Leinster tests in August
Bree Hill trails ideal for some off-road running
ATHLETICS LEINSTER has confirmed that the Leinster track and field championships for Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 will take place in Santry on August 1. Each athlete can participate in a maximum of two events.
The Leinster Junior, Senior and Masters track and field championships take place in Santry the following weekend, August 8 and 9. Athletes may compete in up to five individual events but no more than three per day.
Athletics Ireland competitions and Juvenile committees have announced the following schedule of competitions for the 2020 Irish Life Health outdoor track and field season:
August 22/23 - National Senior championships (incorporating national Under-23 championships), Morton Stadium, Santry;
August 29/30 - National Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 Juvenile championships, Morton Stadium, Santry;
September 5 - National Junior championships (plus national Under-23 walks), Morton Stadium;
September 6 - National Masters championships, Morton Stadium;
September 12/13 - National combined events, Morton Stadium. This will include Under-14, Under-15, Under-16, Youth and Junior competitions.
All competitions are subject to government restrictions being eased and on having additional measures in place to ensure that the competitions are safe for athletes, officials and spectators.
The following competitions have been cancelled for 2020: national children’s games; national Under-12, Under-13, Under-14, Under-15, Under-16 track and field championships; national Juvenile ‘B’ track and field championships; national Juvenile relays.
With more and more runners looking to get off the roads and onto the trails, Wexford Athletics is on a mission to unearth the best off-road runs in the county.
Bree is not a place that many Wexford athletes would associate with off-road running. Then again, as Bree A.C. stalwart Clare Doyle says, not many of Wexford’s athletics fraternity have been to Bree Hill.
Wexford Athletics sent a scouting party there last weekend to reconnoitre the situation. To make their job easier, Clare directed them to the brilliant Wexford Walking Trails website where one can find details of this and other walking trails throughout the county.
There are two ways to approach the Bree Hill trails.
Option one, and the favoured trailhead for most people, is to park at Bree Community Centre, or at the church, and follow the signs along Bree Lane. The first kilometre is on a minor road before one takes a turn onto a leafy trail.
A short trot up between old stone walls and wild rhododendron, part of the legacy of the old Alcock Estate, leads to the start of the ‘Red’ loop.
This gently undulating loop is not much more than 1.5km in length, perfect for long session work. It is also ideal for younger runners. The total distance, including the run from and back to the car park, is less than 5km.
An alternative way to access the trails is to park in the more remote forest car park at Craan. If you go at the weekend you will undoubtedly meet mountain bikers here as Bree Hill is a designated venue for mountain biking.
While the bike trails are not part of the walking routes, some of the bike paths cross the walking trails. The adrenaline-buzzed daredevils atop the modified bikes fairly fling themselves down the mountain, so best not to get in the way!
Leaving the Craan car park to the bikers, a second, and longer, route again takes the Community Centre as the trailhead. Including forest lanes and minor roads, it is approximately 10km in distance.
Start at the centre and proceed as outlined above for the ‘Red’ trail. Having completed the loop, head straight on, following the blue/green arrows. The ascent is gradual enough as the route contours around the hill, gaps in the trees offering great views of the Blackstairs Mountains in the distance.
As you descend on the Craan side of the hill, keep right at the junction rather than descending to the car park. This part of the route has not been hard-cored but it is still perfectly navigable.
Breaking out of the trees into a profusion of wild flowers, continue on for a short distance before descending 80m or so down Craan Lane (more trail than lane) to the road.
Turn left and continue for 800m, past the ruin of Wilton Mill, to the Craan car park where you return to the forest. Once back at the junction mentioned above, retrace your steps back to the start.
If one is feeling up to an even greater challenge, there are ample opportunities for branching off the main artery onto unofficial trails through the trees. As these are generally steep and may be muck, trail shoes are essential. Extreme vigilance and caution is advised as these same trails are used by mountain bikers.
ST. ANNE’S, last year’s beaten Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship finalists, have suffered a major blow ahead of their opening round game against Rathnure on Friday, July 17.
Veteran Redmond Barry, who was still capable of bamboozling defences, received a fractured jaw bone on his return to training which will rule him out of the opening stages of the condensed campaign.
An experienced anchor in attack, Barry will be hoping that his side can repeat their glorious run of last year that took them to a county final, where they narrowly lost to neighbours St. Martin’s.
Many clubs believe the opening round is more crucial than ever, since a loss in a three-team group would immediately apply pressure to gain a quarter-final spot.
For the opening weekend of the 2020 campaign, all eyes will be on the televised St. Martin’s versus Oulart-The Ballagh first round clash at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Friday, July 17. With attendance limited to 200, the Wexford GAA coffers will be boosted by a €5,000 fee from TG4 for the game.
It’s also believed that the county final will be televised live on RTE which will be welcome, given than the attendance may be limited.
BOTH SINGLES and doubles tennis is now back at the Gorey club, with clearly defined return to tennis protocols in place.
Our courts have been very busy, with lots of new members enjoying the game. The club invested in a new online court booking system - ClubManager365 - and all games should be booked using this tool. Please contact the club, if you are having difficulties with accessing the system.
Gorey Tennis Club’s AGM will be held in the clubhouse on Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. All socially distancing protocols will be adhered to.
Any motions for the AGM should be sent to Ann Rooney, club Secretary, at annkehoerooney@gmail. com before Friday, July 17.
There will be Thursday night American tournament tennis as normal after the AGM.
We ask members to come along and support - this is your club.
Our American tournament social tennis nights will recommence this Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. sharp.
We are currently restricted to allowing 16 players on the night, so it will be a first-come basis to get your spot. We ask that you bring the exact entry fee of €4 please.
Tennis camps are available during the summer months and are run by club coach Jamie Stafford. Please see www.jsta.ie for more details on dates, costs and booking details.
Adult and Junior tennis coaching is also available with club coach Jamie Stafford. Please contact Jamie at info@jsta.ie for more details.