Sunday 26 January 2014

Sean Nyhan

All in the athletics world send sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Sean Nyhan Ballincollig, Cork who passed to his eternal reward last week. Sean was a wonderful gentleman, who was deputy president of the Irish Schools athletic association. Sean was for over 45 years at the centre of Schools’ Athletics. He made an enormous contribution to schools’ athletics not only in the Munster Region but also nationally where he was Honorary Secretary of the Irish Schools’ Athletic Association for over 30 years. He was involved in all the major changes that have taken place in schools’ athletics in that time and his wise counsel was sought out by everybody associated with athletics.Sean was also the Honorary Secretary of the Munster Schools Athletic Association since 1967. He will be sadly missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. - James Veale

Niall wins in Zurich and PB for Kevin in America

News just coming in if a great win for Niall Tuohy over 800m in Zurich ....indoor pb of 1.49.01 by almost three seconds .... Huge well done to him on this very impressive performance.

Well done to Kevin Cooper who ran a huge 3k pb of 8.02 in the states last night. 

National Indoor junior & under 23 championships...medals galore!

What a brilliant day at the national u 23 and junior indoor championships. Our athletes won five gold, two silver and one bronze ... Several other finalists also. PBS were the order of the day! Golds for Neasa Murphy junior hj 1.68m, niamh Mcnichol jun200m 24.87pb, Sean archer u 23 triple jump 14.00m, Shane o dwyer u 23 high Jump 1.95m and Thomas barr u 23 400m 47.18. Silver for Shane o dwyer in the u23 long jump and Aisling Quinn in the junior 1500m and a super bronze and a big pb for Ben Kiely in the junior 200m . Great performances also from Richard Lucas 5th in the 800m in a super new pb of2.06 and Sean whittle in the long Jump and triple just outside the medals. Stephen Walsh just missed the 60m final and had a super win on his 200m heat only to be disqualified for a lane infringement. Congrats to everyone on a great day for the club!
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James Veale's weekly blog

23RD ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.




The 23 rd annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile took place last Sunday and a field of 2.000 competed. The overall winner was Thomas Fitzpatrick Tallagh AC in a time of 49.48 from winner last year Sean Hehir Rathfarnham 2nd in  49.59,James Mc Carthy East Cork AC was 3rd in 50.43 and Sean Connolly Tallagh AC took 4th in 50.27.In the Ladies race Siobhan O’ Doherty Borrisakane AC in a time of 56.53 won her third Dungarvan 10 title 2010,2011 and 2014. Gladys Ganiel North Belfast Harriers was 2nd in a time of 57.27 with Cork’s Gill Hodgins 3rd in 58.36 and Niamh Devlin DSD AC WAS 4TH in 61.30. John Treacy and Minister Leo varadkar both completed the race in just over 80 minutes .The John Treacy inter club challenge was won by East Cork AC won for the first time in the men’s and the ladies was won by St Finbarrs AC in cork.




NATIONAL INDOOR TITLES FOR WATERFORD CLUBS.



On Saturday last at the woodies DIY national masters which took in Athlone Waterford athletes were among the medal winners. West Waterford's joe gough was in terrific form taking 3 national titles in the over 60 category.
First up was the 400    which he won in 59.53 and then in the 800 he clocked 2.16.00 for another gold .Joe capped off a memorable championship with a gold in the 200 in 27.43.Also competing for West Waterford was Harry o Brien in the 1.500 m over 50 Harry took silver in a very competitive race clocking 4.46.27. Waterford AC won two titles Nicola Hayes over 35 long jump in 4.25 and Tom O’ Brien set a new national over 45 record for the high jump of 1.73 meters . Mary Jennings Waterford AC over 55 won Silver in both the 3.000m 12.28.35 and in the long jump 2.72. and took bronze in the 1.500 in 6.03.04 and again in the over  category 60m 11.53, while Paschal Hally won 2 bronze in the over 40 with a time of 11.3 in the 60m hurdles and 1.50 in the high jump.

FERRYBANK ATHLETES AMONG THE MEDALS AT WOODIES DIY INDOORS.

PB FOR THOMAS BARR.

It was a very successful day Sunday for athletes from Ferrybank in Athlone at the national junior under 23 and junior. Neasa Murphy took gold in the Junior High Jump with 1.68m,Niamh Mc Nichol also took gold in the Junior 200m in  24.87. Shane O Dwyer in the under 23 won gold in the high jump with a height of 1.95 and added a silver in the long jump 6.68and Sean Archer gold again under 23 in the triple Jump in 14.00m, Aisling Quinn won silver in the Junior 1.500m in 4.56 and Ben Kiely won bronze in the under 23 over 200m in 22.79.In the Men’s U23 400m long hurdles specialised Thomas Barr set a personal best both indoors and outdoors to take the title in 47.17.


NEW 800 PB FOR NIALL TUOHY IN ZURICH.


In Zurich last Saturday Ferrybank’s Niall Tuohy showed great form when he ran a personal best 1.49.30 over 800 meters to take an excellent win , Niall clipped 3 seconds off his previous best and was just outside his outdoors best for the distance also.



JOHN TREACY IS INDUCTED INTO THE MUNSTER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME.

The Munster athletics sports star awards banquet took place at the Tower Hotel last Saturday night and a full house saw the cream of Munster athletes awarded with a host of various accolades on the night. Five separate awards went to Waterford and are listed below with their main achievements in the 2013 season. A very special award was made on the night to John Treacy when he was inducted into the Munster athletics hall of fame, a richly deserving honour for the Villierstown man, twice world cross country champion and marathon silver medallist from the Los Angeles Olympics.


Juvenile Track and Field Girls-Siobhan Whelan Ferrybank AC

Siobhan competing under 18 took Gold  in the 60m, 200m and Triple Jump and added a silver in the long jump. At the Munster Outdoor championships she won gold in the Triple Jump and silver in the Long Jump and 100 m and Bronze in the 200m,she took 2 silvers in the Munster schools triple and long jump and at the national indoors she took bronze in the triple jump.


Juvenile Track and Field Boys- Paul Murphy Ferrybank AC.

Paul had a sting of victories through out the year at the Munster Junior indoors he won gold in 200 and 400m and two bronze at the All Irelands over the same distances. At the Scottish indoors in the 400m Pual took gold in a New Championship Record of 49.8 ).Turning to the outdoors season he again took gold in the 200 and 400 under 18 and was 2nd in the junior 200m.At the All Irelands he set a new championship best of 49.1 when winning the 400 meter’s and added the 200 also. At the Celtic Games International U18 over 400m  Paul was  2nd, and finally at the schools he had 4 first at East Munster’s over 200 and 400 and at the Munster’s over the same distances, he rounded off the schools season with bronze in the 200 meters Al Irelands..



Senior Track and Field Tom Boucher Ferrybank AC ,


Tom has had an outstanding season in 2013 and richly deserves the award for Senior track and field athlete of the year, Tom took gold at the Munster Indoor Track and Field Championships in the Shot Putt and weight for distance and gold weight for height outdoors and bronze in  the weight for distance outdoors. At the Defence Forces Indoor Track and Field Championships he won the Shot Putt both indoors and outdoors in 2013.And at the IUAA Track & Field Championships Weight for Distance he took silver and bronze in the outdoors weight for diat2nd IUAA Track & Field Championships Weight for distance event.


Juvenile Cross Country Micheal Power West Waterford AC ,

Micheal is a born cross country runner, he won the County championships double under 15 his age group and also took 1st place moving up a year to under 16 he has now achieved this feat for the past 3 years  now. Micheal had a terrific win in the Munster under 15 championships and finished 3rd out of his age under 16 . He rounded off a great season just 2 weeks ago at the Antrim international cross country when finishing 6th in a top class race.



Masters Track and Field Club Waterford AC,

Waterford AC won the masters Track and  Field  award for an excellent team performance at the Munster championships which were held at the CIT track ,o fifteen members took part on the day nine ladies Nicola Hayes, Sarah Lee, Suzanne Dullaghan, Diane Behan, Deirdre Chapman, Claudia Mary Lane, Paula Kavanagh and Kathleen Kennedy. Between these nine ladies a total of 30 medals were won. Eleven gold, fourteen silver and five Bronze. The club had  six master who between them brought home 20 medals. Nine gold, 7 silver and four bronze. These athletics were Brendan Leahy, Conor Geary, Paschall Halley, Derek Grant, Keith o'Driscoll and Tom O' Brien. Tom O' Brien also broke the Irish record for the men over 45 high jump, jumping 1.72m. on the day.This is the third year in a row that Waterford AC have won the Munster master track and field award.



WISHING FINTAN A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

All in the athletics world wish to send Fintan Walsh, your regular athletics columnist, a speedy recovery after a recent short stay in hospital, were delighted to report that Fintan is making a full and speedy recovery and will be back to full health in no time at all.


EAST MUNSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY ON THIS THURSDAY.

The East Munster Schools Cross Country will be held in W.I.T. Sports Campus, Carriganore on this Thurs Jan 30th with a 12.30 start. The first 15 and the first three teams in each race will qualify for the Munster Schools Cross Country which will be held in C.I.T. on Thursday February 13th and the All Ireland will also be Held in C.I.T. on Saturday March 8th.


UP COMING INDOOR FIXTURES.

AAI open games AIT international stadium Athlone February 02nd .

Intervarsity  championships  AIT international stadium February 07th

Munster Juvenile under 9-13 years February 08th and 9th Nenagh stadium. 

AAI Senior 15th and 16th AIT international stadium

AAI Clubs league round 2 February 22nd AIT international stadium.
Munster Juvenile under 14 -19 years March 1st and 2nd Nenagh Stadium.

Entries through relevant club secretary’s.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

James Veale's weekly blog

23RD ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.



There is little doubt that the big road racing attraction this coming weekend is the 23rd annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race up in the West of the county. A massive field of 2.000 runners are registered for the race since last October and an elite field of male and female runners who include the who’s who of road runner’s have been assembled for the event. The race gets under way for the Youghal road in the town at 1pm sharp. Villierstown’s favourite son and the man who’s name the race honours John Treacy will be among the participants and will lead out the large field along with Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport Leo Varadkar TD who will also be taking on the 10 mile challenge. Current national marathon champions and Dungarvan 10 course record holders Sean Hehir Rathfarnham AC  49.25 and Marie Mc Cambridge Letterkenny AC 55.58 are also in the field. There is a big Waterford entry in the race with all waterford clubs involved, we hope the weather man plays his part now and brings the event the weather it deserves.


INDOORS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND UP-SATURDAY

Last week saw a was a very busy weekend for Waterford athletes at the various indoor championships held. On Saturday Kelly Proper won the long jump 6.26 at the Scottish open in Glasgow and finished 2nd in a mixed 200 meters event. Ferrybank had athletes in action Saturday in Nengah at the Munster juvenile relays and combined events. There were gold medals for Sinead O Regan under 16 Praise Owoeye took bronze under 12 girls, in the relays there was gold for under 12 and 19 girls and under 19 boys, while the under 9 boys took silver.
Waterford AC were also in action here and they saw success with Jack Cocoran under 11 boys Grace Furlong girls under 16 and bronze Jack Deegan under 12 and Cathal Scanlon boys under 13.Waterford AC also took silver under 12 boys and bronze girls under 15 relays

SUNDAY INDOORS.

The following Ferrybank athletes were successful Sunday at the Munster senior, masters under 23 and junior indoor championships in Nenagh
There were Gold medal performances from Paul Murphy junior men's 200,
Neasa Murphy junior high jump, Niamh Whelan senior 200, Sean Archer u 23 triple jump, Shane O’Dwyer took a Double gold in the under 23 high jump and long jump. Silver medals were won by Niamh Whelan senior 60 meters,Sean Whittle junior men's triple jump, Stephen Walsh junior men's 200 meters
Aisling Quinn junior ladies 1500 meters and Tom Boucher senior men in both the shot and triple jump. Bronze  medals were won by Siobhan Whelan junior triple jump, Paul Murphy junior men's 400 meters, Pat Kennedy over 55 56lb distance, Stephen Walsh junior men's 60 meters And again Tom Boucher in the senior men's high jump and triple jump Richard Lucas under  23 800 and 1500 meters.




THE GOUGH’S SHOW THE WAY .


It was a great day for the West Waterford AC Gough’s at last Sundays Munster indoors at Nenagh stadium. Despite not being related the name Gough certainly was to the fore on the day when Joe Gough set a new Munster record for over 60 800 meters with a time of 2.18.41 and this time was faster that the times recorded on the day for the over 45 and 50 . His namesake Terri Gough took a treble gold in the over 65 200 and 800 meters and shot and added silver in the 60 meters.

WATERFORD AC ELECT COMMITTEE FOR 2014.

At the recent annual general meeting of Waterford AC the following members were elected to the committee for 2014. John Nolan, Frank Quinlan, Keith O'Driscoll, Trevor Walsh, Dave Foley, Brian Cuddihy, Joe Cawley, Pat Giles, Diane Behan, Nichola Hayes, Kieran Leahy, Tony T Keogh, David Murphy and Kieran O Mahony. We wish the committee well for the year ahead. Also presented on the night were awards to the Male athlete of the year who was Tom O'Brien and the female athlete of the year award went to Suzanne Dulligan and a presentation was also made to Trevor Power for the outstanding year that he had, well done to all.


ST.PAULS PARISH 5 MILES.


Another upcoming road race is on Sunday February 2nd with the holding of the Frank Leahy Memorial 5 miles in Waterford City. The race will start at the Park Inn, Lismore Park Waterford at 1 pm and entries will be taken there from 11.30 am.All proceeds from the run will go to St Paul's Parish.


ANNE VALLEY 5.

The Annual Anne Valley 5 miles is fixed for Saturday February 15th at 12 noon in Dunhill.


MUNSTER STAR AWARDS BANQUET SET FOR THE TOWER HOTEL.

The Munster athletics sports star awards banquet will be held this year in the Tower Hotel Waterford on next Saturday January 25th 2014 starting at  8pm. Tickets at 35 euro each can be booked from Deirdre Chapman on 0879983782 or by email at deeoconn@yahoo.com The ticket price includes meal and band plus disco after.

The following from Waterford will be receiving awards on the night

Juvenile Track and Field Siobhan Whelan and Paul Murphy Ferrybank AC,
Senior Tom Boucher Ferrybank AC ,
Juvenile Cross Country Micheal Power West Waterford AC ,
Masters Track and Field Club Waterford AC,
Hall of Fame John Treacy.



MUNSTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS CHANGED.

The dates for the Munster Road Racing championships have been amended. The Masters Road Race will take place on Sunday 16th March in Kilnaboy, Co. Clare.The Munster Novice and Senior Road Race is fixed for Sunday 30th March at a Waterford venue. All athletes taking part need to contact your relevant club secretary’s for each of the championships, it’s 2 miles for the women and 4 for the men .Please note that no entries will be taken on day of championships events.







EAST MUNSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY ON THURSDAY.



The East Munster Schools Cross Country will be held in W.I.T. Sports Campus, Carriganore on next Thurs Jan 30th with a 12.30 start.The first 15 and the first three teams in each race will qualify for the Munster Schools Cross Country which will be held in C.I.T. on Thursday February 13th and the All Ireland will also be Held in C.I.T. on Saturday March 8th.

Sunday 19 January 2014

Munster Indoor Junior, u 23, Senior & Masters Championships.

A massive haul of titles and medals were secured by our older athletes in Nenagh today competing in the Munster junior, u 23, senior and masters Munster indoor championships.Gold.....Paul Murphy junior 200m, Sean Archer u 23 triple jump, Neasa Murphy junior high jump, Naimh Whelan senior 200m, Shane O Dwyer u 23 high jump and long jump. Silver....Niamh Whelan senior 60m, Sean Whittle junior triple jump, Stephen Walsh junior 200m, Aisling Quinn junior 1500m, Tom Boucher senior shot & triple jump. Bronze ....Siobhan Whelan junior triple jump, Paul Murphy junior 400, Pat Kennedy o/55 f6lb, Stephen Walsh junior 60, Tom Boucher senior high jump & triple jump, Richard Lucas u 23 800m & 1500m. Well done to everyone ....great day!

Kelly does well at Scottish Open

Well done to Kelly Proper who competed in the Scottish Open in Glasgow yesterday winning the long jump with a leap of 6.26m and running 24.01 for the 200m.

Munster juvenile relays and combined events

Well done to each and every athlete who competed so well in Nenagh today at the Munster juvenile relays and combined events. During what was a marathon day we recorded pbs galore and won a stack of medals. Congratulations to our champion relay team girls u 12 & 19 and boys u 19 who convincingly took gold in their events. Our youngest athletes of the day, our boys u 9 won silver in their final and the girls u 14 were ever so close to medals in fourth position. All the other teams were simply fantastic also. Our combined event athletes were ever so busy all day and Sinead o Regan took a much deserved gold medal u 16 and Praise Owoeye was an excellent third u 12. Lots of fourth, fifth and sixth placings also. Well done everyone!

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Adults running / jogging session with Andrew Connick

Adults running session with our leading distance athlete Andrew Connick will take this Sunday at 8am from the Nature Park. Suitable for any adult doing some running / jogging.

Saturday 11 January 2014

Sinead & Tom fourth in Combined Events

Well done to Tom Gallagher and Sinead O Regan who both finished in fourth position at the National Combined Events in Athlone today. Both were really unlucky not to come home with a medal recording several new pbs during the day. Tom had a fantastic new pb in the high jump of 1.61m and a brilliant long jump also. Sinead was also in great jumping form recording 1.47m in the high jump and 4.60m in the long jump.

Sinead & Tom fourth in Combined Events

Well done to Tom Gallagher and Sinead O Regan who both finished in fourth position at the National Combined Events in Athlone today. Both were really unlucky not to come home with a medal recording several new pbs during the day. Tom had a fantastic new pb in the high jump of 1.61m and a brilliant long jump also. Sinead was also in great jumping form recording 1.47m in the high jump and 4.60m in the long jump.

Monday 6 January 2014

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Kelly third in Sheffield

Competing in the English Pentathlon Indoor Championships in Sheffield on Sunday last Kelly Proper finished 3 rd overall with a total of 3916 points. She had a personal best in the 60 metres hurdles with 8.68 seconds,a very good long jump of 6.24 metres,1.57 metres in the high jump,10.87 metres in the shot putt and 2 minutes 27 seconds in the 800 metres,the event was won by the holder Karla Drew Sheffield with 4157 points .Kelly's total was 19 pts short of the Irish record held by Mairead Murphy also from Ferrybank.

West Waterford do well in Antrim.

On Saturday last in association with the International Cross Country meeting in Greenmount Campus in Antrim the Celtic International under age events went ahead under 17 and under 20. Aoife Hamilton West Waterford AC competed on the Irish team in the under 17 grade and she had a good run to finish 9 th overall and was a scoring member of the winning Irish team, in juvenile competitions held there West Waterford won the girls under 15 team title and Hannah Power led the team home in 5 th place, the other members were Caoimhe Dwyer, Darina Shanley, Emma Hallahan, Rachel Wyley and Sinead O'Brien and in the under 15 boys Miceal Power was 6 th in a big field of runners, under 20 Aisling Quinn Ferrybank was15 th. 

Baldy Man Run

In excellent weather conditions on Saturday December 28 th 2013 the Annual Baldy Man 8 km run on Tramore strand attracted an entry of 280, the proceeds went to Waterford Hospice. The overall winner was Brian Murphy Carrick on Suir in 30 minutes 54 seconds,Emmet Jennings Dundrum Sth Dublin was second in 31.28 and Trevor Power Waterford was third in 32.13. first lady home was Maebh Savage Tramore in 40.17,Orna Murray Ferrybank was second in 41.32 and Deirdre Ni Chearbaill Crusaders Dublin was third in 42.13. The category winners were as follows;, Men o 40 David Smyth( ind ), o 50 Dermot Power Waterford, o 55 Joe Gough West Waterford. Women; o 35 Brenda Lowe Waterford o 40 Jacqui McGee Tramore o 45 Una Ui Mhuirithe Dunhill. In the juvenile section the results were,Boys 1 Hugo Blair Waterford, 2 Jake Bagge Tramore 3 Jamie Stone do. Girls 1 Emma Caulfield Waterford 2 Aisling Lohan Tramore 3 Sara Stone Tramore.

Munster Cross Country near Cashel

On Sunday next January 12 th the Munster Senior and Junior Cross Country Championships and Juvenile Relays are in Deansgrove near Cashel with an 11.30 am start and it seems just Andrew Connick from Ferrybank AC will be competing from Waterford,he goes in the senior event, a sure sign of the present state of Cross Country running in Waterford at the higher age levels. 

Other Munster fixtures in January

Saturday 18 th Indoor Juvenile Relays and Combined Events Nenagh, Sunday 19 th Munster Junior,under 23 and Master Indoors Nenagh. Thursday 30 th East Munster Schools Cross Country Championships WIT Sports Campus 12.30 pm

All Ireland January Fixtures

Saturday next 11 th AAI All Ireland Indoor Combined Events all categories, with just a few from this area invilved,Saturday 25 th All Ireland Masters Indoors Athlone, Sunday 26 th AAI All Ireland Junior and Under 23 Indoors Athlone

Colligan Cup Run

The 26 th Annual Kiely Monumental Colligan Cup Run is in Colligan Wood outside Dungarvan on Sunday next January 12 th at 2 pm over 5 miles and it will be preceded by the Juvenile Colligan Shield at 1 pm. entries taken at the start in Colligan Wood from 12.30 pm  The Annual John Treacy 10 miles road race in Dungarvan on Sunday January 26 th has a 1 pm start and entries are closed.

Winter League

The winter league continues in the City every Thursday evening at 7pm  from the RSC with hundreds participating each week

St Paul's Parish 5 miles

Coming up on Sunday February 2 nd is the Frank Leahy Memorial 5 miles road race in Waterford City. It starts at the Park Inn, Lismore Park at 1pm, entries will be taken there from 11.30 am, looking further ahead the Anne Valley 5 Miles is in Dunhill on Saturday February 15 th at 12 noon

Star Awards 

The Munster Star Awards Banquet 2013 takes place on Saturday Jan 25 th at 8pm in the Tower Hotel in Waterford. Tickets at €35 each can be booked from Deirdre Chapman on 0879983782 or by email at deeoconn@yahoo.com which includes meal and band plus disco after. The following Waterford presentations will be made Juvenile Track and Field Siobhan Whelan and Paul Murphy Ferrybank, Senior Tom Boucher do, Juvenile Cross Country Miceal Power West Waterford, Masters Track and Field Club Waterford AC, Hall of Fame Waterford Athlete.

Sunday 5 January 2014

training resumes

training for all groups resumes as normal on Mondays and Wednesdays from  January 6th at 6.15pm at the RSC. Please note ...registrations for 2014 are now due so please pay this at training also.

Kelly 3rd in 3a's pentathlon

Well done to Kelly Proper who finished in third position in the 3as indoor pentathlon today in Sheffield with a new pb score of 3916 the second best score ever by an Irish lady!