Friday’s amazing opening ceremony kicked off what is already a very exciting championships. Between sweltering heat, pouring rain, smog and injuries, the Irish team have their work cut out for them.

The Irish are such followers of any sport, it will be interesting to see what will pique our interest this time round. Michael Carruth and Michelle Smith were names that rolled off the tongue after each of their Olympics, we all became experts over days they competed!

It could be another boxer this time, at the time of writing, we have 2 through their first rounds.

Who knows, maybe the names of some of the 5 boxers competing will roll off our tongues in the next few weeks.

Injury worries, but staying positive

Names we’re already very familiar with here in Kilkenny are Joanne Cuddihy and Eileen O’Keeffe. Both are hoping to recover sufficiently from their calf and knee problems in time for the start of the athletics competition next weekend. Joanne’s Olympic debut takes place on Saturday, with the 400m heats beginning at 12.10 Beijing time. Eileen will throw in the qualifying round Monday morning. Despite their injury concerns, both athletes are feeling positive. They have the hard work done long before now, they just need it all to fall into place over the next few days. Three of Ireland’s other athletes will be involved on day of the athletics, August 15th. Alistair Cragg goes in round 1 of the 1500m and Roisin McGettigan and Fionnula Britton compete in round 1 of the steeplechase.

The Woodstown Woodpecker

Saturday August 23rd will herald the second Annual Alan Everett Woodstown 5, over the same undulating course in Woodstown. Alan, a member of Waterford AC, passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. He was a great supporter of all races, including our own Little South Run. It is wonderful to again see this year’s race sponsored by clubmates of Alan. Derek Tebay, Seamus Cooper, Bobby Coady and James Sullivan of Blue Wall Tech, Deise Decorating, Bobby’s Butchers and Smooth Running, respectively, have promised another great race with top class prizes like last year. There is also a walk for those less inclined to race the inclines (so to speak!).Registration for run and walk is from 5pm at the Saratoga, with the walkers starting at 6.00pm and runners at 6.30pm. It promises to be a great evening, so please come along and lend your support to a great cause, with all monies raised going to the local cancer society.

Deadman’s 5 kills no-one!

The last race in the Outfield Sports/Asics 3 Counties Challenge took place in Carrick on Suir last Friday night. The club’s sole representative on the night, PJ Dwyer won the men’s O/50 category. Those long runs on Sunday morning’s from Katie’s on the Tramore Road are paying off. Mind you if he stays running at Sean Caulfield’s pace he might start to feel his age a bit more! Both are training hard for pending marathons. PJ for Berlin at the end of September and Sean for Dublin in October.

Fixtures August

15th Aug, Ardmore 5, last 7.30pm

22nd Aug, Rusty Scanlon 10k, Woodies Carpark Kilkenny, 7pm

23rd Aug, Alan Everett 5, Woodstown 5, 6.30pm runners, 6.00pm walkers

Quoteworthy