James Veale's weekly blog

23^RD ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10.

There is little doubt that the big road racing attraction this coming weekend is the 23rd annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race up in the West of the county. A massive field of 2.000 runners are registered for the race since last October and an elite field of male and female runners who include the who’s who of road runner’s have been assembled for the event. The race gets under way for the Youghal road in the town at 1pm sharp. Villierstown’s favourite son and the man who’s name the race honours John Treacy will be among the participants and will lead out the large field along with Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport Leo Varadkar TD who will also be taking on the 10 mile challenge. Current national marathon champions and Dungarvan 10 course record holders Sean Hehir Rathfarnham AC  49.25 and Marie Mc Cambridge Letterkenny AC 55.58 are also in the field. There is a big Waterford entry in the race with all waterford clubs involved, we hope the weather man plays his part now and brings the event the weather it deserves.

INDOORS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND UP-SATURDAY

Last week saw a was a very busy weekend for Waterford athletes at the various indoor championships held. On Saturday Kelly Proper won the long jump 6.26 at the Scottish open in Glasgow and finished 2^nd in a mixed 200 meters event. Ferrybank had athletes in action Saturday in Nengah at the Munster juvenile relays and combined events. There were gold medals for Sinead O Regan under 16 Praise Owoeye took bronze under 12 girls, in the relays there was gold for under 12 and 19 girls and under 19 boys, while the under 9 boys took silver.

Waterford AC were also in action here and they saw success with Jack Cocoran under 11 boys Grace Furlong girls under 16 and bronze Jack Deegan under 12 and Cathal Scanlon boys under 13.Waterford AC also took silver under 12 boys and bronze girls under 15 relays

SUNDAY INDOORS.

The following Ferrybank athletes were successful Sunday at the Munster senior, masters under 23 and junior indoor championships in Nenagh

There were Gold medal performances from Paul Murphy junior men's 200,

Neasa Murphy junior high jump, Niamh Whelan senior 200, Sean Archer u 23 triple jump, Shane O’Dwyer took a Double gold in the under 23 high jump and long jump. Silver medals were won by Niamh Whelan senior 60 meters,Sean Whittle junior men's triple jump, Stephen Walsh junior men's 200 meters

Aisling Quinn junior ladies 1500 meters and Tom Boucher senior men in both the shot and triple jump. Bronze  medals were won by Siobhan Whelan junior triple jump, Paul Murphy junior men's 400 meters, Pat Kennedy over 55 56lb distance, Stephen Walsh junior men's 60 meters And again Tom Boucher in the senior men's high jump and triple jump Richard Lucas under  23 800 and 1500 meters.

THE GOUGH’S SHOW THE WAY .

It was a great day for the West Waterford AC Gough’s at last Sundays Munster indoors at Nenagh stadium. Despite not being related the name Gough certainly was to the fore on the day when Joe Gough set a new Munster record for over 60 800 meters with a time of 2.18.41 and this time was faster that the times recorded on the day for the over 45 and 50 . His namesake Terri Gough took a treble gold in the over 65 200 and 800 meters and shot and added silver in the 60 meters.

WATERFORD AC ELECT COMMITTEE FOR 2014.

At the recent annual general meeting of Waterford AC the following members were elected to the committee for 2014. John Nolan, Frank Quinlan, Keith O'Driscoll, Trevor Walsh, Dave Foley, Brian Cuddihy, Joe Cawley, Pat Giles, Diane Behan, Nichola Hayes, Kieran Leahy, Tony T Keogh, David Murphy and Kieran O Mahony. We wish the committee well for the year ahead. Also presented on the night were awards to the Male athlete of the year who was Tom O'Brien and the female athlete of the year award went to Suzanne Dulligan and a presentation was also made to Trevor Power for the outstanding year that he had, well done to all.

ST.PAULS PARISH 5 MILES.

Another upcoming road race is on Sunday February 2^nd with the holding of the Frank Leahy Memorial 5 miles in Waterford City. The race will start at the Park Inn, Lismore Park Waterford at 1 pm and entries will be taken there from 11.30 am.All proceeds from the run will go to St Paul's Parish.

ANNE VALLEY 5.

The Annual Anne Valley 5 miles is fixed for Saturday February 15th at 12 noon in Dunhill.

MUNSTER STAR AWARDS BANQUET SET FOR THE TOWER HOTEL.

The Munster athletics sports star awards banquet will be held this year in the Tower Hotel Waterford on next Saturday January 25th 2014 starting at  8pm. Tickets at 35 euro each can be booked from Deirdre Chapman on 0879983782 or by email at deeoconn@yahoo.com The ticket price includes meal and band plus disco after.

The following from Waterford will be receiving awards on the night

Juvenile Track and Field Siobhan Whelan and Paul Murphy Ferrybank AC,

Senior Tom Boucher Ferrybank AC ,

Juvenile Cross Country Micheal Power West Waterford AC ,

Masters Track and Field Club Waterford AC,

Hall of Fame John Treacy.

MUNSTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS CHANGED.

The dates for the Munster Road Racing championships have been amended. The Masters Road Race will take place on Sunday 16th March in Kilnaboy, Co. Clare.The Munster Novice and Senior Road Race is fixed for Sunday 30th March at a Waterford venue. All athletes taking part need to contact your relevant club secretary’s for each of the championships, it’s 2 miles for the women and 4 for the men .Please note that no entries will be taken on day of championships events.

EAST MUNSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY ON THURSDAY.

The East Munster Schools Cross Country will be held in W.I.T. Sports Campus, Carriganore on next Thurs Jan 30th with a 12.30 start.The first 15 and the first three teams in each race will qualify for the Munster Schools Cross Country which will be held in C.I.T. on Thursday February 13th and the All Ireland will also be Held in C.I.T. on Saturday March 8th.