Last Sunday in desperate conditions athletes from Waterford had some excellent results in Cooraclare, Co.Clare at the Munster Cross-Country Championships.
Intermediate victory
John Halley Ferrybank AC put up yet another fine performance in winning the Men’s Intermediate title decisively and he has been a model of consistency all season.
Halley also led Waterford to the Inter-County team title. His clubmate Graham Power also ran well to finish sixth, Sean Stilwell was eight, Rory Moloney eleventh and Harry O’Brien twelfth, all from West Waterford. WWAC were third in the club section.
Three Juvenile wins
In the under-age championships there were three Waterford winners. Shane Quinn had an effortless win in the U-17 grade and Paddy Flynn also impressed in winning the U-19 title and both are from Ferrybank AC. The other win came from Sinéad Flynn WWAC Under-11.
Other athletes to impress were as follows: Niamh Ryan Ferrybank AC 2nd U-19, Rhuain Mitchell KCK 3rd U-15 and Elma Nugent U-19 both WWAC.
Beth Walsh and Alex Flynn were both 5th U-19, Cormac McCann, Ferrybank 6th, U-11, Kitty Walsh, Ferrybank 7th, U-19 and Tadgh Brennan also from Ferryabank was 7th U-11, Gary Cantwell KCK was 7th U-15, Sean Curran, West Waterford 8th, U-13 and also 8th was Molly Hutchinson, Ferrybank U-9 and Miceál Power, West Waterford was 9th U-11.
In the Inter-club team section athletes from Ferrybank AC won three – the Girls U-11, 13, 19, WWAC were second in the Girls U-17 and third in the Girls U-11.
Waterford AC won the Girls U-19 Inter-County Award. Overall a very good day for Waterford in Clare.
Belgium details
Last Sunday three athletes from Ferrybank AC ran in junior races in Mol, Belgium. Lorraine McCarthy was 9th in the race in a time of 15 minutes 44 seconds. The race was won by another Irish athletes Sarah Louise Treacy in 15.03.
Paddy Hogan was 17th in his race in 22minutes 28 seconds and Kevin Cooper was 22nd in the same event in 22-51. This race was won by a Belgian athlete in 20 minutes 49 seconds.
Late James O’Brien
The death took place at the weekend of James (Jimmy) O’Brien, Killaspy, Ferrybank. The late Jimmy was a fine runner in his time and did most of his running with the Clover Athletic Club in the sixties and seventies.
He won many races on the road and at cross-country including Kilkenny Championships. All in athletics locally send their sympathy to his family.
Brickeys Races
Next Sunday morning with an 11am start the Annual McGrath Newsagents 3 Miles and 5 Miles Road Races will be held near the Brickey Rangers GAA Centre outside Dungarvan. Entries at the Centre from 9.30am.
County “B” fixture
In St.Augustine’s College, Abbeyside on Sunday next with a 1pm start the County “B” juvenile Cross-Country Championships and Intermediate Men and Women and Masters will be staged. In the “B” U-9,11,13,15 races medals for first six home in each race and no team medals. Athletes who were 1st, 2nd and 3rd on a winning team in the “A” championships are not eligible to compete on Sundays.
Awards
The National Athletic Awards Banquet in association with Waterford Crystal will be on next Saturday in The Crown Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin. Awards will be presented in the following categories each of which have prior nominations:
Cross-country and Road; Track Athlete of Year; Field Athlete of Year, Walker of the Year; Junior Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year. Three athletes from Waterford AC have been nominated as follows: Kelly Proper – field; Jamie Costing – walking and Niamh Whelan – Junior. A number of other awards will also be presented and will be announced on the night and these have had no prior nomination process.
Baldy Man Run
This year’s Baldy Man Run is on Sunday 28/12/2008 at 12 noon in Tramore. The proceeds will go to the Alzheimer Society in Waterford. Sponsorship cards will be available shortly from Michael Flynn the organiser. The race registration will be in The Majestic Hotel from 10.30am.
Tramore’s big event
Arrangements are well underway for the big Cross-Country event on Tramore Racecourse on Sunday week November 23rd.
Over 2000 competitors from all over Ireland are expected to compete in the All-Ireland Inter County Senior & Junior Championships as well as the juvenile age groups. Races are not on the main track but on the inside area. There will be lots of restrictions in place with no spectators allowed on main racecourse.
On the following Sunday November 30th the Munster B Juvenile and Masters Cross country Championships are at a Cork venue. National fixtures on athletics Ireland website and Munster fixtures and Munster athletics website.
AGM
The Annual General Meeting of Waterford AC will be in St.Paul’s College Paddy Browne’s Road in the city at 7.15pm on Monday next November 17th. All members asked to attend.
Winter Leagues
The Winter League continues this week in Dungarvan and the City. This Wednesday evening the Dungarvan one has a 7.15pm start and the city one at the RSC on Thursday at 7pm sharp. Will all athletes please obey the stewards and only cross at designated areas and also wear clearly visible reflective clothing. Last week’s city run had record numbers.
