Track Funding

News just announced .... Funding has been allocated to RSC for a new track surface! thanks to all who worked on the application and special thanks to John Deasy who backed the project carrying on the work of his father who was hugely responsible for getting the track in Waterford back in the the late 1980's!

Fintan Walsh weekly update

Jessie wins in Amsterdam

At the Amsterdam open meeting on Saturday last Jessie Barr put up a
fine performance to win a 400 metres race in 53.68 seconds. Three
other athletes who are with Jessie on the Irish 400 Metres relay panel
for the Olympics were all behind her in the race, Marian Heffernan was
3rd in 53.88, Michelle Carey 4th in 54.10 and Johanna Mills 6 th in
55.14. Also in Amsterdam Niamh Whelan was 5 th in the 200 Metres in
24.03 and 7th in the 100 metres in 11.84.

National League

Ferrybank AC and West Waterford AC both had Men's and Women's teams
competing in the second round of the National League on Sunday last in
Santry and the Ferrybank women's team had excellent results. There
were doubles for Niamh Whelan 100 and 200 Metres, Mairead Murphy 100
Metres Hurdles and Shot Putt and wins also for Kelly proper Long Jump,
Cara Kennedy Hammer, Sorcha Murphy High Jump and Thomas Barr in 400
Metres Hurdles,the women's team are through to the final.West
Waterford had wins with Lisa Houlihan Pole Vault and Zoe Scanlon
Discus.

 Cork City International meeting.

A number of athletes from Ferrybank AC competed at the Cork City
Sports on Tuesday June 17 th and Kelly Proper had the best results.She
was third in the 100 Metres in 11.86 seconds and fourth in the Long
Jump with 6.24 Metres. Fifth placings were secured by Jessie Barr 400
Metres in 53.78 seconds and Cara Kennedy in the  Hammer  with 55..83
Metres and sixth placings were had by Thomas Barr 400 Metres Hurdles
in 51.70 seconds and Sorcha Murphy High Jump with 1.65 Metres. Niamh
Whelan 100 metres in 12.24,  Mairead Murphy was 7 th in 100 Metres
Hurdles in 14.70. Thomas Houlihan West Waterford was 5 th in the Pole
Vault with 4.40 Metres

Munster ( B ) Juvenile winners

Ennis was the venue on Sunday last for the Munster ( B ) Juvenile
Track and Field Championships and athletes from Waterford Clubs
figured prominently.An Ghaeltacht had wins by Hannah Power u16 High
Jump and Shot Putt and Jack O'Floinn u11 Ball Throw, and seconds by
Laura Millar u10 60 Metres and Ornaith Keane u 16 High Jump and 800
Metres and Hannah power was third in the u 16 Long jump   For West
Waterford Meg Ryan won the 800 Metres u15.Chris O'Mahony was second in
the High jump u 16 and third placings were secured by Lucy Holmes Long
Jump u 11, Shane O'Riordan u16 800metres, Emily O'Mahony u12 600
metres. Ferrybank had a win with EoinKenny u 13 Shot Putt and Dara
O.Keeffe was second in the Ball Throwu10. For KCk Katie Heinen won the
Ball Throw u11 and she was second inthe Long Jump,An Ghaeltacht also
had medal winners.

World Junior Champion

Congratulations to Hayley Fitzsimmons from Portlaw a member of
Ferrybank AC who won a Gold Medal for Ireland in the Czech Republic on
Saturday last at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports
Federations World Junior Games. Hayley competing in the T40 Category
threw the Javelin 15.31 Metres a personal best. She is coached by Tom
Prendergast and is also a very good competitor at the Shot Putt
.
Kilbarry Nature Park Race

The first competitive race to be held on the recently opened Kilbarry
Nature Park attracted an entry of 160.over a 5 KM course that took in
two laps of the Park and then finishing up on top of the Hill . Frank
Quinlan Waterford AC was the easy winner in a time if 15 minutes 47
seconds, Alan Danagher, Ferrybank was second in 17.24 and Gary
Cantwell, KCK was third in 17.29. Una Ui Mhuirithe was first lady home
in 20.15, Diane Behan was second in 20.31 and Orna ui Mhuirithe a
daughter of the winner was third in 20.43. The proceeds went to the
Charity Zamda. All who participated in both the run and the Walk were
highly impressed with this magnificent facility in the City open to
the public daily. Opening Hours:Mon - Fri: 6am - 10pm, Sat - Sun: 9am
- 6pm. Vehicular Access through Kingfisher Club. Pedestrian access 24
hours from Tramore Road
.
 Morton International in Dublin.

On Wednesday of this week there is an International meeting in Morton
Stadium in Dublin and many athletes from Ferrybank and West Waterford
will compete. For Ferrybank they include Thomas Barr, Kelly Proper.
Niamh Whelan, Leona Byrne, Chris Russell, Alan Danagher, Billy Ryan
and for West Waterford Thomas Houlihan and James Ledingham and Barry
Upton who runs with Menapians will also compete.The feature event is
the Morton Memorial Mile at 9 pm with a field of World Class Athletes
many capable of running sub 3minute.53seconds miles, the first
International event is at 7.15 pm.

Final Sections of National Juvenile Championships

Tullamore is the venue on Saturday and Sunday next July 28 th and 29
th  for the last two days of the National Juvenile Championships u 12
to 19. Sunday will be exclusively for Relay events 4x 100 Metres and 4
x 400 Metres. Competition begins both days at 10 am and registration
ends at 9.30 am. Full timetable of events for both days on Athletic
Ireland Website and Waterford will be well represented..

Ballymacarbry 5 Miles on Friday

 The 17th Annual Doocey’s Bar Ballymacarbry 5 Miles Road Race is on
Friday next July 27th  at 7.30 pm another race in the Ger Wyley Sports
Summer Series. The prize categories include men's, ladies and juniors.
Race entries will be taken at the Ballymacarbry Community Hall  form 6
.15 pm and the entry fee is 8 euros and the presentation of prizes
will take place at Doocey’s Bar. There's a 10 Miles Road Race in
Ballynonty near Killenaule Co Tipperary on Sunday next July 29 th at
11 am the contact number is  086 8611325. The final race in the
Outfield Sports Series, the Morris Oil 10 KM will be in Piltown Co
Kilkenny on Friday August 3 rd at 7.30 pm.

Cheekpoint/Faithlegg Run

 Altitude Hurthill 4 Miles Trail Run and Walk on Sunday next 29th July
begins at Faithlegg Church at 1pm and finishes in Cheekpoint.
Registration at Faithlegg Church from 12 noon.

Memorial Race

 Eiblis Ni hAodha, ( Liz Hayes ) Memorial  5 miles Fun run/walk onBank
Holiday Monday, 6th August, near Ballyduff Lower Church,
Kilmeaden.Walk starts at 6:30pm, run at 7:00pm .Registration from
5:30pm & entry €10, students €5.Prizes first three men/women. Plenty
of spot prizes. Coming up on Saturday August11 th is Alan Everett
Memorial 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co Waterford at 7 pm

5KM  Island Run

The Island Run, promoted by Balance Fitness, takes place on Sunday
August 19th at 1pm at Waterford Castle. 5km race, family fun day,
music and BBQ. Entries at Ardkeen Quality Food Store, race sponsor, or
runireland.com. More details at www.balance. Charity this year
Waterford Branch Irish Red Cross

Great Programme

On RTE Television last week there was a brilliant programme presented
by Ian O'Riordan Journalist a former athlete and son of Tom O'Riordan
Journalist and International athlete on the Drug Culture etc in Sport.
in simple terms drug takers are cheats. There are  cheats in every
walk of life whether it be in Business, Politics etc but when it
happens in Sport the public outcry is much more vocal. Some
supplements also came into the equation during the programme and they
are a minefield and as always those that take them are running a great
risk of ruining their life and careers and being shamed into the
bargain. Coaches can often be the drivers here but in the end its the
athlete who is caught faces the consequences. Simple advice is to make
sure you are aware of all the banned substances and these are
available too any athlete from the Irish Sports Council or from
Athletics Ireland

Olympic Games

The athletic events at the Olympic Games in London begin on August 3rd
and end on August 12 th, the games get under way on July 25 th. Next
week we will take a brief look at the Irish entry in athletics.

World Junior Champion - Hayley Fitzsimons

We have a world junior Paralympic champion from Ferrybank AC. Today, Hayley Fitzsimons won the javelin in this competition in the Czech Republic today. See. http://iwas2012.atletikaolomouc.cz/timetable/results/21_07/14_00_javelin_female_U16_U18_U20_U23_F40_F44_F36_F37_F38.pdf

Fintan Walsh's weekly update

World Junior Championships

Two young 18 year old athletes from Waterford competed in the World
Junior Championships in Barcelona last week and both had good
performances, athletes from 178 countries competed a record for the
event. Ben Kiely from the Dunhill area who runs with Ferrybank AC was
in the 400 Metres Hurdles and in the first round he was competing
against seven athletes with faster personal best times than he had but
running from lane 8 he gave a very brave and plucky performance to
finish fourth in a personal best time of 52.39 seconds. Three in each
of seven heats automatically went through to the semi final plus three
fastest losers overall and Ben got the final place. His semi final was
on the following day and again he faced seven athletes with much
faster times. Again he gave it his all but eventually finished seventh
in 53.06 seconds and was eliminated. Ben can look forward to the next
European Juniors next year in Italy. By Kate Veale's very high
standards she was disappointed with her 18 th placing in the 10000
Metres Walk Final where she was ranked 6th going into the event where
38 competed.  She recorded a time of 48 minutes 50 seconds over two
minutes outside her best, but Kate from Ballinroad who competes with
West Waterford need not be too disappointed as she has had many more
good days than bad ones and like Ben she is eligible again for next
years Europeans and in every sport losses come as well as the wins.
Eight weeks or so prior to these championships Kate competed in a
similar race in Saransk in Russia where she finished  6th against many
of those last week so there may be an answer as to how she fared best
known to herself. The World Final was practically a carbon copy of
that race with five in the first seven home finishing in the first six
in Saransk and Kate is still ranked very high.

Four All Ireland Juvenile titles won.

Last week end was a big one for our juvenile athletes with the first
two day's of the All Ireland u 12 to 19 championships in Tullamore on
Saturday and Sunday. Over the two days Waterford athletes had four
wins and also came home with several silver and bronze medals. For
Ferrybank AC the following were first in their events; Orlaith O'Brien
u 14 Javelin, Tom Gallagher u 12 High Jump and Neasa Murphy u 16 High
Jump,  silver medals went to Tom Gallagher u 12 Long Jump  and Aisling
Quinn u 16 800 Metres and bronze medal winners were Orlaith O'Brien u
14 Discus and Paul Murphy u 17 400 Metres. West Waterford had a win
with Shamie Fennell in Pole Vault u 16, silver medals went to Ciara
Scanlon u 19 Hammer, Kate Hickey u 18 Discus, Sarah Keoghan u 17 Pole
Vault and a bronze to Jamie Mc Kelvie u 15 Discus and for An
Ghaeltacht Ciaran O'Maoileoin was third in the u 14 Hammer. Waterford
AC athlete Kathleen Heery had two good efforts in the u 14 Hammer and
Discus finishing 5 th and 6th respectively

Fast Time for Joe

Fifty nine year old Joe Gough West Waterford AC won a graded 800
Metres race on Cork IT Track on Sunday last in 2 minutes 12.55 seconds
a remarkable time for a man of his age.


Busy Week End

Another hectic week end lies ahead with fixtures at home and abroad.
On Saturday the Schools International is in Kent in England and Sunday
has two fixtures. The second round of the National Senior League is at
two venues Athlone and Santry and both Ferrybank and West Waterford
have teams competing. Coming up on Saturday and Sunday July 28 th and
Jul 29 th AAI Juvenile U12-U19 T&F Championships Second
Section,Tullamore

Cork City Sports

Athletes from the Olympic Teams of USA, Jamaica, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Japan and many more will compete at the 61st Cork City
Sports.If you have the slightest interest in athletics or if you
cannot get to London for the Olympics then CIT is the place to be this
Tuesday evening. July 17th Entrance is just €10 per adult (€15 for the
stand) and juveniles are free.Juvenile Gala starts at 5:30pm and the
senior programme starts at 6:30pm

 Friday's Sports

Fanahan McSweeney Carnival Sports this Friday July 20 @ 7 pm Araglin
GAA Pitch. East  Cork Events for boys and girls u 6 to 18 Contact:
Finbarr McCarthy 086.0712403 / Seamus Fox 087.3589734

Kilbarry Nature Park Race on Friday

The new Kilbarry Park sees its first ever Fun Run/Walk and it's in aid
of ZAMDA Charity  this week on Friday July 20th at 7:00pm for walkers
and 8:00pm for the runners - 5Km, €10 entry fee. with just runners to
be worn. Cash prizes and category prizes too. Come along, have some
fun, and support ZAMDA while you're at it. On Friday July 27th Annual
Ballymacarbry 5 Miles Road Race 7.30 pm.

 Jessie an Olympian

 A number of people have enquired where a panel of  6 are chosen for
the 4 x 400 metres relay or indeed any 4x relay for the Olympics but
only four compete are all considered Olympians and the answer is
yes.To clarify this yours truly contacted the Olympic Council of
Ireland who enter the teams and who are affiliated to the
International Olympic Committee but they could not give me an answer
which is hard to credit and referred me to Athletics Ireland who
promptly supplied the information. So Jessie keeps up the great record
of Waterford athletics who have had at least one athlete selected at
all Olympics since 1980. Incidentally Jessie becomes the first athlete
from Ferrybank AC to be an Olympian. The Relay selection  by Athletics
Ireland left a lot to be desired and was done far too soon with lots
of problems..

   Memorial Race

 Eiblis Ni hAodha, ( Liz Hayes ) Memorial  5mile Fun run/walk on Bank
Holiday Monday, 6th August, near Ballyduff Lower Church,
Kilmeaden.Walk starts at 6:30pm, run at7:00pm .Registration from
5:30pm & entry €10, students €5.Prizes first three men/women. Plenty
of spot prizes. Coming up on Saturday August11 th is Alan Everett
Memorial 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co Waterford at 7 pm

National Juvenile Champs, Tullamore.

Fantastic results from Tullamore at day 2 of the National Juvenile championships. Gold for Tom gallagher in the huigh jump with a pb of 1.46m narrowly failing a new championship record height. Well Done Tom. Gold also for Orla O Brien in the Javelin with a new championship record of 34m. Orla also won bronze in the discus. Aisling Quinn had a fine run for silver in the 800m and Paul Murphy had a superb b ronze in the 400m. Good performances also from Chris Noonan in the 250m hurldes, Orla Quelly in the 800m, Gopika Suresh in the shot, and Chloe Farrell in the long jump. Sinead O Regan was really unlucky not to medal when she finished fourth in the high jump, Conor Giles Doran had a pb finishing fourth in the javelin. Well done everyone - a marvellous weekend!As well as Neasa's brilliant pb and gold medal in the u 16 high jump today , Tom Gallagher had a fantastic silver medal in the u 12 boys long jump. He jumped 4.38m just 2 cm off the gold. Niamh Giles Doran was really unlucky not to medal when she was fourth in the u 17 long jump with 5.15m Stephen Walsh was in a photofinish for the bronze medal in the 100m but just lost out. Finishing just outside the medals but all doing well today were Siobhan Whelan in the long jump and 80m, Niamh Giles Doran LJ and 80m, Tom gallagher Ball throw, Priscilla Ademoye high jump, John Halley 100mm and Nicole Rowe in the steeplechase.

Ben Kiely at the World Junior Champs

An absolutely amazing run for Ben Kiely in the World Juniors in Barcelona th. With a PB this year well behind most of the other competitors, Ben knocked over .7 of a second off his best ever time with 52.39 finishing in fourth place in his heat and qualifying for the semi finals. Well done Ben....he really ran his heart out and best of luck to him in the semi finals.....sub 52 now beckons!!!!


Ben finished seventh in the semi final with his second fastest ever time of 53.06. A great championships!

Fintan Walsh's weekly roundup

Five Irish Senior titles for Waterford by Ferrybank AC athletes


 After a hectic few days on the continent brother and sister Thomas
and Jessie Barr both returned to compete at the National Championships
in Santry Stadium Dublin last week end and both retained their titles
in the 400 Metres Hurdles but neither got the A Qualifying mark for
the Olympics- Jessie had the B and was just 0.4 of a second off the A
- and she is selected for London on the Irish 4x 400 Metres Relay
panel of 6 from which the four to run will be chosen. It proved to be
a fantastic week end for Ferrybank AC as there athletes won five
titles as well as five silver and four bronze medals. Thomas Barr who
competed in a race in Liege in Belgium on Thursday was in a straight
final for his race on Sunday and withstood quite a good effort by the
second man home Harvey from Crusaders to win his second successive
title in another good time of 50.87 seconds. Jessie who competed in a
race in Germany on Friday had to run a heat on Sunday and then a final
which she won in 57.33 seconds to take her second title in succession.
Kelly Proper who had been injured for some time made a welcome return
at the championships and  on Saturday won the Long Jump with a
season's best of 6.33 metres- this was her 6 th National Long Jump
title  - she won her first in 2006 and did not compete last year, on
Sunday she took the silver medal in the 100 metres in 11.84 seconds.
Cara Kennedy retained her Hammer title with a throw of 56.22 Metres
not far from her best and Mairead Murphy also had a fine win in the
100 metres Hurdles in 14.77 seconds. Niamh Whelan had her best run of
the season in the 200 Metres to finish second in 23.62 metres and also
was third in the 100 metres in 11.86 on Sunday she finished third in
the 100 Metres and Sorcha Murphy was second in the High Jump.Also
second were the men's 4x400 metres relay team of Chris Russell, James
Greene, Billy Ryan and Thomas Barr and Chris Russell was fourth in the
200 Metres,Bronze medals went to Leona Byrne in the Long Jump and Sean
Archer in the Triple Jump both on Saturday and to Billy Ryan in the
800 metres on Sunday. For West Waterford AC Thomas Houlihan made a
brave effort to win the Pole Vault but had to settle for second with
4.60 Metres the event was won in 4.70,.his sister Lisa was fifth in
the Pole Vault and Kate Hickey was also fifth in the Discus.

 Kate and Ben at World Junior Championships

Starting on Tuesday of this week the Word Junior Athletic
Championships are in Barcelona and two athletes from Waterford clubs
will be competing for Ireland and both will be in action on Wednesday
morning. The two are World 2011 Youth  5000 Metres Walk  Champion Kate
Veale from Ballinroad a member of  West Waterford AC and she competes
in the 10 KM Walk Final at 8.30 am Irish Time and Ben Kiely 2011
European Youth Olympic 400 Metres Hurdles Champion from Dunhill who
competes with Ferrybank AC and he goes in the heats of the 400 Metres
Hurdles at 10.30 am.The Championships sees the  biggest gathering in
terms of participating national IAAF Member Federations in the history
of the championships, no fewer than 180 IAAF member countries
participate.With a total of 1742 athletes entered (964 men and 778
women), the record of participating men and women is also broken The
championships will be a big step up for both Kate and Ben and to give
an idea of the competition they will encounter in Kate's race two or
three athletes are below 43 minutes she is around 45. 50  and in Ben's
race a few are  around 51seconds or less and Ben's best is 52.69, we
wish them both well

Results of 13 th Annual Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles

Men. 1  Philip Harty, Donore Harriers 24.52, 2 Sandis Bralitis, WWAC
25.49, 3 Frank Quinlan, WAC 26.33. 0/40 Frank Hayes, East Cork 27.23,
0/45 Andrew Leary, WWAC  28. 43, 0/50 Martin McCarthy, WWAC 28.50,
0/55 Tommy Cahill, Clonmel  32.49.  O60 Con Kelleher, WAC 35.14,
Ladies1 Angela McCann, Clonmel  29.23, 2 Sinead Mansfield, 31.10, 3
Corinna Walsh  WWAC 31.41,  0/35 Liz Nhyan  WWAC,  34.41, 0/40 Irene
Clark WWAC 37.15, 0/45 Ann Dunford WWAC 35.47, 0/50 Bernie Prendergast
WWAC 38.49,  0/55 Marie Moore WWAC 47.29, Junior Kate Nolan WAC 34.03
Proceeds divided between Munster Special Olympics and Dogs for the
Disabled. 9 It was Race 8 in Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series.

All Ireland Juvenile

Saturday and Sunday July 14th and 15 th next will be the first two
day's of the All Ireland Juvenile u 12 to 19 championships in
Tullamore with a big Waterford entry. There will be lots of
competitions on both days with a 10 am start but registration from
9.15 am. Full programme of events on Athletic Ireland Website

Further July Championships etc

Saturday 21st Schools International T&F Championships,Kent, England,
Sunday Jul 22 National League Round 2 Athlone/Santry
Sunday July 22nd Munster Juvenile B T&F Championships, Ennis, Sat/Sun
July 28 th and Jul 29 th AAI Juvenile U12-U19 T&F Championships
Tullamore

Cork City Sports

Once again Cork City Sports committee have decided to include a
juvenile 300m Gala in the programme for the 2012 meet on Tuesday July
17th. The 300m Gala is open to all U9 - U14 athlete, born between 1999
- 2004, inclusive. Entries are free and can be done on line @
http://www.corkcitysports.ie/juveniles.php. Entries will also be be
taken on the day from 5pm and races will start at 5:30pm.

Road Races Coming up In July

Rathgormack 5 Miles is on next Friday July 13 th at 7.30 pm ( race 3
in Oatfield Sports Series )  entries from 6.30 pm in Rathgormack,
Ballymacarbry 5 Miles on Friday July 29 th at 7.30 pm ( Ger Wyley
Sports Series )

Memorial Race

 Eiblis Ni hAodha, ( Liz Hayes ) Memorial  5mile Fun run/walk on
Monday, 6th August, Ballyduff, Kilmeaden.Walk starts at 6:30pm, run at
7:00pm .Registration from 5:30pm & entry €10, students €5.Prizes first
three men/women. Plenty of spot prizes. Coming up on Saturday August
11 th is Alan Everett Memorial 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co
Waterford at 7 pm

5KM  Island Run

The Island Run, promoted by Balance fitness, takes place on Sunday
August 19th at 1pm at Waterford Castle. 5km race, family fun day,
music and BBQ. Entries at Ardkeen Quality Food Store, race sponsor, or
runireland.com. More details at www.balance.ie.

Photos from the National Senior Championships, 7th & 8th July 2012

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=108755041855456243208&target=ALBUM&id=5762908862150749281&authkey=Gv1sRgCOy2kY7MvMKBKg&feat=email

National Senior Championships

Our best ever national Senior Championships saw our athletes return home with 5 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals!!! Our National Champions are Thomas Barr 400m hurdles, Jessie Barr 400m hurdles, Cara Kennedy hammer, Kelly Proper Long jump and Mairead Murphy 100m hurdles. Silver medals were won by the Mens 4 x 400m relay, the ladies 4 X 100m relay, Sorcha Murphy in the high jump, Niamh Whelan in the 200m and Kelly Proper in the 100m. Bronze medals were won by Billy Ryan 800m, Niamh Whelan 100m, Sean Archer triple jump and Leona Byrne long jump. An amazing weekend overall & well done to everyone who represented us with such distinction. I

Fintan Walsh, County PRO, weekly roundup

Barr's brilliant in Helsinki

Last week at the European Athletic championships in Helsinki a brother
and sister from Ferrybank AC Thomas and Jessie Barr rose to the
occasion magnificently in their 400 Metres Hurdle Races at their first
major Senior Championships. Jessie with top performances in her heat
and semi final made it through to the final where eventually after
three top class races in as many days she had no more to give
eventually finishing 8 th in the final where fatigue took its toll. On
day One in her heat she finished 2 nd in 50.59 seconds easily going
through, the next day she clocked a personal best of 55.93 in
finishing fourth to go through to the final as one of the fastest
losers and on day 3 she clocked 56.83 in the final.  The (A) Olympic
Qualification mark is 55.50 and Jessie is just outside it but she has
the ( B ) standard. After her performances in Helsinki it would appear
that there is great case for her to be given the chance in the
Olympics.Thomas too had an excellent Championships as he finished
second in his heat on Wednesday in 50.59 to make the semi final easily
and then in the semi final on Thursday- the fastest of the three
semi's held- he finishes fifth again improving his season's best time
to 50.22 seconds and again at just 19 years of age he is close to the
Olympic Standards which are 49.50 for the( A  ) and 49.80 for the ( B)
he has a best time of 50.08. Either way both will now have great
opportunities to get into the major races around Europe and look to
have exciting careers ahead..

Successful Viking Marathon

The first Annual WLRFM Viking Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay was a
great success with almost 1800 competitors taking part
ranging in many ages from late teens up to the over 70 category . The
race was started outside City Hall by Waterford's Marathon Olympic
silver medallist John Treacy at 9 am after Mayor Jim Darcy had greeted
the runners there. The course took in parts of the inner city, Tramore
Road, Lacken Road, Ballybeg Drive, and on out past Whitfield Clinic
out to Orchardstown Cross then over to Tramore with a circuit in the
town and back to the RSC . The eventual winner Bryan Murphy Carrick on
Suir led from an early stage and despite encountering several
difficult moments in the last mile or so he won easily from Frank
Quinlan Waterford who too had some problems, Peter Hickey was third.
Angela McCann Clonmel won the ladies section comfortably from Mags
Kirwan Bolger from Kill who ran a great race and Ann Marie Holland
Eagle AC Cork was third. Alan Corcoran who had completed 34 Marathons
in successive days made it 35 as he finished in Waterford on Saturday.
Seventy four year old Kay O'Regan from Slaney Olympic in Wexford
completed the course her 108 th Marathon as did the well known Paddy
Grace from Lisduggan in the over 70 category. the sole wheelchair
competitor was Gerry Forde from Co Cork. Its true to say that all who
finished the races were winners many running for charities and for
Waterford it was a very positive day. Crowds all round the course gave
lots of encouragement to the competitors and in the RSC the atmosphere
was electric. Sincere thanks to all those on duty on the day
stewarding, those at water stations, ambulance crews, cyclist's,
physios, medical staff, recorders etc, the bands, Waterford City
Council and a special thank you to the Gardai, their input was
super.WLRFM together with their other sponsors of whom there were many
deserve a big bula bos, roll on 2013.

Marathon Results

Men 1 B Murphy Carrick on Suir 2.38.36, 2 F Quinlan Waterford
2.42.08,3 P Mooney 2.44.32, 4 M Morgan St Finbarr's 2.46.52, 5 T Kelly
Nth Sligo 2.47.34, 6 G Brady Donore Hrs 2.49.33.  o 40 T Kelly Nth
Sligo,o45 G Taylor, o 50 B Ryan Tallaght, o 55 E Doherty Sliabh Bhui
Rovers,o 60 E Whelan Nth Sligo, o 70 P Grace Waterford.  Women 1 A
McCann Clonmel  2.51.14, 2 M Kirwan Bolger Waterford 3.01.20, 3 A M
Holland Eagle 3.04.06, 4  E Murphy St Finbarr's 3.15.48, 5 A M O Grady
KCH 3.23.09, 6 D Behan Waterford 3.24.10. o 35 A M Holland, o 40 A
McCann,o 45 M Kirwan Bolger, o 50 A Srarvrou St Finbarr's, o 55 M Ryan
Jennings Waterford, O 60 T Gough West Waterford, 0 70 C O'Regan Slaney
Olympic First Team  Sarah S Honey

Half Marathon Results

Men 1 A Thompson  1.17.41, 2 1, 2 F Walsh Waterford 1.18.02,  3  A
Storey do 1.21.29. o 40  M O'Mahony Waterford, o 45 M Dunford, West
Waterford, o 50 G Cantwell do, o 55  T Burns Waterford, o 60 P Moore
Dungarvan  Women 1 T Cunningham Carrick on Suir 1.32.04, 2 J Lacy
1.34.52,  3 L Nyhan West Waterford.1.36.03. o 35 J Lacy, o40 T
Cunningham, o 45 J Brazil Waterford, o 50 B Prendergast West
Waterford, o 55 H Kennedy, o60  J Matthew ,o 70 M Walls.   1800
competed overall

World Junior championships

Kate Veale West Waterford AC and Ben Kiely Ferrybank AC are both ion
the Irish Team for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona from
July 10 th to 14 th. Kate goes in the 10 KM Walk final and Ben in the
400 Metres heats both on Wednesday morning July 11 th.

Woodies DIY All Ireland Senior Championships this week end

Santry Stadium is the venue on Saturday and Sunday next for the All
Ireland Senior Track and Field championships and all the country's
leading athletes will be competing including all the Waterford stars.
Last year four athletes from Waterford won titles Jessie and Thomas
Barr both 400 Metres Hurdles, Cara Kennedy Hammer all three with
Ferrybank and Kate Veale West Waterford 5000 Metres Walk. It looks as
if three will be defending them as Kate is out of the country
preparing for the World junior Championships in Barcelona from 10 to
14 th July. The above three will be fancied to retain their titles and
others expected to figure prominently are Kelly Proper, Niamh Whelan,
Billy Ryan, Chris Russell Ferrybank and the Houlihan's from West
Waterford in the Pole Vault Thomas and Lisa, Zoe Scanlon and Clare
Collins. This is probably the last chance that athletes have to get a
qualifying time for the Olympics

Jamie's Last try

On Sunday at a meeting in Norway Jamie Costin competes in a 20 KM Walk
in his final attempt to get an ( A )qualifying standard for the
Olympics. He tried the 50 Km without success and hopes he can do the
job for the 20 km on Sunday

Lots of Juvenile wins

In Cork on Saturday and Sunday last at the Munster u 14 to 19
Championships there were many winners from Ferrybank and West
Waterford. The Ferrybank winners were Orlaith O'Brien u 14 Javelin and
Shot Putt, Paul Murphy u 17 400 M , Niamh Giles Doran u 17 Long Jump,
Ciara Giles Doran u 18 400 M Hurdles Stephen Murphy u 16 200 M, Neasa
Murphy u 16 High Jump, Aisling Quinn u 16 1500 M, Sorcha Murphy u 18
High Jump, Conor Giles Doran u 14 Hammer, Nicole Rowe u 18
Steeplechase, Girls u 17 and  u 18 relay. Silver medals were won by
Aisling Quinn u 16 800 M, Sinead O'Regan u 14 High Jump, Siobhan
Whelan u 17 High Jump, Ciara Giles Doran u 18 400 M ,100 M Hurdles and
Boys u 14 relay, bronze medal winners were Aoife Harrison u 15 Long
Jump, Anne Corcoran u 14 200 M, Javelin and Shot Putt, Orlaith O'Brien
u 14 Discus and Hammer, Cormac McCann u 15 250 M Hurdles, Ciara Giles
Doran u 18 Long Jump, Chris Noonan u 16 250M Hurdles, Kellie Meade, u
16  High Jump, Niall Murphy u16 Triple Jump, Stephen Walsh u 16 100 M,
John Halley u 19 100 M, Niamh Giles Doran u 17 100 M. The West
Waterford winners were Jamie Mc Kelvie u15 Discus,  Sarah Keoghan u 17
Pole Vault, Seamie Fennell u 16 Pole Vault, Lce Houlihan u 19 Pole
Vault  Josh Rockett u 15 Hammer, Laura Connors u 17 High Jump, Silver
medals went to Martin Houlihan u 19 Pole Vault, Aoife Hamilton u15
1500 M. Ciara Scanlon u 19 Hammer, Kate Hickey u 18 Discus, Josh
Rockett u 15 Discus, Erwin Legal u 17 Steeplechase, Tholm Reddy u 16
800 M, Jamie Mc Kelvie u15 Hammer. and bronze medals went to Luke
Sheehan u 19 Hurdles, Kate Hickey u 18 Shot Putt and Ciaran Dee u 18
Walk, Lucy O'Brien u14 800 m and Caoimhe Dwyer u14 800 M. For Tramore
Emannuel Ogbonna won the Triple jump u 18 and was second in Long Jump,
Damon Crowley was 3rd u17 3000 Metres, for Waterford AC Richard Lucas
won the 800 M u 19, Kathleen Heery the Javelin u 14 Luke O'Brien was
second in the u 14 Javelin Alan Slattery was second u 19 3000 M and
third in the 1500 M and for An Ghaeltacht Ciaran O'Maoileoin was
second in the u14 Discus and third in the Hammer


Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles on Friday

The 13 th Annual Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles Road Race is in Dungarvan on
Friday next July 5 th at 8 pm.Its race 8 in the Ger Wyley Sports
Series. Entries will be taken at the Dungarvan United Football Club
Pavillion, Kilrush, Dungarvan from 6.45 pm.