Fintan Walsh weekly update

Jessie wins in Amsterdam

At the Amsterdam open meeting on Saturday last Jessie Barr put up a
fine performance to win a 400 metres race in 53.68 seconds. Three
other athletes who are with Jessie on the Irish 400 Metres relay panel
for the Olympics were all behind her in the race, Marian Heffernan was
3rd in 53.88, Michelle Carey 4th in 54.10 and Johanna Mills 6 th in
55.14. Also in Amsterdam Niamh Whelan was 5 th in the 200 Metres in
24.03 and 7th in the 100 metres in 11.84.

National League

Ferrybank AC and West Waterford AC both had Men's and Women's teams
competing in the second round of the National League on Sunday last in
Santry and the Ferrybank women's team had excellent results. There
were doubles for Niamh Whelan 100 and 200 Metres, Mairead Murphy 100
Metres Hurdles and Shot Putt and wins also for Kelly proper Long Jump,
Cara Kennedy Hammer, Sorcha Murphy High Jump and Thomas Barr in 400
Metres Hurdles,the women's team are through to the final.West
Waterford had wins with Lisa Houlihan Pole Vault and Zoe Scanlon
Discus.

 Cork City International meeting.

A number of athletes from Ferrybank AC competed at the Cork City
Sports on Tuesday June 17 th and Kelly Proper had the best results.She
was third in the 100 Metres in 11.86 seconds and fourth in the Long
Jump with 6.24 Metres. Fifth placings were secured by Jessie Barr 400
Metres in 53.78 seconds and Cara Kennedy in the  Hammer  with 55..83
Metres and sixth placings were had by Thomas Barr 400 Metres Hurdles
in 51.70 seconds and Sorcha Murphy High Jump with 1.65 Metres. Niamh
Whelan 100 metres in 12.24,  Mairead Murphy was 7 th in 100 Metres
Hurdles in 14.70. Thomas Houlihan West Waterford was 5 th in the Pole
Vault with 4.40 Metres

Munster ( B ) Juvenile winners

Ennis was the venue on Sunday last for the Munster ( B ) Juvenile
Track and Field Championships and athletes from Waterford Clubs
figured prominently.An Ghaeltacht had wins by Hannah Power u16 High
Jump and Shot Putt and Jack O'Floinn u11 Ball Throw, and seconds by
Laura Millar u10 60 Metres and Ornaith Keane u 16 High Jump and 800
Metres and Hannah power was third in the u 16 Long jump   For West
Waterford Meg Ryan won the 800 Metres u15.Chris O'Mahony was second in
the High jump u 16 and third placings were secured by Lucy Holmes Long
Jump u 11, Shane O'Riordan u16 800metres, Emily O'Mahony u12 600
metres. Ferrybank had a win with EoinKenny u 13 Shot Putt and Dara
O.Keeffe was second in the Ball Throwu10. For KCk Katie Heinen won the
Ball Throw u11 and she was second inthe Long Jump,An Ghaeltacht also
had medal winners.

World Junior Champion

Congratulations to Hayley Fitzsimmons from Portlaw a member of
Ferrybank AC who won a Gold Medal for Ireland in the Czech Republic on
Saturday last at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports
Federations World Junior Games. Hayley competing in the T40 Category
threw the Javelin 15.31 Metres a personal best. She is coached by Tom
Prendergast and is also a very good competitor at the Shot Putt
.
Kilbarry Nature Park Race

The first competitive race to be held on the recently opened Kilbarry
Nature Park attracted an entry of 160.over a 5 KM course that took in
two laps of the Park and then finishing up on top of the Hill . Frank
Quinlan Waterford AC was the easy winner in a time if 15 minutes 47
seconds, Alan Danagher, Ferrybank was second in 17.24 and Gary
Cantwell, KCK was third in 17.29. Una Ui Mhuirithe was first lady home
in 20.15, Diane Behan was second in 20.31 and Orna ui Mhuirithe a
daughter of the winner was third in 20.43. The proceeds went to the
Charity Zamda. All who participated in both the run and the Walk were
highly impressed with this magnificent facility in the City open to
the public daily. Opening Hours:Mon - Fri: 6am - 10pm, Sat - Sun: 9am
- 6pm. Vehicular Access through Kingfisher Club. Pedestrian access 24
hours from Tramore Road
.
 Morton International in Dublin.

On Wednesday of this week there is an International meeting in Morton
Stadium in Dublin and many athletes from Ferrybank and West Waterford
will compete. For Ferrybank they include Thomas Barr, Kelly Proper.
Niamh Whelan, Leona Byrne, Chris Russell, Alan Danagher, Billy Ryan
and for West Waterford Thomas Houlihan and James Ledingham and Barry
Upton who runs with Menapians will also compete.The feature event is
the Morton Memorial Mile at 9 pm with a field of World Class Athletes
many capable of running sub 3minute.53seconds miles, the first
International event is at 7.15 pm.

Final Sections of National Juvenile Championships

Tullamore is the venue on Saturday and Sunday next July 28 th and 29
th  for the last two days of the National Juvenile Championships u 12
to 19. Sunday will be exclusively for Relay events 4x 100 Metres and 4
x 400 Metres. Competition begins both days at 10 am and registration
ends at 9.30 am. Full timetable of events for both days on Athletic
Ireland Website and Waterford will be well represented..

Ballymacarbry 5 Miles on Friday

 The 17th Annual Doocey’s Bar Ballymacarbry 5 Miles Road Race is on
Friday next July 27th  at 7.30 pm another race in the Ger Wyley Sports
Summer Series. The prize categories include men's, ladies and juniors.
Race entries will be taken at the Ballymacarbry Community Hall  form 6
.15 pm and the entry fee is 8 euros and the presentation of prizes
will take place at Doocey’s Bar. There's a 10 Miles Road Race in
Ballynonty near Killenaule Co Tipperary on Sunday next July 29 th at
11 am the contact number is  086 8611325. The final race in the
Outfield Sports Series, the Morris Oil 10 KM will be in Piltown Co
Kilkenny on Friday August 3 rd at 7.30 pm.

Cheekpoint/Faithlegg Run

 Altitude Hurthill 4 Miles Trail Run and Walk on Sunday next 29th July
begins at Faithlegg Church at 1pm and finishes in Cheekpoint.
Registration at Faithlegg Church from 12 noon.

Memorial Race

 Eiblis Ni hAodha, ( Liz Hayes ) Memorial  5 miles Fun run/walk onBank
Holiday Monday, 6th August, near Ballyduff Lower Church,
Kilmeaden.Walk starts at 6:30pm, run at 7:00pm .Registration from
5:30pm & entry €10, students €5.Prizes first three men/women. Plenty
of spot prizes. Coming up on Saturday August11 th is Alan Everett
Memorial 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co Waterford at 7 pm

5KM  Island Run

The Island Run, promoted by Balance Fitness, takes place on Sunday
August 19th at 1pm at Waterford Castle. 5km race, family fun day,
music and BBQ. Entries at Ardkeen Quality Food Store, race sponsor, or
runireland.com. More details at www.balance. Charity this year
Waterford Branch Irish Red Cross

Great Programme

On RTE Television last week there was a brilliant programme presented
by Ian O'Riordan Journalist a former athlete and son of Tom O'Riordan
Journalist and International athlete on the Drug Culture etc in Sport.
in simple terms drug takers are cheats. There are  cheats in every
walk of life whether it be in Business, Politics etc but when it
happens in Sport the public outcry is much more vocal. Some
supplements also came into the equation during the programme and they
are a minefield and as always those that take them are running a great
risk of ruining their life and careers and being shamed into the
bargain. Coaches can often be the drivers here but in the end its the
athlete who is caught faces the consequences. Simple advice is to make
sure you are aware of all the banned substances and these are
available too any athlete from the Irish Sports Council or from
Athletics Ireland

Olympic Games

The athletic events at the Olympic Games in London begin on August 3rd
and end on August 12 th, the games get under way on July 25 th. Next
week we will take a brief look at the Irish entry in athletics.