Tralee Racecourse is the location on Sunday next for another Munster Cross Country Championship programme and lots of athletes from clubs in Waterford City and County will be participating.
The event starts at 12 noon sharp and has Championships for Intermediate men and women as well as for boys and girls under 9,11,13,15, 17 and 19.
In all races there are individual and team prizes and the team events are ideal for every grade of runner.
Waterford athletes and officials travelling are asked to be at the venue in good time and give athletes plenty of time to warm up for their events and this is more essential than ever in the cold weather and keep athletes on the move prior to their races.
Spectators travelling are reminded to bring suitable clothing and footwear for the conditions and best of luck to all our athletes.
Winter League
A reminder that the Annual Paddy Byrne Memorial Winter League begins at the RSC in the city this Thursday November 5th and will continue all winter each Thursday.
The starting time each evening is 7pm and registration from 6pm. and remember reflective clothing must be worn.
The roads are not closed off and are quite busy and the evenings very dark around the circuit but if all participating obey the Gardaí and stewards and cross at the designated areas it will make it easy for all and that includes motorists including a handful who may be a little impatient
County Fixture
On Sunday week, November 15th there are two fixtures in the Dungarvan area, at 1 pm in St Augustine’s College Grounds Abbeyside the County Masters Championships and Juvenile ‘B’ championships under 9, 11, 13 and 15 go ahead.
Brickey Run
Earlier on Sunday morning week November 15th the Annual McGrath Newsagents Brickey runs are at the usual venue outside Dungarvan with changing facilities at the Brickey Rangers GAA Grounds. There’s a choice of two distances – three miles or five miles and the off time is 11am.
Nationals
Kilbeggan Racecourse is the venue on Sunday November 22nd for the All-Ireland Inter Counties for seniors and juniors as well as the boys and girls U-12, 14, 16 and 18 Championships and on Sunday November 29th the Munster B juvenile u 9 to 19 and also the Masters are on in Moyglass, near Fethard in Tipperary.
News from the States
Last week end Irish athletes in American Colleges were out in force including a few from Waterford at Conference championships at various venues including a few from Waterford.
In Milwaukee David McCarthy (West Waterford) was competing in the Big East Championships and in an 8 kilometre race he finished 6th in a time of 25 minutes and 3 seconds; the race was won by Cory Thorne Louisville in 24.43.
In Williston in a 5 km event two Ferrybank athletes Patricia Barry and Mary O’Connor finished 18th and 65th respectively in the America Conference.
Barry was timed at 19 minutes 30 seconds and O’Connor 21.16; the race was won in 17.56 and in St Louis Niamh Ryan was 25th in a 5km race in 20.48; the winners time was 18.37.
New Rule
From November 1st the IAAF have introduced the ‘No Break Rule’ in sprint events, this replaces the ‘One Break Rule’ that has been in existence. The main reason for the new rule introduction is to eliminate the deliberate breaking by athletes under the old system whose only motive was to disrupt other athletes in their race and give themselves an unfair advantage. Now under the new system no breaks are allowed by any of the competitors if they do they are automatically disqualified, we will watch with interest to see how it works.
