On Sunday last in Slovakia at the European Team Championships, Kelly Proper was back in form as she finished second in the Long Jump with a fine effort of 6.42 metres and on Saturday at the same meeting herself and Niamh Whelan ran brilliantly on the Irish team that finished second in the 4×100 metres relay.
Niamh was 5th in the 200 metres on Sunday in 24.06 seconds, and 6th in the 100 metres on Saturday with 11.93 seconds. The Irish team finished second overall and are promoted for next season to a higher grade.
Ciara star of Munsters
At the RSC on Saturday and Sunday last athletes from Waterford clubs, especially Ferrybank, had excellent results at the Munster under-14 to 19 Championships.
Ciara Giles Doran of Ferrybank AC was the star of the weekend. She won five events at under-15 level, namely, the 100 metres, 200 metres, Sprint Hurdles, 250 metres hurdles and also broke a 35-year-old record with her win in the long jump with a leap of 5.28m.
Another outstanding performer was Zoe Scanlon, West Waterford, who won the Shot Putt, Discus and Javelin at under-17, and her clubmate Kate Veale took a massive two minutes off the old record in winning the under-16 2000 metres Walking Race.
Yet another record breaker was Nicola Power, Ferrybank, in the under-19 long jump with 5.59 metres. She also won the Triple Jump.
Ferrybank’s other winners were: Megan Kiely, u16 High Jump and 250 metres hurdles; Ben Kiely 250m Hurdles u15; Cara Kennedy, u18 Hammer; Kitty Walsh; u19 1500m; Jade Power, u16 Discus; Tom Whelan, u15 Discus and Shot Putt; Andrew Heffernan, u19 High Jump; Lorenzo Gulinati, Discus u17; Girls u17 relay, Boys u18 4×100 and 4x 400 metres relays.
Silver medals went to Megan Kiely, u16 Sprint Hurdles; Sorcha Murphy, u16; Stephen Murphy, u18 Long and triple jump; Sean Archer, u17 Triple Jump; Thomas Barr, u18 High Jump, 200 metres and 400 Hurdles; Sean Whelan, u18 Javelin; Tom Whelan, u16 Javelin; Cara Kennedy, u18 Shot Putt; Kate Daniels, u14 High Jump; April Flynn, u16 Hurdles; Sean Whittle, High Jump u 14; Girls u16 relay.
Bronze medals were won by: Ben Kiely, u16 Sprint Hurdles; Kate Daniels, u14 Shot Putt; James Greene, u17 200 and 400 metres; Jade Power, u16 Shot Putt and Javelin; Kellie Meade, u14 Sprint Hurdles; Niamh Giles Doran, u14 Javelin; April Flynn, u16 Long Jump; Ciara Giles Doran, u15 High Jump; Heather O’Leary, 800 metres u 14; James Galvin, u14 Javelin and girls u15 Relay.
In addition to Zoe Scanlon and Kate Veale’s victories, West Waterford had wins with Clare Collins in the High Jump u18; Joe Conway u18 walk; and Lisa Houlihan, U17 Triple Jump.
Silver medals went to Kate Hickey, u15 discus and Shot Putt; Stephen McMahon, u15 Discus and Shot Putt; Lisa Houlihan, u17 Sprint Hurdles; Alex Lai, u16 Long Jump; Clare Collins, u18 S/Chase; Michelle Kenneally, u18 Hammer; Declan Power, u19 1500 and 3000 metres.
Bronze medals were won by David Early, u16 3000 metres; Brandon Barry, u16 Triple Jump; Lisa Houlihan, u17 300 metres hurdles; Ciara Scanlon, u 16 Hammer; Ermann Le Gal, u14 Walk; Boys u16 relay and boys u relay.
KCK also did extremely well with three wins. John Hally had a fine 100 and 200 metres double at under-15 and his clubmate Joseph Morrissey was second in both. Clare Morrissey won the 100 metres u18 and was second in the Long Jump and Caroline Keegan was second in the Discus u18.
Anna Rogers, Tramore, was second in the under-15 High Jump and Hurdles and third in the Long Jump, while Siobhan Heylin, Waterford, was second in the u17 S/chase.
European qualification
On Saturday last in Dublin, Billy Ryan from Ferrybank AC got a qualifying standard for the 400 metres at the European junior Championships next month. Competing in the Dublin Championships Billy won his race in 48.40 seconds and the standard was 48.60; he has two races on the Continent this week in Italy and Belgium
Zakis wins in Ring
Almost 200 competed in the Annual 6miles Ras Na Rinne in Ring over 6 miles on Friday last, which was race 6 of the Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series.
West Waterford’s Ravis Zakis was the overall winner in a time of 29 minutes 37 seconds. His clubmate Sean Stillwell was second in 31.52, and Ferdia O’hAodha, Ferrybank, was third in 32.03.
Pauline Lambe, Tullamore won the ladies section in 35.14, which equalled the course record. Corina Walsh, West Waterford was second in 37.08 and Cait Caulfield, St Senan’s was third in 38.02.
First man o 40: Tommy McElwaine, Sliabh Bhui Rovers, Wexford; o45: Noel Curtin, Youghal; o50: Larry Leacy, St Joseph’s; o55: Joe Gough, West Waterford; Junior: Ciaran Lane, do; Women o35: Susan Dullaghan, Waterford; o40: Ann Whelan, do; o45: Clare Fowler, Waterford; o50: Ann Fitzgerald, do; Junior: Adele Roche, West Waterford.
