Kate Veale West Waterford AC on her final lap at the British AAA championships in Bedford last Sunday
On Sunday last in Bedford there was yet another outstanding performance from young Waterford athlete Kate Veale from West Waterford AC, who added to her growing race walking reputation by winning the British AAA under-17 5000 metres in a record time of 23 minutes and 27 seconds.
This was a new Championship-best performance, beating the old record by a massive 90 seconds and also setting a new Irish Junior (under-20) record.
Last year Kate won the under-15 3000 metres title in record time also. All year she has had major victories here in Ireland and her times are almost as good as those of senior athletes ,and she has an excellent style for the sport.
Ferrybank Ladies pipped in League Final
On Saturday last in Tullamore at the National League Finals the Ferrybank Ladies team, competing in the Premier Division, put up an outstanding performance and then had the heartbreak to see that at the end they lost out by just one point to Tir Chonaill, 114 to 113, and so missed the chance to represent Ireland at the European Club Championships next season.
There were many fine performances for Ferrybank, with Kelly Proper equalling her national record in winning the Long Jump with 6.51 metres.
Niamh Whelan won the 100 and 200 metres, Cara Kennedy the Hammer and Zoe Scanlon, guesting from West Waterford, won the Discus, while the 4×100 metres relay squad also took gold.
Second placings went to: Nicola Power in the Triple Jump; Cara Kennedy, Shot Putt; Lisa Houlihan (guesting from West Waterford), Pole Vault, and thirds were claimed by Kitty Walsh in the 800 metres and Zoe Scanlon, Javelin.
Men Fourth
In the Division 1 men’s section Ferrybank finished fourth overall with a total of 91 pts; the winners were City of Derry on 122 pts. Billy Ryan won the 400 metres and was third in the 100 metres and third placings also went to Kevin Cooper 1500 metres, Alan Corcoran 400 Metres Hurdles, Andrew Heffernan High Jump, Sean Archer Triple Jump and 4x 100 Metres Relay.
Ardmore Five Mile race on Friday
The final race in the Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series will be held this Friday, August 14th. It’s the 14th Annual An Tobar 5 miles in Ardmore and it has a 7.30pm start; entries will be taken at the Ardmore GAA Centre from 6.15.
World Championships in Berlin
Fourteen athletes will represent Ireland at the World Athletic Championships in Berlin which begin on Saturday next, August 15th and included on the team is Jamie Costin from West Waterford in the 50 km walking race, which will take place on the morning of Friday August 21st.
Of the Irish entries it is expected that athletes such as David Gillick (400 metres), Robert Heffernan and Olive Loughnane (both 20 km walk), Paul Hession (200 metres), Dervla O’Rourke (100m hurdles), Roisin McGhettigan (3000m Steeplechase) and Eileen O’Keeffe (Hammer) will be the most prominent.
On day one Loughnane will be in action, as will McGhettigan and Thomas Chamney, while day 2 will see Heffernan in the Walk and day 4 Gillick and Hession competing. Next week we will mention the others in action including Jamie.
All-Ireland Masters
On Sunday next in Tullamore the All-Ireland Masters Track and Field Championships and several athletes from Waterford Clubs will be competing, both men and women.
The first event, the women’s 100 metres, begins at 11am, followed by the men’s. Full programme is on the Athletics Ireland Website.
Further ahead
On Friday, August 21st there will be a three and five miles run and walks in Ballinameela, Co Waterford at 7.30pm; entries at the Community Centre In Ballinameela, contact 086 8184762.
The Community Games Finals will be in Athlone on August 23rd, and the same Sunday at 12 noon the Annual Alan Everett Memorial 5 miles run is on in Woodstown, Co Waterford.
Treacy Documentry on WLRfm
This Wednesday, August 12th at 11 am the John Treacy Documentary will be aired on WLRfm and there will be an input by many, including John himself and it should be most interesting listening.
