th of
December. The Wicklow athlete’s preparation for these championships
has gone exceptionally well, she finished 4 th in the very competitive
VIII Cross de Atapuerca in Burgos, Spain earlier in the month and
continued her preparations with a third place finish in a classy field
in the Cross de l’Acier last week end. In the senior men's race Joe
Sweeney finished a magnificent fifth place last year at the
Championships; and another good run is expected on Sunday. In the U 23
Women’s race  just two Irish athletes compete Una Britton, sister to
Fionnula will  be joined on the line by Laura Behan KCK AC Waterford.
A full Irish u 23 men's team will compete and Patrick Hogan Ferrybank
AC is included, Shane Quinn was also selected but has withdrawn due to
illness.

All Ireland Cross Country in Adamstown.

On Sunday next also December 9th the All Ireland Novice and Juvenile u
11,13,15,17,19, Cross Country Championships will be only a few miles
down the road  in Adamstown, Co Wexford at 11.30 am. Waterford will
have athletes competing in most races and a few are expected to be in
contention for titles individual and team,as always these races start
on time the first race on Sunday will be the girls u 11

 Successful Waterford Athletic Club Half Marathon.

In ideal weather conditions the 4 th Annual Waterford Athletic Club
Half Marathon was held on Saturday last with close to 1600 competing.
Starting at the RSC Car Park and taking in the main Tramore Road as
far as Pickardstown Cross and then back in the Old Tramore road and
coming across the Slip Road near Waterford Transport to meet the
Tramore Road at Ballindud and back in doing a lap of the Nature Park
in Kilbarry and finishing there. Around the course and at the finish
huge crowds gathered to cheer on the athletes and the arrangements
were excellent.

Harty wins.

From an early stage two athletes dominated the race Gary O'Hanlon
Raheny Dublin the holder and Philip Harty West Waterford with Andrew
Connick Ferrybank AC also in contact for some time. O'Hanlon and Harty
fought out a great duel most of  the way and it was only in the
closing stages Harty drew clear to win in 67 minutes 30 seconds,
O'Hanlon was second in 67.35 and Connick third in 68.40. Angela McCann
Clonmel won the ladies section in great style in 80.36, Jacqui Carthy
Kilmore Co Wexford was second in 81.16 and Ann Marie Holland Eagle
Cork third in 82.14.The organisers wish to thank all their sponsors,
all the stewards, their own club members, Order of Malta , Waterford
City Council and the Gardai for services rendered. Detailed
Results;.Women 1 Angela McCann Clonmel AC 80 36, 2 Jacqui Carthy
Kilmore 81.16, 3  Ann Marie Holland Eagle 82:14, 4 Martina O'Dwyer
Carrick on Suir 83.43, 5 Sylvia Malone Waterford 84.13, 6 Maria Murphy
Griffin St Joseph's 85.51. o 35 Cora  Muldowney, o 40 Diane Behan
Waterford AC, o 45 Mags Kirwan Bolger Waterford, o 50 Bernadette
Mitchell Balance, o 55 Anne Fitzgerald Waterford AC. Men. 1 Philip
Harty West Waterford 67.30m 2 Gary O'Hanlon Raheny ( holder ) 67.35,
3 Andrew Connick Ferrybank 68.40,  4 Owen Gahan St Senan's 71.14,
Bernard Roe Raheny 71.50, 6 Niall Sheil St Killians 72.00.  o 40
Declan Power, o 45 Michael O'Connell Sligo, o 50 John Dalton,
Waterford o 55 Eugene O'Doherty Sliabh Bhui Rovers, Ferns, o 60 Albert
Keenan Newbridge 1580 competed.

Munster Cross Country

In the  Munster (  B  )  Juvenile Cross Championships in Newmarket on
Fergus on Sunday last three Waterford clubs had athletes competing.
For West Waterford Emily O'Mahony was second u 13,  Rachel Wyley 6 th
u 15, Eva French u 13 and Aidan Mc Kenna u 15 were both 7 th and Eabha
and Patrick Walsh u 9 and u 13 respectively  were both 8 th, West
Waterford were 3 rd club in both the girls and boys team events. For
Waterford AC Jamie McCarthy was 9 th, Conor Quinn 10 th and David
McGlynn 12 th all in u 15 grade and for KCK Rena Behan was 5th u 13
and Seamus Fitzgerald 10 th u 11.

Waterford Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships

Results from above held on Friday last November 30 th at St
Augustine's College Abbeyside. Minor Girls 1 Mollie Hutchinson
Ursuline, 2 Rachel Wyley St Augustine's 3 Rena Behan St Declan's
Kilmacthomas Team 1 Ursuline 2 St Augustine's 3 Ard Scoil Na nDeise,
Junior 1 Aoife Hamilton Meanscoil San Nioclas 2 Hannah Power Ard Scoil
3 Meg Ryan Meanscoil San Nioclas Team 1 Ard Scoil 18 pts 2 St
Augustine's 21, 3 Ursuline 29. Intermediate 1 Sinead Flynn St
Augustine's 2 Cliodna Ryan Ard Scoil 3 Megan Dunford St Augustine's
Team 1 St Augustine's 9, 2 Ard Scoil 13 , 3 Ursuline 38. Senior 1 Orna
Murray Ursuline 2 Lucy O'Brien Blackwater CC 3 Eimear O'Brien do Team
1 Blackwater CC 10, 2 Ursuline 12. Minor Boys 1 Shane O'Brien St
Declan's 2 Patrick Walsh Dungarvan CBS 3 Aidan Mc Kenna St Augustine's
Team 1 St Augustine's 25  2 Dungarvan CBS  26, 3 St Declan's 28.
Junior 1 Miceal Power St Augustine's 2 Eoin O'Brien Blackwater 3
Darragh McGrath St Augustine's Team 1 St Augustine's  27, 2 St Pauls
40,  3 Bllackwater 47. Intermediate 1 Sean Curran Dungarvan CBS 2
Tholm Reddy do 3 Shane O'Riordan do Team 1 Dungarvan CBS  13, 2 St
Pauls 47.  Senior 1 Richard Stillwell St John's Dungarvan 2 Colin
Dunford Dungarvan CBS 3 Jamie O'Keeffe De La Salle Team 1 Pauls 24,  2
Dungarvan CBS 39,  3 St Declan's  46.  Tie for best oberall Girls
school between Ursuline and st Augustine's,tie in Boy's overall
between Dungarvan CBS and St Pauls

Waterford Viking Marathon Launch

On Friday last at Bishop's Palace the 2013 WLRFM Waterford Viking
Marathon was launched by Mayor Jim Darcy in the presence of a large
crowd.The big day is Saturday June 29 th  2013 at 9 am and please
spread the news around the county, country and abroad. Full details on
The Waterford Viking Marathon Website including entry form and
remember there will be a closing date so don't miss out on your
entry,some did last year. There will be a Full Marathon, Half Marathon
and Relay option so all have seven months to prepare.Proceeds to
Waterford Alzheimer Society and Waterford Hospice.

Paddy Byrne winter League

Again there was a big entry for Race 3 in the Winter League in the
City last Thursday and it continues every Thursday at the RSC at 7
pm,registration from 6.15 pm.

Baldy Man Run.

This year's event in Tramore is on Sunday December 30 th at 12
noon.Entries from 10 am at Majestic Hotel,entry fee 12 Euro or 30 Euro
for three. Proceeds to Special Olympics. Contact Michael Flynn.

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Waterford athletes win All Ireland medals


In Ratoath, Co Meath on Sunday last athletes from Waterford figured
very prominently at the All Ireland Inter County Senior,Junior and
Juvenile Cross Country Championships. Laura Behan KCK competing in the
under 23 grade ran a fine race to finish 2 nd in the grade and so get
an automatic qualifying place on the Irish Team for the European
Championships in Budapest on December 9 th. Also at under 23 level
Paddy Hogan Ferrybank AC impressed finishing third overall in the
grade missing out by one place for automatic place on Irish team.
Another athlete to run well was Orna Murray Ferrybank in the junior
women's event finishing in 6 th place. The Waterford senior men's team
minus the services of David McCarthy due to a minor injury did very
well to finish in 5 th place of the 13 teams to finish, being led home
by Sandis Bralitis in 15 th place, Paddy Hogan was 18th, Philip Harty
34 th, Michael Dowling 37 th, Ravis Zakis 62 nd and Dzintars Klava 72
nd.

West Waterford Juvenile Excel

For West Waterford AC juveniles it was a very successful day and Aoife
Hamilton ran a superb race under 16 to finish 3rd overall. Hannah
Power was 7 th u 14, Cian O'Riordan 8 th u 12, Miceal Power 9 th u 14
and Sean Curran 12 u 16. For Ferrybank AC Adam Power was 11 th under
12, Aisling Quinn 13 th u 16 and Orla Queally 15 th in the same race.
In a huge field Lynsey McGuire Waterford AC was 25 th u 12.

Two Team Titles

West Waterford had brilliant results in the Inter club team
competitions winning the Girls u 14 and u 16 and finishing second in
boys u 12 and boys u 16. The scoring members of their winning u 14
team were Hannah Power, Darina Shanley, Caoimhe Dwyer and Emma
Hallahan and the under 16 four were Aoife Hamilton, Sinead Flynn, Kate
McGrath and Meg Ryan..Waterford won the Boys u 12 Inter County team
title the squad being Cian O'Riordan, Cormac Mahony, D J Kiely, Sean
Hickey, Sean Ronayne all West Waterford and Adam Power Ferrybank.
Waterford were also second in the girls u14 and Girls u 16 and third
in the boys u 16,. Many Waterford athletes were on winning Munster
teams

Big attraction on Saturday

The Annual Waterford AC Half Marathon with an entry of 1500 takes
place on Saturday next December 1 st starting at 11 am. It will be a
major attraction on the outskirts of the City and on the Tramore Road
but no entries being taken on the day or this week. Race numbers and
chips have been all sent in the post, full  details of course  etc on
Waterford AC website. Last year 1250 ran and the overall winner was
Gary O'Hanlon, Raheny Shamrocks in  67 minutes 51 seconds and the
ladies winner was Gladys Ganiel O'Neill Nth Belfast in 77.32.
Motorists are asked to be aware of runners on the Tramore Road and old
Tramore Road from 11 am until 2 pm. Half Marathon is kindly sponsored
by local sponsors and the organisers are very grateful to Alfie Hale
Intersports, Caufields SuperValu, Nature Valley Energy Bars, Chia Bia,
Kingfisher, Mint Health and Beauty, Morris's DIY, Waterford City
Council,  and the local Gardai for their involvement in this very
popular event.

Munster Juvenile "B" and Masters Cross Country Championships

Sunday next December 2 nd  Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare is the venue
at 12 noon for the Munster ( B ) Juvenile u 9,11,13,15,17,19 and
Masters' Cross Country Championships  and there will be a fairly big
entry from Waterford in each grade.  On Sunday week December 9th the
All Ireland Novice and Juvenile u 11,13,15,17,19, Cross Country
Championships will be in Adamstown, Co Wexford at 11.30 am.and  the
European Cross Country Championships will be in Budapest the same day.
The Schools International Combined events are in Glasgow on Saturday
next December 1st.

Paddy Byrne winter League

Again there was a big entry for Race 3 in the Winter League in the
City last Thursday and it continues every Thursday at the RSC at 7 pm,
registration from 6.15 pm.

Reflective clothing essential

The vast majority of those running and training around our roads and
streets after dark at the present time wear reflective clothing but
unfortunately a minority don't.They are a danger to themselves and
also to motorists and should be wearing clear reflective clothing and
always keep off busy roads, the only reason for this is little piece
of advice is SAFETY.

RSC Track being laid

No training on track at RSC until further notice as new track is being
laid in the coming weeks

John Treacy 10 Miles

The 22 nd Annual West Waterford JoihnTreacy 10 miles road race is on
Sunday January 27 th 2013  at 1 pm. Reduced entry fee of 20 Euro until
December 31 st  with closing date January 14 th but entries may close
before that date if ceiling of 1750 entries is reached, see West
Waterford AC website

Early 2013 Munster Fixtures

Munster Junior, Senior & Masters Indoor Championships, Nenagh Indoor
Stadium, Sunday 6 th January 2013.Munster Juvenile Relays, Junior &
Senior Cross Country Championships, Limerick Racecourse, Sunday 13 th
January 2013.

Death of an Irish sporting Legend.

All in Irish Athletic circles have been saddened to hear of the
passing of 1968 50 km Walk Olympian John Kelly.John was a legend of
the sport throughout the 1960s and held the Irish 50 km Walk record
from 1968 to 1992. He lived a fascinating, multi dimensional life..His
achievements, in no small way paved the road for the current
generation of world beating Irish Race Walkers.. John Kelly was born
on 6 October, 1929 at No. 7 Bridge, Loughmore [the cottage by the
railway line on the Thurles to Templemore Road]. When he was three
his.family moved to Graystown, Killenaule...He left Ireland in 1949
for  Australia and for the next few years he went back and forth to
New Zealand following the construction trade. While in Australia he
entered the 1956 Australian Olympic Trials for the hammer but had
three no throws [one of which nearly landed in a tram full of people!!
- there were no safety nets in those days, only the circle].At 6′ 2″,
John also competed in the ’56 Trials in boxing – heavyweight and went
out with a cut eye in the second round. He had won both
light-heavyweight and heavyweight categories in a Golden Gloves
Tournament  in Melbourne in the early 1950′s, and in New Zealand he
was runner-up in the 1957 Senior Heavyweight Boxing Championships. In
rugby he played wing forward and in 1954 he won the Moran Cup at
Auckland’s Eden Park with New Plymouth, the only time they have ever
won it .After moving to America in 1959, he was training at Bobby
Gleason’s Gym in New York six days a week considering a professional
boxing career and was offered a pro fight but decided to concentrate
on running instead. He finished 7 th in brutally warm conditions in
the 1964 Yonkers Marathon in New York which was one of two U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials for the 1964 Olympics.In 1965 he won the
Philadelphia Marathon in 2:37:23 running the whole distance in several
inches of snow. In 1970 at Orange County he actually walked a marathon
in 3:58:59. His best walking times for 20 km and 50 km were 1:32:30
and 4:24:22..John went on to represent Ireland at the 1968 Olympics in
Mexico City in the 50 km race walking event but did not finish,
overcome by the flu which he contracted two days before the event..In
1973 he earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records when he walked
120 miles in the notorious Death Valley Desert, California in the
non-stop record time of 34 hours 9 minutes and 9 seconds, beating the
previous record by an incredible 28 hours 30 minutes. He has also
engaged in sport at coaching and administrative levels, and was the
race walking director at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics – this entailed
not only organising all volunteers but setting and measuring the
course. He played a role in the musical film Star! featuring Julie
Andrews and directed by Robert Wise, and in the mid 1970′s he became a
member of the Screen Actors Guild. A well travelled man, he returned
to Ireland to visit many times and has been to over 100 countries. in
2003 there was a plaque unveiled in his honour outside Loughmore
National School. He was also home for the 2004 Tipperary Sports Awards
where he was the Knocknagow Award winner. The award is presented each
year to a leading Tipperary Sports tar of the past. John passed away
on November 13 th 2012.