Two Juvenile Victories

In the Juvenile Championships there were two individual winners from Waterford.

In the girl’s section Aoife Hamilton won the u14 for West Waterford while Aisling Quinn, Ferrybank took the u16 in a thrilling finish.

Cormac O’ Mahony was third in the u10 race and one place behind him in fourth place came Sean Hickey while Lucy Holmes was third under 10.

Emma Hallahan finished fourth in the u14 event and fifth placings were secured by Sean Curran u16, Sinead Flynn u14 all from West Waterford while Orla Queally, Ferrybank was seventh u16 as were Bronagh Condon and Miceal Power, West Waterford in under 14 races and Thomas Ahearne, An Ghaeltacht u 12.

run for Life mens winner Philip Harty (Donore Harriers) celebrates as he comes to the finish line.

A massive entry of over 1700 competed in the 10 miles Run for Life in the city on Sunday last in aid of the Solas Centre in excellent weather conditions.

Philip Harty, a native of Ballinamult but running with Donore Harriers was the easy winner in a time of 52 minutes 39 seconds.

Frank Quinlan Waterford AC was second in 54.56 and Andrew Connick WIT was third in 56.27.

The ladies winner was Sinead Mansfield West Waterford AC in 63.07, in second place was Ann Marie Holland, Eagle Cork in 64.21 and Sylvia Malone Waterford AC was third in 64.52.

The following were the category winners:

Men Over 40:  Michael O’Mahony, Over 50: James Veale West Waterford, Over 60:Jim Kennedy, Junior Ross: Aylward.

Fifteen year old Kieran Jackson, having completed the swim in his first triathlon in Tramore.

Kieran Jackson’s progression in the tough world of Triathlon has been startling since he competed in the event for the first time just two years ago.

Since finishing second in the Spokes Triathlon in Tramore in August 2009, Kieran has progressed to the point where he secured a place on Triathlon Ireland’s Junior Development Squad having competed with distinction at the Talent Identification Day in April.

His third place finish at the recent British Super Series in Sunderland, where he finished just behind European champion Myles Burton, confirmed his status as an athlete of potential and the young Tramore teenager has his sights firmly set on realising that potential over the next few years.

The Triathlon is a relatively new sport to the Olympic Games having been introduced in Sydney in 2000. It’s a multi-sport event involving the completion of three endurance events. The popular form of Triathlon involves swimming, cycling and running over various distances. The Olympic distances for the event are 1.5k swim, 40km cycle and 10k run.

And they’re off: the 750-strong field is set on its way by Deputy Mayor of Waterford Seamus Ryan.

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Over 750 runners, joggers and walkers hit the streets of Waterford on Sunday afternoon last for the 2011 Munster Express/Caulfield’s SuperValu 10K Fun Run.

Sent on their way by Deputy Mayor Seamus Ryan, the field soon thinned out along the Cork Road, with Brian McGinley and Sylvia Malone the first male and female to break the tape at the RSC.

Brian Maher KCH AAI Half Marathon silver medallist.

The National Half Marathon Championships took place in Waterford on Saturday and Kilkenny City Harriers star Brian Maher, KCH, completed the 13.1-mile course in a fantastic time of 66 mins and 40 secs and finished in second place to take the silver medal. Niall Sheehan, Gowran AC 1.10.58, was the next Kilkenny athlete to finish and was followed home by David McPherson, 1.12.36, and Paul Cody 1.15.08 of KCH.

Celtic Juvenile Games

Two athletes from Ferrybank AC competed for Ireland at under 16 level at the annual Celtic Games in the Antrim Forum on Saturday last. Neasa Murphy was joint first in the high jump with 1.55 metres and Aisling Quinn was third in the 1500 metres in four minutes 53.97 seconds, the race was won by a Scottish athlete in 4.38.98.

Alan Everett Memorial Race

On Saturday evening last in excellent weather conditions 145 competed in the annual Alan Everett Memorial Road Race in Woodstown. Andrew Connick, Ferrybank AC was a very easy winner leading from the start. He won in a time of 26 minutes and 24 seconds, in second spot was Gary Cantwell KCK in 28.41 and Brian O’ Sullivan, Waterford was third in 28.57. Martina O’Dwyer, Carrick on Suir won the ladies section in 31.43, Leona O’Reilly was second in 32.59 and Cait Caulfield Waterford AC was third in 34.38. The category winners were Ladies over 35 Deirdre Chapman Waterford AC, o 40 Elaine Barry, Waterford AC, o 45 Cora Lombard, Waterford AC, o 50 Kathleen Kennedy, Waterford AC.

Junior, Niamh Casey Ferrybank. Men o 40 Dermot McCarthy Waterford, o 45 Bill Egan Garda, o 50 Tom Burns Waterford AC, o 55 Joe Gough West Waterford, Junior Shane Grant.

On behalf of the Everett family Pat Everett thanked all who participated and all who were involved in the organisation of the event. On behalf of the organisers Waterford AC,  Michael Leechmere thanked The Saratoga, the local  ladies who supplied the refreshments, the Gardai, stewards those at watering stations, officials at start and finish. The proceeds go to the Dunmore East Coast Guards.

He went very close to the qualifying standard for the World Championships which has an A standard of 49.40 and a B standard of 49.80. Jessie was a most impressive winner of her race also in a time of 57.38 seconds and again this year her progress has been magnificent and both seem to have lots of improvement in them and no doubt they will make a bold bid to qualify for the London Olympics.

These athletes are an example to all those taking up athletics. They have been competing regularly for years at juvenile level and have been very good competitors without ever really hitting the headlines but stuck it out and now are really making a major impact.

Kelly Proper, one of the many local sporting stars lending her support

So here we go again: just under five weeks to get one’s self in gear to negotiate the streets of Waterford for the Munster Express/Caulfield’s SuperValu 10 Kilometre Fun Run.

And, take it from someone who knows, there’s still enough time to put in place a plan to get you in trim for the run, which takes place on Sunday, September 11th, starting at the RSC.

With a 12noon start, at least 1000 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to line up for an event which once again this year has chosen Waterford Hospice as its charitable beneficiary.

A good sporting friend often speaks to the young and not so young footballers he trains about ‘WP’ – no, not the Workers Party – but, rather, will power.

And once one has reawakened one’s ‘WP’, the results of a physical rejuvenation are quickly realised – just ask anyone who has become part of the running boom of recent years.

This Fun Run, as has been the case since The Munster Express became involved in its organisation back in 2001, is all about embracing the benefits of exercise and raising badly-needed funds for charity in the process.