Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Brave effort by Thomas Barr in Beijing

On Saturday last at the World Athletic Championships in Beijing Thomas Barr running from the outside lane finished third in his first round heat of the 400 metres hurdles in a time of 49.20 seconds and easily made it through to Sundays semi final with the first four in each heat automatically going through. Unlucky to be drawn in lane nine he came through strongly in the latter stages having been outpaced earlier on. In his semi final on Sunday he again was unluckily drawn in lane 9 and with just two going through to the final from each heat  it was always going to be a tough task. He did run better than Saturday again finishing strongly but again his first 200 metres were a bit off the pace and in finishing fourth in his second best ever time of 48.71 seconds he missed out 48.49 would have got him through. The problem with lane 9 is not being able to see what is going on around you in the other lanes.His next big championships will be the Olympics next year  and with a big concentration on his speed  he may compete for a final spot,his stamina is not a factor.To give some solice to Thomas was the fact that the first and second ranked athletes coming into the championships both failed to make the final

Kelly in action on Wednesday

The second Waterford athlete at the World championships in Beijing Kelly Proper will be in action this Wednesday at 12.15 pm Irish time in the first round of the 200 metres. It is likely that in the first round the first three from each heat plus the 3 fastest losers will progress to Thursdays semi final at 12.35. With Kelly qualifying under the IAAF quota system and being just outside the standard of 23.20 it would appear that to progress she will probably have to dip below 23.20 and hopefully her few weeks training in Hong Kong will have helped her to do just that. We wish her well on the World stage a place she deserves to be, the final of the event is on Friday at 2 pm. On Saturday at the very early time of 3.40 am Irish time the semi final of the men's 4 x 400 metres relay takes place and Thomas Barr is on the Irish team,the final of this event is at 1.25 pm on Sunday    

Glaxosmithkilne win by Murphy

The final race in the Ger Wyley Sports Skins Series was held in Dungarvan on Friday last the 16 th Annual Galaxosmithkiline 5 miles and Brian Murphy Carrick on Suir won it in 26 minutes and 9 seconds,Sandis Bralitis West Waterford was second in 26.19  and Danny Smyth Ballynonty was third in 26.46, First lady home was Adele Walsh St Senan's in 31.03 .Joan Ennis Grange Fermoy was second in 31.38 and Sally Forristal St Joseph's was third in 32.00 The following were the category winners.Men M 40 Mark Rowe South O'Hanlon's, M 45 Frank Hayes East Cork, M 50 Ray Hahessy West Waterford, M 55 Walter Keane Waterford, M 60 Joe Gough West Waterford, Junior Liam Reilly do.  Ladies F 35 Mary Molloy Carrick on Suir,F 40 Maria Condon West Waterford  F 45 Catherine Clancy St Catherine's,F 50 Celia O'Regan Youghal, F 55 Kathleen Kennedy Waterford Junior Aoife Hamilton West Waterford  255 competed and the proceeds went to Irish Hospice Foundation.  Series winners Brian Murphy Carrick on Suir and Sandra Prendergast  The series was organised by West Waterford AC.

Community Games.

Two bronze medals were won by competitors from Waterford at the National Community Games finals in Athlone last week end. .Cathal Scanlon' Mahon Valley was third in the under 14 javelin and Clodagh Butler Ballyduff Upper was third in the under 14 long puck.  

Road Races coming up

Saturday September 5 th Cill Barra 6 km 6 pm Ballybeg Waterford, Friday.September 11 th Ballyduff Lower Co Waterford 5 miles 6.00 pm,Sunday October 11 th 10 miles Run for Life and 5 miles walk Waterford City at 12 noon.

Waterford Primary Schools Cross Country

On Tuesday September 15 th at12.30 pm the Waterford Primary Schools Cross Country Sports for boys and girls will be at the RSC .Races over short distances for each class 1 st to 6 th. ranging from 200 metres to 800 metres Medals for first 12 home in each race and Perpetual Cups for best Schools etc Contact 087 6889330

Deaths

Two deaths occurred last week which had strong local athletic connections. Mrs Margaret Costin, Ballycreen, Ring who died on August 19 th was wife of Jimmy Costin who together with his family including his Olympian son Jamie have a long association with Waterford athletics. The other death was that of Mr Donal Mc Kernan Cork which occurred on August 19 th father of Mary Ashe West Waterford AC  deeply involved in Waterford athletics all her life and also in Irish Schools Athletics and Internationally. Many from athletic clubs in the county attended both funerals. All involved in Waterford athletics offer their sympathy to both families.

Drugs and Sport

Lots of comments in the media in recent weeks about drugs in sport and in particular athletics with accusations being made about cover ups by the IAAF Like all accusations and suspicions they have to be treated carefully until 100 % proof is available then of course all can be named, one thing seems certain there are a small percentage of athletes on drugs as there are in many other sports  Drugs when used are used to cheat and human beings in every walk of life and from every class in Society since time began use different methods of cheating we see it regularly around us so its not solely a sport problem although with some commentators you would think it is.For sportsmen and women professional or amateur in our jurisdiction always remember that if you take a drug or substance its your responsibility and you alone will suffer the consequences with a failed test, any medication you may receive for a condition must be cleared by your doctor or contact the Irish Sports Councils Anti Doping section to see all the banned substances and the strict guidelines.  .

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

World Athletic Championships in Beijing with two Waterford athletes involved

From Saturday next August 22 nd to Sunday August 30 th the World Athletic Championships are in Beijing and two athletes from Ferrybank AC are on the Irish team Thomas Barr in the 400 metres hurdles and the 4 x 400 metres relay and Kelly Proper is in the 200 metres,the Irish team has a total of 16 athletes, 12 competing in individual events plus the relay squad. Thomas Barr easily had the qualifying standard required and with a new quota  system this year announced by the IAAF Kelly Proper made the team  but was very close to the standard of 23.20 seconds with her 23.24 time and she was a very popular choice by all involved in Irish athletics. The heats of the 400 metres hurdles are on Day 1,the semi finals on Day 2 and the final on Day 4  so assuming Thomas progresses he will have a very busy few days with top class races each day. The 200 metres for Kelly is even more difficult with heats on Day 5,semi finals Day 6 and final on Day 7 The men's 4 x 400 metres relay has semi finals on the second last day and final on the the last Day August 30 th. The Irish team have been in Hong Kong for the past ten days or so.

Thomas aiming for final place

A place in the final of the 400 metres hurdles is Thomas Barr's goal, a  famous Waterford female athlete in the same event Susan Smith in 1997 at these championships made the final finishing 7 th, there are 42 entered in the event. Thomas has reached two major championship finals the European Junior in 2011 and European under 23 in 2013 and was a semi finalist in last years European Senior Championships. He is currently ranked 11 th in the world, his Irish record of 48.65  is a very respectable time but depending on the number of qualifiers in heats and semi finals he may have to run faster to progress even in the heats. Of the 42 entered 10 have better times this season than Thomas with five of these times between 48.09 and 48.35  and the other five range from 48.44 to 48.62 not too much better than Thomas.Leading on 48.09 is Bershawn Jackson USA followed by Johnny Dutch USA on 48.13 whom Thomas beat in London and a Kenyan Nicholas Bett has a time of 48.29 and he could be the dark horse, five of the athletes in the top ten have in their time run below 48 seconds. Included in the field are three world champions, two Olympic silver medallists and two Olympic bronze medallists so no easy passage for anyone. We wish Thomas all the best and in  top form he can make a bold bid to gain a place in the final and the same applies to all the other athletes who like Thomas too need be at their very best that's what makes sport so unpredictable at times. The World Championships were introduced in 1983 and have been held every two yeas since. Ireland has won 4 gold and 2 silver medals the first gold in 1983 by Eamon Coghlan in the 5000 metres and the last one in 2013 by Robert Heffernan in the 50 km walk  and of course Ireland has had an Olympic champion in the 400 metres hurdles the late Bob Tisdall who won the title in 1932. Of the Irish competing it would seem Thomas Barr, Mark English in the 800 metres and Robert Heffernan in the walk are our best prospects.  Next week we will preview Kelly's event and note 12 noon in our time is 7 pm in Beijing time and so on.

Community Games National finals

On Saturday and Sunday next the National Community Games athletic finals are in Athlone and we wish all involved with the Waterford County team every success. the fixture gets under way both days at 9 am and full timetable is on Community Games Website

World bronze for Joe

In Lyon in France on Friday last Joe Gough West Waterford lined out in the final of the 1500 metres over 60 at the World Masters Track and Field Championships and  came up once again with an outstanding performance in his second choice event at the Championships. On Wednesday last he had won his semi final thus qualifying for the final where he  faced 15 other athletes from all over the World. With 200 metres to go he was in 8 th position but put in a storming finish to take the bronze medal in a time of 4 minutes 38.34 seconds,the race was won by Daniel Gonzales from Spain in 4.36.00 with Batista Medeiros Brazil second in 4.36.73. both one year younger than Joe. Having won the 800 metres title on Sunday week it was a marvellous championships for Joe adding the bronze medal in the 1500 metres His time in the 1500 metres easily beat the Irish record in this age group by 13 seconds. 

Glaxosmithkline 5 Miles in Dungarvan

On Friday next August 21 st at 7 pm the last race in the Ger Wyley Sports Skins Series is in Dungarvan. Its the 16 th  Annual Glaxosmithkline 5 miles and entries will be taken at the Dungarvan United Football Club Pavillion  from 6 pm.

County Convention

Above is coming up on Friday September 11 th in St Augustine's College Abbeyside at pm. If any clubs have motions,nominations for Agenda please have them with co secretary John Behan by Saturday  September 8 th.

Transfers

Clubs are reminded of the upcoming deadline for transfers which is September 1 st All signed forms must be with Co Secretary by August 24 th, next transfer date is then April 1 st 2016 

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Kelly's double and Thomas Barr's five in a row

Once again Waterford was very much to the fore at the GloHealth National Senior Championships in Santry Stadium last week end as athletes from Ferrybank AC won three titles and also came up with some other very good results in very windy conditions which saw the sprint athletes run into a strong headwind both days. Not for the first time at these Championship Kelly Proper starred as she won both the 100 and 200 metres in very impressive fashion, On Saturday she won her semi final of the 100 in 12.14 seconds and then on Sunday won the final in 11.75 seconds by a clear cut margin.she also won this title in 2013.Later on Sunday she had an equally impressive win in 23.81 seconds in the 200 metres making it four of these titles in a row and six in all. Thomas Barr bound for the World Championships later this month had an effortless win in the 400 metres hurdles in a good time of 49.68 considering the conditions and so made it five titles on the trot.  Ferrybank's Niall Tuohy who won his semi final of the 800 metres on Saturday and James Ledingham West Waterford who finished second in his both ran well in Sundays very competitive and tactical final. Tuohy in particular was with the big two Mark English and Declan Murray until close home but eventually finished 3 rd in 1.51.50 ,English won in 1.50 .94, Ledingham was 5 th in 1. 53.14 In the high jump Sorcha Murphy Ferrybank was joint second with 1.65 metres. and Andrew Connick also from Ferrybank got through to the 1500 metres final but was unplaced and Cara Kennedy do was unplaced in the hammer competition an event she won for the past four years.. Making it a great week end for Waterford Barry Keane from Waterford AC ran a terrific race in the junior 3000 metres championship to finish second in a very close finish. He was beaten by inches by Luke Dorgan Leevale who was timed at 8 minutes 44.70 seconds and Barry's time was 8.44.91  Not very long at the sport Barry has made giant strides in the past year or so winning the junior mile recently at the Morton Games 

Joe Gough wins World Master's title

In Lyon in France last week end the legendary and very competitive Joe Gough West Waterford AC competed in the over 60 800 metres at the World Master's Track and Field Championships and once again showed his tremendous appetite and discipline for his sport to win the Gold medal with three winning displays over four days. First up on Thursday were the heats and he won his heat in 2 minutes 19.06 second,then on Friday it was his semi final and again he finished first in 2.20 despite being spiked twice during the event but luckily his injuries were minor. Then in a very competitive final on Sunday he beat all and in the process posted his fastest time of the week end 2.15.90  Last year he won the World Masters Indoors and also the European Indoors so his amazing career in Masters continues and he trains diligently daily. He is not finished in Lyon as he lines out in the semi final of the 1500 metres on Wednesday  and the final is on Friday. So in the space of a month Waterford has two World Athletic Champions from both sides of the age spectrum, 23 years old Thomas Barr World University Games Senior Champion and Joe Gough World Master's over 60 800 metres champions both shining examples to all athletes young and old..

   

Rás Na Rinne Details

110  competed in the 23 rd Annual Mooney's Bar 6 miles Rás Na Rinne in the Ring area last Friday evening and the overall winner was Brian Murphy Carrick on Suir in 31 minutes 31 seconds,Noel Murphy Waterford was second in 32.10 and Pat Hennessy Lismore was third in 32.38.First lady home was Nollaig O'Neill Leevale in 37.14 ,Angela Mc Cann Clonmel was second in 39.07 and Mary Molloy Carrick on Suir was third in 40.18  It was another race in the Ger Wyley Sports Skins Series The category winners were as follows Men; M 40 Peter Duggan, St Joseph's,M 45 David Kenneally, Thurles Crokes, M 50 Ray Hahessy, West Waterford, M 55 A Dwyer do. Women F 35 Órlaith Breatnach West Waterford, F 40 Siobhán McHugh, Clonmel, F 45 Libby McGinn Murphy,( ind) F 50 Ger Houlihan Carrick on Suir,Junior Órla Keane( ind) The final race in this series is on Friday August 21 st in Dungarvan,the 16 th Annual Glaxosmithkline 5 miles at 7 pm.

World Championships

The World Athletic Track and Field Championships will be in Beijing from August 22 nd to 30 th. Thomas Barr has long been selected and by the time you read these notes there is a very good chance Kelly Proper will have made it also. On the week end of August 22 nd and 23 rd the National Community Games finals are in Athlone 

Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

National Senior Championships this week end

Waterford will be very well represented this week end on Saturday and Sunday at the GloHealth National Senior Track and Field Championships in Santry Stadium, A number of athletes from Ferrybank including Thomas Barr will be attempting to add to their tally of titles won -  Barr going for five 400 metres hurdles titles in a row-  Kelly Proper in the 200 metres - going for three in a row and 5 in all- she is also running in the 100 metres-she won this in 2013- and may take in the long jump as well going for 4 in a row and 9 in all, Cara Kennedy is in the hammer seeking 5 titles in a row and Jessie Barr who has been injured seeking to regain her 400 metres hurdles title to make it 4 in all she won three in a row from 2011 to 2013-she missed out on last years final due to being held up in traffic.Also competing for Ferrybank will be Niall Tuohy in the 800 metres, Neasa and Sorcha Murphy both in the high jump and Andrew Connick in 1500 and 5000 metres.For West Waterford Thomas Houlihan will be in the pole vault and James Ledingham in the 800 metres and possibly Sean Curran in the junior 3000 metres. For Waterford AC Kevin Fitzgerald is entered in the javelin and Barry Keane in the 3000 metres junior The competition begins on Saturday at 1 pm and on Sunday at 11.30 am full timetable on Athletics Ireland website. We wish all our competitors the very best

 Joe Gough at World Master's in Lyon

This week the World Masters Track and Field Championships are in Lyon in France in various age groups and a total of 8500 athletes from all over the world are competing. Included among them is Joe Gough West Waterford AC who is in action on Thursday in the heats of the 800 metres over 60, the semi final is on Friday and final on Sunday. last year Joe won the European title over the distance

Kelly misses out narrowly in Belgium

Kelly Proper finished second in a 200 metres race in Ninove in Belgium on Saturday last in a season's best time of 23.24 seconds just outside the qualifying standard of 23.20 for the world championships. A second race was held an hour later which Kelly won in 23.30 and is running this evening Tuesday again in Belgium in Oordegem we hope she makes it there.If not she has until next Sunday at the Nationals to achieve the time as entries close that night. There would still be a chance of her being selected even if she does not reach the standard under the IAAF Quota system The rules are the IAAF will select athletes from year- end- rankings list to fill the quota set for each event and Kelly is among 4 Irish athletes short listed the 200 metres quota is 56 athletes in total.

National Half Marathon

Two very well known women in Waterford athletics both won National Half Marathon titles in Dublin last Sunday. Mary Ryan Jennings took the over 60 title in 1 hr 41 minutes 47 seconds and Terri Gough West Waterford the over 70 in 2.29.08

Morris Oil 10 Km

130 competed in the Morris Oil 10 KM road race in Piltown on Friday last and Niall Sheil St Killian's Wexfor   put in a storming finish to win in a time of 32 minutes 54 seconds,  the long time leader Brian Murphy Carrick was second in 33.00 and Danny Smyth Ballynonty was third in 33.55. First lady home was Clare Annan Clonmel in 39.26 , Annaleigh Hore Kilmore Co Wexford was second in 39.52 and Kate Nolan Waterford was third in 42.02 It was the final race in the Outfield Sports Series The overall series winners were Niall Sheil and Mary Molloy Carrick on Suir.

23 rd Annual Rás Na Rinne on Friday

Another race in the Ger Wyley Sports Skins Series the 23 rd Annual Mooney's Bar 6 miles Rás Na Rinne is in Ring Co Waterford on Friday next at 7.30 pm.Entries on the evening from 6.15 pm at Halla Poiblí Na Rinne..