Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Double gold for Joe in Spain.


In San Sebastian in Spain last week another chapter in the hugely
successful and long athletic life of Joe Gough West Waterford AC was
written as he had a magnificent double at the European Masters Indoor
Championships in the over 60 age group. Over four successive days he
ran a heat, two semi finals and two finals over 800 and 1500 metres.
On Thursday he finished second in his heat of the 800 metres and later
that day won his semi final and then on Friday he set a new European
record in that age group in easily winning the final in a terrific
time of 2 minutes 14.65 seconds, the second man home Franz Schmidt
from Germany was a massive  8 seconds behind him, Saturday saw him in
the 1500 metres semi final and he easily qualified for Sunday's final
in third spot obviously conserving his energy for the final. In
Sunday's final with 15 runners in the field it was another top class
run in a very rough race with plenty of elbows flying as in the end he
easily won the title in 4 minutes 47 seconds, Luis Lahoz from Spain
was second in 4.49.86 and David Oxland from Great Britain was third in
4.52.13 he was the World Champion in this category. Also in Spain
Brendan Moran West Waterford was fourth in the 60 metres o 50 final.
Other West Waterford athletes to compete there without progressing
were Des Feeney 800 metres o 35 and Michael Tutty javelin o 50 while
Malachy McGlynn Waterford AC was in the 1500 and 3000 metres o 45.
Another athlete well known in Waterford Ken Deevy Kilkenny City Hrs a
lecturer in WIT was second in the 800 metres final o 55.

World Cross Country

In Poland on Sunday last at the World Cross Country Championships the
Irish women's team put up a fine performance in finishing fifth of the
19 nations that competed and were the first team from Europe to
finish. First home for the team was Fionnula Britton in 14 th place
equalling her best previous performance in the event

All Ireland Juvenile titles won.

Athlone was the venue on Saturday and Sunday last for the All Ireland
Juvenile Indoor Championships and athletes from Waterford clubs were
among the medals .For Ferrybank AC Tom Gallagher had a great week end
as he had an under 13 double in the long jump with 4.61 metres and
high jump with 1.40 metres, Neasa Murphy was second in the u 17 high
jump and third placings went to  Siobhan Whelan triple jump u 18,
Kelly Meade high jump u 18 , Paul Murphy 200 and 400 metres u 18 and
Stephen Walsh 200 metres u 17, 4 th placings went to Chloe Farrell u
13 long jump, Sinead O'Regan 60 metres u 15 and Kellie Meade u 18
hurdles. For Tramore AC Emmanuel Ogbonna was second in the triple jump
u 19 and third in the long jump and Denise O'Connor was sixth in the
final of the hurdles u15.  Tholm Reddy West Waterford was third in the
800 metres u 17 and Sarah Jacob Waterford AC was fourth in the u 11
shot putt

Munster Master's Road

 On Sunday last the Munster Masters Road Championships for men and
women were in Moyglass in County Tipperary
For Waterford AC Walter Keane won the over 50 section, Ann Fitzgerald
was second over 55 and Frank Quinlan third over 35. The women's over
45 team took the silver medals, the squad being Liz Nolan, Ann
Fitzgerald, Gabrielle Blair and Marie Lawlor and these four also made
up the Waterford County team that were third.

Road Race in City on Sunday

Next Sunday March 31 st a 5 mile rd run/walk in aid of Irish Cancer
Society will be held in Waterford City. It will be a fast flat course,
starting at Kingfisher Club, Tramore Rd and finishing in the Waterford
Nature Park. Balloon launch will take place post event on top of the
park at the finish. Registrations take place in the Kingfisher from 9
am. Runners €12, Walkers €10. Chip timed/free parking. RACE STARTS AT
11am SHARP

Kilmacow Open Sports

On Monday next April 1 st with a 1 pm start the Annual Kilmacow Open
Sports will be in the Sports Centre with many events for juveniles
boys and girls including relay's as well as a few events for juniors
and a senior men's 3000 metres and senior women's 1500 metres with
masters prizes in both.. The juvenile age groups are under 8 to 17
with a sprint for under 8 and 9 and then for each other age group a
sprint and middle distance as well as some field events and walks in
some age groups.The full programme is on the St Senan's AC website.

Track and Field in April

Monday next 1st Kilmacow Open Sports, 1 pm. Saturday 6 th Woodie’s DIY
AAI Juvenile Indoor Relay Championships AIT Athlone Arena,  Sunday
April 7 th Templemore Co Tipperary Juvenile and Junior Sports 11
am..Munster Junior & U/23 Track & Field & Juvenile Combined Events
Championships, Sunday 28th April 2013 in Cork I.T.

Road Races coming up

Aglish ( Co. Waterford ) Fun Run/Walk in aid of Childrens Hospital
Crumlin on Easter Monday, April 1st, 2013. Run 10K or Walk 5K. Entry
Fee: €7 euro donation. Sponsorship cards available from: Telephone
086-8474285. Email: AglishFunRun@gmail.com. The 3rd annual Wit
AC/Waterford AC 5 K run/jog at WIT Sports Campus on Friday April 5 th
at 7pm. Sunday 7 th April  National Road Relays Raheny. Friday April
12 Marine Climb race 1 Ger Wyley Sports Series,.Sun 14 SPAR Great
Ireland Run & AAI 10k Road Championships Phoenix Park see athletics
Ireland Website re online entry Friday 19 th April Butlerstown 10 km
Race 2 Ger Wyley Sports Series.. Full series dates on Wet Waterford AC
Website.