Fintan Walsh's weekly blog

National Record for Thomas Barr


Last week Thomas Barr started his International season in Namur in
Belgium on Wednesday in the 400 metres hurdles and recorded a very
respectable time of 50.34. seconds in finishing third there. The  on
Saturday also in the 400 metres hurdles he competed in another meeting
in Belgium in Oordgem and in a top class field he finished third in a
time of 49.61 seconds and this broke the Irish national record of
49.73 set in 1996 by Tom Mc Guirk. Into the bargain it also qualified
Thomas for the European Championships in Zurich in August the A
standard he required was 50.15. Another athlete Kelly Proper chasing a
standard in the 200 metres had two races in Belgium last week over the
distance,the A standard is 23.35 and the B 23.65. In Namur on
Wednesday Kelly won the 200 metres in 23.60 and the following evening
she was also in action in St Nicholas in Belgium and finished third in
the long jump with 6.17 metres, She was participating in Oordegem on
Saturday when she was third in the 200 metres in 23.67 while Niamh
Whelan was also third in the 100 metres in 12.07. and 7 th in the 200
metres in 24.28.. Ben Kiely also ran in Oordegem in a graded 400
metres hurdle race and he finished 7 th in 53.98.  Athletes are
reminded of the Athletic Ireland policy on European selection..For
most events, the qualifying period runs from the 1st of January to the
21st of July 2014. The athlete in most cases either has to obtain one
'A' standard or if they are a named 'Development Athlete' then they
need two 'B' performances.At the Irish Milers Club 800 metres in
Tullamore on Saturday David Mc Carthy was second in 1.50.95 and James
Ledingham 4 th in 1.52.40 both West Waterford AC

Seven Irish Schools titles won
.
At the All Ireland Schools Track and Field finals in Tullamore on
Saturday last there were seven winners from Waterford schools. In the
senior grade Niamh Mc Nicol Stella Maris Tramore had a sprint double
winning the 100 and 200  metres, from the same school Neasa Murphy won
the high jump and in the Intermediate grade Orlaith O'Brien Ursuline
easily won the javelin title. St Augustine' s athletes were very
prominent in the pole vault events winning three with Megan O'Connor
senior, Megan Dunford intermediate and Yuri Kanash again at
intermediate level with a very good series. Alison O'Connor was second
in the junior section and in the shot putt Patrick Crowther was 3 rd
in the senior event. In the junior walk Orla O'Connor Waterpark was
third

Tourannena 5 Km

Another race in the Ger Wyley Sports Skins/Series took place on Friday
last. It was the 19 th Annual Touraneena 5 km and it had an entry of
204. David Ryan Clonmel was first home in 16 minutes and 8 seconds,
Kevin Kenneally West Waterford was second in 16.45 and Tom Bennett
third in 16.48. Martina O'Dwyer Carrick on Suir was first lady home in
18.04, Sinead Mansfield West Waterford was second in 18.49 and Aine
Roche Clonmel third in 19.29. The following were the Category winners.
Men 0/40 Peter Duggan St. Joseph’s,17.37, 0/45 Jim Baldwin
Waterford18.02, 0/50 Derek Nolan Clonmel 17.51, 0/60 Joe Gough West
Waterford 18.38 ,Junior Liam Reilly do18.09 Women;0/40 Brigid Coffey
West Waterford  22.55, 0/45  Irene Clarke do 21.32, 0/50 Josie Ui
Chuirrin do 23.47,Junior Ciara Burke IND 22.33

Munster Juvenile

 Ennis is the venue on Saturday and Sunday next for the Munster
Championships for the under 9 to 13 age groups and many athletes from
Waterford clubs will compete there. There will be two long days of
competition and full timetable is on Munster Athletics
website.Competitions begin both days at 11 am.

 Two Road Races this week end

Road runners have two races in the area this week end. On Friday in
Carrick on Suir  another race in the Outfields Sports Three County
Challenge Series the Deadman's 5 miles has a 7.30 pm start entries
from 6 pm in Carrick . Sunday sees the Annual Little South 4 miles in
Kilmacow at 2 pm and entries will be taken here from 12.30 pm at the
Parish Hall race starts a half mile or so away outside the Sports
Complex.

More June Road Races

.Friday June 13 th Clashmore 5 miles Race 6 Ger Wyley Sports Series 8
pm. Sunday June 15 th Fenor 15 km and 5 km also12 noon. Full details
on Fenor15.com, Friday June 20 th Dromana 5 miles Race  7 Ger Wyley
Sports/Skins Series. Saturday June 28 th WLRFM Viking Marathon,Half
and Quarter Marathons 9 am

Track and Field Fixtures

Saturday and Sunday June 7 th and 8 th Munster Juvenile u 9 to 13
Championships  Ennis, Saturday June  14 th  Munster Juvenile Relays u
12 to 19  in Cork IT,Sunday June 15 th Munster Senior and Masters
Championships Cork IT.

Late Marie Gregan

The death took place on May 26th after a long illness of Mrs Marie
Gregan, Pickardstown, Tramore wife of Tramore AC coach Michael Gregan
.The Gregan's came to live in Tramore 45 years ago and Michael and the
late Marie became very much involved in the athletic scene -and indeed
with other groups - from the very start. Both have given devoted
service to the Community in Tramore and none more so than in
athletics.  Marie and Michael also helped out clubs in adjoining
counties, the community games, schools athletics and both served on
the National Governing Body of Athletics with distinction for
years.Their four daughters were very able athletes with Tramore AC.
The late Marie was a gifted and talented lady and brought that talent
to her athletic involvement in a quite but effective way and she was a
great wife and mother. All involved in Athletics not alone in
Waterford but all over Ireland send their sympathy to Michael and his
daughters and extended family on their loss.