Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Two  Waterford athletes at European Cross Country Championships

Defending European Champion Fionnula Britton  will lead the Irish
senior team at the 19 th SPAR European Cross Country Championships
which takes place in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday next 9 th of
December. The Wicklow athlete’s preparation for these championships
has gone exceptionally well, she finished 4 th in the very competitive
VIII Cross de Atapuerca in Burgos, Spain earlier in the month and
continued her preparations with a third place finish in a classy field
in the Cross de l’Acier last week end. In the senior men's race Joe
Sweeney finished a magnificent fifth place last year at the
Championships; and another good run is expected on Sunday. In the U 23
Women’s race  just two Irish athletes compete Una Britton, sister to
Fionnula will  be joined on the line by Laura Behan KCK AC Waterford.
A full Irish u 23 men's team will compete and Patrick Hogan Ferrybank
AC is included, Shane Quinn was also selected but has withdrawn due to
illness.

All Ireland Cross Country in Adamstown.

On Sunday next also December 9th the All Ireland Novice and Juvenile u
11,13,15,17,19, Cross Country Championships will be only a few miles
down the road  in Adamstown, Co Wexford at 11.30 am. Waterford will
have athletes competing in most races and a few are expected to be in
contention for titles individual and team,as always these races start
on time the first race on Sunday will be the girls u 11

 Successful Waterford Athletic Club Half Marathon.

In ideal weather conditions the 4 th Annual Waterford Athletic Club
Half Marathon was held on Saturday last with close to 1600 competing.
Starting at the RSC Car Park and taking in the main Tramore Road as
far as Pickardstown Cross and then back in the Old Tramore road and
coming across the Slip Road near Waterford Transport to meet the
Tramore Road at Ballindud and back in doing a lap of the Nature Park
in Kilbarry and finishing there. Around the course and at the finish
huge crowds gathered to cheer on the athletes and the arrangements
were excellent.

Harty wins.

From an early stage two athletes dominated the race Gary O'Hanlon
Raheny Dublin the holder and Philip Harty West Waterford with Andrew
Connick Ferrybank AC also in contact for some time. O'Hanlon and Harty
fought out a great duel most of  the way and it was only in the
closing stages Harty drew clear to win in 67 minutes 30 seconds,
O'Hanlon was second in 67.35 and Connick third in 68.40. Angela McCann
Clonmel won the ladies section in great style in 80.36, Jacqui Carthy
Kilmore Co Wexford was second in 81.16 and Ann Marie Holland Eagle
Cork third in 82.14.The organisers wish to thank all their sponsors,
all the stewards, their own club members, Order of Malta , Waterford
City Council and the Gardai for services rendered. Detailed
Results;.Women 1 Angela McCann Clonmel AC 80 36, 2 Jacqui Carthy
Kilmore 81.16, 3  Ann Marie Holland Eagle 82:14, 4 Martina O'Dwyer
Carrick on Suir 83.43, 5 Sylvia Malone Waterford 84.13, 6 Maria Murphy
Griffin St Joseph's 85.51. o 35 Cora  Muldowney, o 40 Diane Behan
Waterford AC, o 45 Mags Kirwan Bolger Waterford, o 50 Bernadette
Mitchell Balance, o 55 Anne Fitzgerald Waterford AC. Men. 1 Philip
Harty West Waterford 67.30m 2 Gary O'Hanlon Raheny ( holder ) 67.35,
3 Andrew Connick Ferrybank 68.40,  4 Owen Gahan St Senan's 71.14,
Bernard Roe Raheny 71.50, 6 Niall Sheil St Killians 72.00.  o 40
Declan Power, o 45 Michael O'Connell Sligo, o 50 John Dalton,
Waterford o 55 Eugene O'Doherty Sliabh Bhui Rovers, Ferns, o 60 Albert
Keenan Newbridge 1580 competed.

Munster Cross Country

In the  Munster (  B  )  Juvenile Cross Championships in Newmarket on
Fergus on Sunday last three Waterford clubs had athletes competing.
For West Waterford Emily O'Mahony was second u 13,  Rachel Wyley 6 th
u 15, Eva French u 13 and Aidan Mc Kenna u 15 were both 7 th and Eabha
and Patrick Walsh u 9 and u 13 respectively  were both 8 th, West
Waterford were 3 rd club in both the girls and boys team events. For
Waterford AC Jamie McCarthy was 9 th, Conor Quinn 10 th and David
McGlynn 12 th all in u 15 grade and for KCK Rena Behan was 5th u 13
and Seamus Fitzgerald 10 th u 11.

Waterford Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships

Results from above held on Friday last November 30 th at St
Augustine's College Abbeyside. Minor Girls 1 Mollie Hutchinson
Ursuline, 2 Rachel Wyley St Augustine's 3 Rena Behan St Declan's
Kilmacthomas Team 1 Ursuline 2 St Augustine's 3 Ard Scoil Na nDeise,
Junior 1 Aoife Hamilton Meanscoil San Nioclas 2 Hannah Power Ard Scoil
3 Meg Ryan Meanscoil San Nioclas Team 1 Ard Scoil 18 pts 2 St
Augustine's 21, 3 Ursuline 29. Intermediate 1 Sinead Flynn St
Augustine's 2 Cliodna Ryan Ard Scoil 3 Megan Dunford St Augustine's
Team 1 St Augustine's 9, 2 Ard Scoil 13 , 3 Ursuline 38. Senior 1 Orna
Murray Ursuline 2 Lucy O'Brien Blackwater CC 3 Eimear O'Brien do Team
1 Blackwater CC 10, 2 Ursuline 12. Minor Boys 1 Shane O'Brien St
Declan's 2 Patrick Walsh Dungarvan CBS 3 Aidan Mc Kenna St Augustine's
Team 1 St Augustine's 25  2 Dungarvan CBS  26, 3 St Declan's 28.
Junior 1 Miceal Power St Augustine's 2 Eoin O'Brien Blackwater 3
Darragh McGrath St Augustine's Team 1 St Augustine's  27, 2 St Pauls
40,  3 Bllackwater 47. Intermediate 1 Sean Curran Dungarvan CBS 2
Tholm Reddy do 3 Shane O'Riordan do Team 1 Dungarvan CBS  13, 2 St
Pauls 47.  Senior 1 Richard Stillwell St John's Dungarvan 2 Colin
Dunford Dungarvan CBS 3 Jamie O'Keeffe De La Salle Team 1 Pauls 24,  2
Dungarvan CBS 39,  3 St Declan's  46.  Tie for best oberall Girls
school between Ursuline and st Augustine's,tie in Boy's overall
between Dungarvan CBS and St Pauls

Waterford Viking Marathon Launch

On Friday last at Bishop's Palace the 2013 WLRFM Waterford Viking
Marathon was launched by Mayor Jim Darcy in the presence of a large
crowd.The big day is Saturday June 29 th  2013 at 9 am and please
spread the news around the county, country and abroad. Full details on
The Waterford Viking Marathon Website including entry form and
remember there will be a closing date so don't miss out on your
entry,some did last year. There will be a Full Marathon, Half Marathon
and Relay option so all have seven months to prepare.Proceeds to
Waterford Alzheimer Society and Waterford Hospice.

Paddy Byrne winter League

Again there was a big entry for Race 3 in the Winter League in the
City last Thursday and it continues every Thursday at the RSC at 7
pm,registration from 6.15 pm.

Baldy Man Run.

This year's event in Tramore is on Sunday December 30 th at 12
noon.Entries from 10 am at Majestic Hotel,entry fee 12 Euro or 30 Euro
for three. Proceeds to Special Olympics. Contact Michael Flynn.