CLUB CALL
NEW ROSS BOAT CLUB
Following strong performances at the Cork Regatta, three New Ross athletes have been selected to compete for Ireland at this year’s Junior international regattas.
In what has been a tough ninemonth selection process which has consisted of indoor erg testing, water time trials and invitational high performance training camps, all this hard work has paid off.
After her win in the J18 1x at the Cork Regatta, Laura Brown will make up a squad of seven Junior female scullers who will compete at the Coupe de la Jeunesse which will be held at the National Rowing Centre, Inniscarra, Co. Cork.
This event is the equivalent of the Junior European championships, with 14 countries competing over two days. Laura, who will go into sixth year in September, has been rowing with New Ross Boat Club since the age of 14 and this is her first year trialing for Junior Irish selection, so what an achievement for the young rower
Shona Tierney has been selected on a squad of seven Junior female scullers who will compete at the home internationals, also to be held in the National Rowing Centre in Cork. This is an annual regatta held between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Shona is the younger of the three athletes who has just completed transition year, and this is also her first year trailing for Junior Irish selection.
Luke Sutton has made it two years in a row, having been called up to the Junior men’s home international team. Last year Luke was selected to represent Ireland as a lightweight sculler where he teamed up in a double with Michael McNamee of Belfast.
This year he has been selected as a single sculler in the Junior team, a massive achievement in a very competitive age group. Luke has been with the club since he was 14 and has gone from strength to strength in the last two years.
Their coach, Janet Walsh, has also been selected as head coach of the Irish Junior women’s squad for the home international regatta. This is a squad of seven including our own Shona Tierney.
Janet, who started her rowing career with the Garda Boat Club in Dublin and later rowed for New Ross Boat Club, has been coaching at the club for the past year and willl take up this role in the lead up to the regatta.
This is a huge honour for her and she attributes her success to the hard work and dedication of her athletes who train six days a week to achieve success. At the moment she is out on the water at 6 a.m. most mornings putting this group through their paces in preparation for the Irish national championships which will be held one week before the international regattas.
Club captain Louise Snowe has said this is a great day for such a small rowing club based out of New Ross, and she wishes the athletes and coach the best of success on the water.
The Coupe de la Jeunesse will be held on July 27-29 at the National Rowing Centre, Cork.
The home international regatta will be held on July 21 at the National Rowing Centre, Cork.
ST. JOSEPH’S A.C.
After months of planning and preparation, the Pink Rock 10k organised by St. Joseph’s was a great success, with runners and walkers testing themselves over the course beside the river Barrow in gorgeous sunshine.
The race winner was James Ledingham from Kilkenny City Harriers. Second and third across the line were James Kelly from Castlecomer and Trust Mtinsi from Kilkenny City Harriers.
Sally Forristal from St. Joseph’s was the first women home in 38.15, followed by Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore and Adele Walsh (St. Senan’s).
Mary Molloy of Carrick-on-Suir was the first lady Over-40, with John McGrath the first Over-40 male, representing United Striders.
Stephanie Johnson and John McGrath of United Striders won Over45 category prizes, with Cathy Millet (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Seán Caulfield (St. Senan’s) winning at Over-50 level.
Winners at Over-60 were Patsy Foskin (St. Senan’s) and our own Larry Leacy. Chloe Richardson from St. Joseph’s and Jonathan Crowley (St. Senan’s) won the Junior women’s and men’s categories.
In the county Kilkenny 10k championship run in conjunction with the race, a super strong St. Joseph’s women’s squad won gold, silver and bronze.
The twelve St. Joseph’s women sweeping the boards at county level were Sally Forristal, Elaine O’Donovan, Caroline Murphy, Breda Hennessy, Susan Lanigan, Chloe Richardson, Fiona Ryan, Mary McDonald, Susan Bolger, Bríd Lawlor, Denise Doyle and Tracey Malone.
The Kilkenny City Harriers team won the county men’s title. The Thomastown team finished second, with Gowran winning bronze.
There was a carnival-like atmosphere in Rosbercon Parish Centre afterwards, with a selection of food that had to be seen to be believed. A huge thank you to the army of club volunteers who helped with the massive organisational task, and the club members who planned the event for months beforehand. A special thank you also to all the local businesses who sponsored the event.
Well done to all the club members who descended onto the streets of Waterford and Waterford Greenway for the Viking 10k and half-marathon. In the 10k distance, which turned out to be a considerably longer 7.2 miles, David Lanigan finished in 50:07 and Anna O’Dwyer crossed the line in 1:29:28.
St. Joseph’s were represented by six athletes in the half-marathon. Elaine O’Donovan finished in an excellent 1:37:09, followed by Susan Lanigan (2:11:49), Catherine Hennessy (2:25:19), Alma Barron (2:30:21), and Susan Bolger and Katie Kinsella in 2:44:55.
Although the full marathon was cancelled due to the heatwave, two club runners, Tom McDonald and Anita Barry, completed the distance having started at 8 a.m., completing their 40th marathons in the process.
Staying on the road, the Dundrum A.C. 10k saw Patrick Bookle make the long journey to west Tipperary to finish in 39.16 and come third in the Over-50 category.
The Pink Rock was the venue recently for the county road walks, with great success for St. Joseph’s athletes.
The ladies’ Senior and veterans’ 3k saw Maggie Helen O’Connor win the vets.’ race, with Bríd Lawlor second, and Tracey Malone winning the senior race. John Joe Lawlor won the veterans’ men’s race over 6k.
KILMORE A.C.
Well done to Helen Doyle, 16th woman in the Waterford Viking half-marathon and second woman in her age category in baking conditions. Helen ran an impressive time of 1:45:18 - great running Helen!
A great evening was had on Wednesday on day one of the Mr Oil county Senior track and field championships.
It proved a great opportunity for some of our Juvenile athletes to get a taste of Senior competition. In fact, only one member of our small contingent had experience of the Novice or Senior track and field championships, and that was Helen Doyle.
Helen got the ball rolling by finishing a strong fourth in the Senior 800m. In the men’s 400m, Nicky Foley was also fourth.
Sam Molyneux came third in the Novice 400m and second in the Novice 100m.
That Novice 100m was a very exciting race for the club. Jack Doyle-Roche got an amazing start out of the blocks and was just pipped on the line by Sam to finish third.
Luke Walsh, a newcomer to athletics this year, came fourth and is improving every time he runs.
Nicky placed second in the Over-35 100m. Regina Rochford was second in the Under-18 javelin, throwing further than the Leinsters. Also throwing was Nicky in the Senior men’s javelin.
In the Novice 1,500m, Suzanne Foley finished third in her first track and field. In the Masters 1,500m, Helen Doyle had a great run, finishing second following on from her exploits in the Waterford Viking half-marathon the previous weekend.
In the men’s race, Rory Cassidy had a strong run for fourth, equalling his P.B. in the process.
Also competing in his first track and field, Nicky Foley was fifth. It was a great day for Nicky who threw himself into everything and came away with excellent performances (he might not agree with me!) in his first Senior track and field.
Also on the track, our youthful team of Jack Doyle-Roche, Luke Walsh, Rory Cassidy and Sam Molyneux came second. This was the lads’ first time doing the 4 x 400m and it proved to be a great experience even though the legs were tired.
Registration is now open for the Kilmore A.C. Saltees Fish 10k. Put the date in your diary: Saturday, September 15. Please see www. kilmoreathleticsclub.wordpress.com for all details.
If any local businesses are interested in becoming sponsors for our special 85th anniversary 10k, please e-mail kilmoreathleticsclub@gmail.com.
This Wednesday, July 11, is day two of the county Senior track and field in Enniscorthy. After several medals were won on day one, hopefully the success will continue.
There is no Juvenile training on Thursday due to the Seafood Festival parade which we will be marching in. Juvenile training will now go on a break for a couple of weeks and will return on Thursday, August 9, in Kilmore G.A.A. grounds.
We wish all our Juvenile athletes an enjoyable couple of weeks without training. There will also be no ‘meet and train’ in The Burrow on Wednesday due to the county track and field.
R’LARE KETTLEBELLS
Rosslare Kettlebell Club had great turn-out in Wexford Kettlebell Club for the A.I.K.L.F. Leinster championships five-minute competition recently.
First to the platforms were the females, starting off with the one arm long cycle discipline.
We had Shauna Murphy on the 12 kg. bell taking silver, Patricia Molloy on the 20 kg. bell also taking silver, and Leanne Hennessey on the 20 kg. bell taking gold.
Also competing with 20 kg. for the first time was Colette Meyler who put up a great set in the one arm long cycle division.
In the two arm long cycle discipline we had Melanie Doran taking gold, with 2 x 10 kg. bells, Stacey Brady taking bronze with 2 x 10 kg. bells, and Leanne Hennessy taking bronze with 2 x 16 kg. bells.
We also had Carmel Doyle competing with 2 x 12 kg. bells, performing excellently on the platform.
In the snatch discipline, we had Olivia O’Connor taking bronze with a 16 kg. bell, Shauna Murphy taking gold on the 10 kg. bell, and Pat Molloy taking bronze on the 20 kg. bell.
Also competing in snatch, completing three excellent sets, were Melonie Doran on 16 kg., Carmel Doyle on 16 kg., and Stacey Brady on 12 kg.
We had two new club members competing for the first time, Gemma Casey and Joe Ferris. Gemma completed two excellent sets in snatch and one arm long cycle with the 12 kg. bell, achieving top results.
In our male snatch discipline we had gold with the 16 kg. kettlebell weight. This was from Joe Ferris, our newest club member in his first-ever competition. Well done Joe and welcome to the club. Joe also competed in long cycle with 2 x 16 kg. bells.
Mairéad Doyle and Emmet Kennedy-Power put on fantastic exhibition in the two arm long cycle discipline, in the youth exhibition category.
Emmet completed 30 repetitions with 2 x 6 kg. kettlebells, and Mairéad completed 35 repetitions with 2 x 4 kg. kettlebells.
Our youth female, Caoimhe Van Der Bliake, took to the platforms for three lifts in the snatch discipline, lifting 16 kg. to take the silver medal.
Next up in the one arm long cycle she again competed with 16 kg., taking gold, and her third and final lift was two arm long cycle which she competed with 2 x 12 kg., taking the gold medal.
The male youth lifting was done by Emmet Kennedy-Power in the snatch discipline, taking silver for his 91 repetitions. This was a fantastic set for one of our youngest competitors, only ten years old.
It was an amazing day’s lifting by everyone who competed, and a special thanks to Wexford Kettlebell Club for hosting a great competition.
Training is now under way for the Irish national championships in September which will be the qualifier for the world championships in Latvia in October.