Waterford Road Runners

With 318 registered for the 4mile run/fun run and walk there was bound to be great excitement and craic in Kilmacow, and there sure was! More than 30 of these were Road Runners and their names were dotted all over the results sheets. Highest up on the prize list were Joanne Jackman, 2nd Lady, Mark Langford 6th Senior Male, Bill Lacey and Pat Giles, 1st and 2nd O/40 and Larry Kennedy 2nd O/45.

Many others however performed extremely well over the 4 miles, despite the downpour which struck half way through the race. The many fathers who decided to drag their families over to Kilmacow for a Father's Day dash were well rewarded with a good run, tea and sambos after, race video and a never ending barrage of  spot prizes! (Note: not a complaint!!)

PJ Guinan (WWAC) showed a return to form, finishing just a few places ahead of Waterford A.C.'s Brian Swaby, who, realising there was a video, was forced to actually run the entire race! Likewise, Pat Giles had a fantastic run to collect 2nd O/40, ahead of Waterford A.C. clubmate and training buddy Brendan Aspel, and just pipped Tom O'Brien to the prize.  

Former Mooncoin athlete Nicholas Halley, improve by over 40s on last year's run to finish in 24.31, 3/4 of a minute before our first lady Road Runner, Joanne Jackman. (Overall lady's winner was again Sinead Cummins, St.Joseph's A.C.). Hot on Joanne's heels was our Vet of the Year Connie Kelleher, followed in by Butcher of the Year Bobby Coady!

With an improvement of almost 4 minutes on last year's time, juvenile Mark Halley of Mooncoin is sure to be snatched up by a club soon being the first juvenile home in 26.35. Wayne Allen and Cathal Lowe made it home well before St.Senan's prodigal son Andy Dollard, who turned out for the day to try to win a prize from his brother no doubt!

Michael Leechmere was just ahead of the battling Kilmeaden men, Jim Bourke and John Stephenson who crossed the line together. 2nd juvenile and another prospect from Mooncoin was Jackie Ryan. Maybe there's something in the water over that side of Kilkenny!

A brilliant performance from one of our best improvers, Alec Crosse, was rewarded with a finish time of 30.27, showing that his mile times on the track can be perpetuated on the road! Our second WRR lady home was Deirdre Chapman, another improver on both the track and road this season, finishing only 6s behind Alec. The next 10 home were dominated by 8 Road Runners, Joan Stephenson, Paul Murphy, James Maguire, Jim Heylin, Pat Hennessy, Shane Scadding and Helen Whyte. Well done to Joan who improved by almost 5m on last year's time and to Paul who's hopefully decided not to wear that Man United jersey again!

David Forristal showed that Karate can help your road running by finishing in 33.14, just a minute ahead of Big Brother housemate Tara Walsh. Well done to Tara who finished her first ever 4mile run in a brilliant 34.37. The vultures are still circling, wondering what club she's going to sign for!!
Not far behind Tara and closely coached by hubby Des, was Niamh O'Mahoney who averaged under 12m miles for her first time out.

Well done to all on the day and thanks to any and all that supplied spot prizes or donated help in any form. The overall sponsor was Kelly and Dollard, "your locally owned electrical store". In case you hadn't noticed, the prizes ranged from dvd surround sound cinema systems, to stereos, mixers, juicers, radios etc. If you didn't join the crew in St.Senan's today, you certainly chose to skip the wrong race. For a mere fiver entrants got a drenching, a t-shirt to wear after drying off, a cuppa and sambos to warm you up, a video to entertain you, a potential Bus Eireann Holiday voucher worth 200 Eur and the chance to win one of many, many spot prizes. Shame on you!! But don't despair....St.Senan's will be back next year to do it all again....even better!

Click here for a full lo-down on the results of the day.