Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

Alan Everett Memorial Road Race on Friday

Woodstown Co Waterford is the venue on Friday next August 23 rd for the Annual Alan Everett Memorial 5 miles Road Race which starts at 7 pm preceded by a walk at 6.30 pm. Entries have been taken online (see Waterford AC website ) and  there is a cut off number of 300 on entries  so on the evening  at The Saratoga in Woodstown from 5.45 pm  entries may be limited. After the event the Summer Night Out for Waterford AC is in The Saratoga. Coming up on Friday August 30 th again at 7 pm is the Gensyme 5 miles from the Gensyme Factory Old Kilmeaden Road Waterford,.on Sunday September 1 st there is a 5 miles at 1 pm in the Faithlegg area and on Saturday September 6 th at 6 pm there's a 6 km Fun Run and walk in the city in Ballybeg, entries online at Run Ireland

Ferrybank AC Fourth

The last major event of the Track and Field season the National League finals were in Tullamre on Sunday last and Ferrybank AC ladies finished fourth overall.They had individual wins by Kelly Proper in the long jump with 6.25 metres and 100 metres hurdles in 14.37 seconds and Cara Kennedy won the hammer with 50.71 metres.

Kelly Athlete of Month

Kelly Proper Ferrybank AC has  been named The Irish Times and Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Month for July. Kelly won three individual medals and one relay gold medal at the Irish Senior Championships in July as well as victories abroad.Later this year the Overall Sportswoman of the Year will be chosen from the monthly winners.

National Community Games Finals 

Last week end in Athlone the National Community Games Athletic finals were staged. Waterford won three individual medals and these were Emily O'Mahoney  Ballymacarbry 2 nd 600 m under 12, Dylan Conway  Lismore 2 nd hurdles u 10 and Shane Monagle Tramore 3 rd u 14 hurdles and the boys under 14 relay team was 4 th.the team was Jamie stone,Shane Monagle, Ian and Mark Hartery all Tramore.

These are the only results that came through despite many phone calls. 

Liz Hayes Memorial  Race

Over 100 competed in the second Annual Liz Hayes Memorial 5 miles Road Race in Ballyduff Lower on Friday last over a very demanding course.Tom Bennett from Lismore set a brisk pace from the start and held a comfortable lead until a mile or so from the finish but in the last half mile or so he was passed by Tony Quinlan from Waterford AC the eventual winner in 28 minutes 57 seconds and another Waterford AC athlete PJ Scollard snatched second place close home in 29.09 with Bennett third in 29.12. and David Cunningham Waterford Ac was fourth in 30.21 Joan Mahony Waterford AC was the easy winner of the ladies section in 33.03, Keely Tideswell Clonmel was second in 34.44 and Una UiMhuirthe was third in 35.00 and  Caitriona Gough Waterford AC fourth in  34.44. Many of those that had competed with the late Liz Hayes in races were among the entries including a contingent from Thomastown Co Kilkenny and Mrs Hayes mother of the late Liz was present, It was a very well organised event 

Clonmel win for Zakis 

Ravis Zakis West Waterford won the Boston Scientific Half Marathon in Clonmel on Sunday last in 70 minutes 49 seconds, Brian Murphy Carrick on Suir was third  in 72.34 and Trevor Power Waterford  fifth in 74.15, Walter Keane Waterford AC was first over 50 and Sarah Lee do second over 35. For West Waterford Ann Dunford was first over 45 and Gerry Cantwell second over 50

All Ireland masters titles Galore for Waterford AC

Several athletes from Waterford had wins at the All Ireland Masters Track and field championships in various age groups in Tullamore on Saturday last with athletes from Waterford AC bringing home 22 medals The following had wins; Tom O'Brien in the high jump and long jump, Mary Ryan Jennings in javelin and long jump and a silver in the discus. Brendan Leahy in the 200 metres , Nicola Hayes high jump, silver in 100 and 200 metres and bronze in discus,  Gabriel Blair 100 metres,  and  silver in 200 and 400 metres, John Hodge 400 metres and silver in 800 metres, Susan Dullaghan silver in 200 and 400 metres, Paschal Halley bronze in high jump, the women's relay teams winning silver in  both the 4 x 100  and 4 x 400 metres  For West Waterford AC Joe Gough won the 1500 metres and like Mary B Ryan Jennings this was his umpteenth Irish masters medal. Athletes who compete with WIT also had good results with Bryan Murphy who runs with  Carrick on Suir winning the 5000 metres and Ken Deevy  who runs with KCH  won the 200 and 400 metres the 200 in record time of 25.30