Last Sunday in Mosney two titles were won by Waterford athletes at the National Community Games Finals.
Clare Collins from the Stradbally/Ballylaneen Community won the U-16 high jump title and Miracle Duru Tramore won the boys U-12 200m.
A bronze medal also came to Waterford when Ryan Philips of Stradbally/Ballylaneen won it in the 100m U-12.
Alan Everett 5 Miles
The second Annual Alan Everett Memorial 5 Miles Road Race went ahead in Woodstown last Saturday evening in absolutely atrocious conditions with an entry of 130.
John Cleary Ferrybank AC who has been in great form this year was an all the way winner of the race in a time of 27 minutes 23 seconds. Frank Halley Ferrybank AC was second and Paul Gibbons from Sliabh Bhuí Rovers was third.
Diane Behan won the ladies section from Cait Caulfield St.Senan’s with Eiblis ní nAodha in third place.
First man over-45 was Darryl Hale Waterford; over-50 Larry Lacey St.Josephs; over-55 Joe Gough WWAC; Mick Neville Tullamore.
First lady over-35 was Marian Ryan; over-40, Jenny Kervick; over-45, Gabrielle Blair, Waterford; over-50, Kathleen Kennedy. The proceeds went to the Alzheimer’s Society in Waterford and sponsors were Blue Wall Technology, Deise Decoration and Smooth Running.
National Half-Marathon
At the time of writing the National ½ Marathon date of September 7th still stands. Efforts are still ongoing to try and change it.
Irish Olympians
Robert Heffernan was 8th in the 20km Walk; Olive Loughnane was 7th in the 20km Walk; Paul Hession was a 200m semi-finalist; Roísín McGhettigan was a finalist in the 3000m steeplechase which were all very good results in Beijing. Several others were very disappointing. In the 50km Walk our own Jamie Costin once again found the race very, very difficult in very difficult temperatures. To his eternal credit he battled on to the point of exhaustion to finish in 44th place. The other Irish walker Colin Griffin had the misfortune to be disqualified as did a number of others and quite a few also did not finish.
Olympic Numbers
Competitors in 38 different sports from 192 independent nations and 12 territories accepted by the O.C. were in Beijing with a total of 10,500 competing and a total of 958 medals were won, gold, silver and bronze and this included many team events.
At the end of the Games, Ireland finished joint 62nd of the 204 nations. Since Ireland entered as an independent nation in the Games of 1924, Athleti➢cs has won 4 gold and 2 silver, Swimming 3 gold and 1 bronze and Boxing 1 gold and 3 silver and 7 bronze.
Ireland were not represented in 1936 in Berlin due to the suspension of the IAAF and many say that Pat O’Callaghan would have won the Hammer again that year.
Ireland had a total of 45 Individual Competitors, 3 teams of four and 2 teams of 2 in Beijing.
Beijing Totals
In the men’s athletic individual events there were 21 competitions. Per continent the winners were as follows:
Europe 8, Africa 6, America and West Indies 6, comprising USA 2, South America 2 and Jamaica 2. Countrywise Kenya won 3, Jamaica, Ethopia, USA and Russia each won 3 events.
There were 20 events in the women and per continent the results were as follows: Europe 8, Africa 6, USA and West Indies 5 (made up of 3 Jamaica and 2 USA) and New Zealand 1.
The top countries here were Jamaica and Russia three each, followed by the USA, Kenya and Ethiopia with two each.
Sunday’s Road Race
Next Sunday there is a 4 Mile Road Race in Colligan, Co Waterford with a 3pm start. Entries from 2pm at Colligan GAA Pitch and the contact numbers are 086-0619711 or 087-7657805.
Sympathy
All in Waterford athletics offer their sympathy to former international athlete and member of Waterford AC Shay Fitzpatrick on the death of his mother Rita last week. Sympathy also to Patricia Barry, Ferrybank AC, on the death of her father which also occurred last week in Co Tipperary.
Track at the R.S.C.
Waterford City council have given instructions to the Manager and staff at the RSC that under no circumstances is the inside lane to be used at training sessions and this applies to all using the facility. As per the I.A.A.F. directive on the Maintenance of Synthetic Tracks Ref 7.2.1.8 which clearly states “The inside lane should be closed for training using barriers.”
Under no circumstances are barriers that are closing off the inside lane to be moved during training sessions. The whole reasoning behind this directive is to prolong the life of a very expensive facility. So remember all users, the manager and staff have their instructions so it is up to all users to respect this position and remember it only applies to the inside lane. If nay other lanes are cordoned off please make staff aware and have them alter them at your request.
