Leinster schools and Munster league - West Waterford road race results The Leinster Schools Mountain Running Championships has been postponed from Wednesday 13th February to Wednesday 27th February. The event will take place at St.. Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin commencing at 1 pm. See www.imra.ie for further details or contact caroline.reid@imra.ie or phone (086) 4035910 with queries. On Saturday 9th February at 2pm, the first of the 2008 Munster League mountain-running events takes place in County Limerick. Organised by Tom Blackburn, Chair of the Munster Region/IMRA (Irish Mountain Running Association), the 8-kilometre race with a climb of 427 metres over road, forest trail and bog is an ideal course for the seasoned and newcomer mountain runner. The course heads towards Seefin – the highest mountain in the Ballyhoura Mountains – and loops down again to the start/finish point. Registration for the race is at the Greenwood Car Park, with refreshments afterwards in the Greenwood Inn, Ardpatrick, County Limerick. The action continues in the evening with dinner and dancing in Bulgaden Castle, Killmallock. The evening is about celebrating the achievements of all athletes who participated in events in 2007 and includes the presentation of awards to those who won prizes at provisional and national levels. All are welcome to these events and enquiries can be made to Tom Blackburn on (087)6994976. Further information can also be accessed on the IMRA Website, http://www.imra.ie/?sec1=events. >>>>>>>> DUNPHY VIVAS HEALTH DUNGARVAN 10. MOLDOVIAN ATHLETE SERGIU TUREA CONQUERS. As was stated in one local papers headline last week, The Dunphys Vivas Health was shaping up to be a Red-letter day for the club and town. Indeed as they rightly reported it was most defiantly a Red letter day for club and town as a huge influx of 700 runners plus their family and friends descended on the Déise’s capitol for the clubs high profile Dunphy Vivas Health Dungarvan 10 mile road race event. The weather tried its best to spoil the day and things didn’t look good early morning with very high winds and driving rain. However by 10 AM the man above looked down and saw the effort being made and gave us the break we needed the wind had abated and the rain was soon stopped as the first of the visiting Athletes arrived. By 1 pm all was set with a huge turn out of runners from far and wide toeing the start line as our honouree starter Oliver Tatten CEO of Vivas Health Ireland fired the starters pistol which got the 700 runners on their way. The race was race number three in the clubs Michael Roche Carpets Spring Series and race number two in the John Buckley Sport’s sponsored Munster 10 mile classic series, which in no small way also added to the occasion. The number of runners participating despite the inclement weather which we thought would adversely effect those travelling was even greater than we realistically expected, We knew it was going to be a pretty good turn out but we never thought that we would reach the 700 mark. That was for next year’s plan, year two of our three-year plan for this race as our target of 1.000 by that third year is really now a realistic and attainable one. However we were delighted with the response and we know now that we have a gem of a race on our hands and with the goodwill of our sponsor Dunphy Vivas Health we feel the skies the limit with this event. As we said we had runners from all over Ireland and many non-nationals also, making it truly an international race, as can be seen in the results below. Indeed our winner this year is a Moldovian national, Sergiu Turea who is running with Dublin club Clonliffe Harriers.Sergiu last years National Half Marathon champion made his intentions well know from the off as he raced into a commanding lead going through one mile in 4.54,by two miles he was 200 meters clear of the chasers and was in full control of the race, But he wasn’t happy just to win, It was obvious from the lead car as he ran hard each and every mile alone that on his mind was the course record, But records are not easily broken and although Sergiu won the race with ease finishing a whopping 4 minutes and 2 seconds ahead of his nearest rival he was to be denied the record by just 10 seconds when recording a time of 50.18,Speaking after the race Sergiu was very happy with his run as it was his fastest time ever for 10 miles, The course he said is a superb course and he felt with some company today that the record could well have fallen, He also made his intentions known that he will most defiantly be back for another crack at it next year. So Sandis Bralitis who is the record holder but out of action through injury holds on to his record 50.08 for at least another year. If the winner won easily the minor placings were a different story with just 3 seconds separating the next three athletes, Second place went to another Dublin athlete Raheny Shamrocks Ryan Montgomery 54.22 with Donal O’Callaghan of Riocht AC Kerry third 54.23.West Limericks Gerard Guina was 4th 54.25.Cathal O’Connell St.Finbarrs took the over 40 title in 55.23,West Waterford’s Martin McCarthy had one of his finest runs over the 10 mile distance to take the over 45 title in 58.57 with St.Jospephs Larry Lacey winning the over 50 59.00,West Waterford took the first two men’s team placings with Eagle AC taking the third. BELFAST ATHLETE TAKES LADIES TITLE. The overall Ladies winner was an athlete who made the very long journey from Belfast. Mary Margaret Meade who runs with North Belfast Harriers travelled to the other end of the country to take part in our race and she made it a worthwhile trip south, Mary Margaret was like our Men’s winner here along with Tullamore’s Pauline Curley to have a crack at the course record and the 250 euro bonus prize on offer for breaking the Ladies course record held by Lucy Brennan Sligo 58.24 and both Ladies were just outside that mark with Mary Margaret getting the better of Pauline in the sprint for the line after a titanic battle between the two for every inch of the 10 mile course, Mary Margaret finally taking the honours in a time of 58.59 with Pauline timed at 59.02.Well done to both athletes two of the countries best for giving us such a terrific Ladies race last Sunday, again both were very pleased with the whole event and have promised to make the return trip next year. Third Lady was Thurles Crokes Madeline Dorney 62.35,Fourth was that warrior from St.Finbarrs Mary Sweeney 63.46 great running from the Youghal native who all of 30 years ago this year won the National intermediate cross country championships and she’s still doing the business great stuff indeed. West Waterford AC had a category winner in Diane Behan over 35 with a time of 66.09 and the over 40 Ladies was won by Tracey Guilfoyle Kilnaboy Co. Clare 65.20.Berni Kelly Galway City Harriers was first over 45 in 77.19 and the over 50 section went to Mary Sheehan Grange Fermoy AC 69.57 The Waterford AC Ladies won the team title with the team of Brea Cooke Mary Burke and Sylvia Molone. Well done to them. We especially congratulate all the local runners who completed the 10-mile classic distance many for the first time and to the many who recorded personal best times well done. Just to mention also and thank all the runners who made the effort to pre enter the race this year, With this said we still had on unprecedented amount who didn’t and this made thing’s difficult for getting entries on Computer and this in turn hindered the speed which results were available, However we will this week sit down and have a look at next years race and the improvements that can be made on last Sunday’s event if any. It was a huge effort by many people and all are to congratulated, The club would love to hear from you if you have any constructive comments to help with the organising of the race as we expect and know that this race will become something really big in the future, even bigger than last Sunday, and together with all the good will out there for the club and through our new sponsor, we can and will rise to that challenge. OUR THANKS TO ALL. From an organisational point of view the race itself went off without a hitch. This was due in no small way to the great amount of pre race work put in By club road racing co-ordinator Gerry Cantwell and his team and the many others who were involved, quite an amount of those who have no immediate involvement with our club but who gave of their time to help stage the perfect event last Sunday, which included many members of Dungarvan cycling club whom we especially thank, The huge record entry of 700 was in no small way due to the much appreciated sponsorship from Dunphy Vivas Health and special thanks to Mel Shanley for his hands on help with organising the event and also to Jerdi Mackey and Finbar Dunphy of Dunphy’s Insurance Main St.Dungarvan. A very special thanks to Mr Oliver Tattan CEO of Vivas Health Ireland and Irish Entrepreneur of the year for making the long trip from Dublin to set the runners on their way and not alone that but Oliver really got in the sprit of the even by taking part in the race himself along with two other Vivas Health Ireland staff members Ruth Bailey and Andrea Walsh well done and many thanks to all three for travelling from Dublin, we hope they enjoyed their weekend in the town. Our thanks to Mel who was on hand to present the winner with the magnificent Mc Riordan commissioned perpetual trophy on behalf of the sponsors and to present all the lucky winners with their prizes. Our thanks also to the committee and staff of Dungarvan Crystal Sports Centre and Dungarvan United Football club for their help and to all those who made the sandwiches to feed the hungry runners and all who donated to and helped to pack the Goodie Bag’s on Saturday night a big thank you. To Albert who looked after the goody bag items and to Jason and Keane-Power Drinks Company fro their sponsorship of the water. A big thanks to all the help from our Juvenile club both committee members and the many Juvenile members who played a big part in the days activities, This was much appreciated by the Senior club and your help was invaluable. There are many other people to thank for their help on the day especially all the stewards out on the course and Tony Ryan who co-ordinated this most important function on race day. Led by our club Treasurer Denise Regan, our thanks to all who were looking after registration, results and at the finish area, time keepers and recorders. Tony and Michael on P.A. and lead car,Thanks to those who looked after the Water station’s and for the great job they did cleaning up the cups etc. I must also give special mention to two people for their work with the traffic management and practical help leading up to race day and on the day itself and that’s Conor Norris and Jamie Mills. No more needs to be said here, Parking was a big issue for this race but the plan of action went without a hitch our thanks to the Business owners at Dungarvan industrial estate and to Waterford Crystal for the use of the factory car park. Especially Patsy Walsh for his help with acquiring the factory car park, We must extend our sincere thanks to Dungarvan Garda Station under Superintendent Tom O’Grady for their continued support with this and all our events. The good news is that this race will be bigger and better (if that’s possible) again next year. Get behind the West Waterford wheel folks and let’s drive on. List of overall prizewinners at Dunphy Vivas Health Dungarvan 10. The following are the first six men in last Sunday’s ten-mile road race. 1. Turea Sergiu Clonliffe Harriers 50.18 2. Ryan, Montgomery Raheny Shamrocks 54.22 3. Donal O’Callaghan Riócht 54.23 4. Gerard Guina West Limerick 54.25 5. Con Marshall 55.14 6. Martin Doody Limerick A.C. 55.16 Male O/40 1. Cathal O’ Connell St. Finbarrs 55.23 2. Pat O’ Sullivan Carrick-on-Suir 57.54 Male O/45 1. Martin McCarthy West Waterford 58.57 2. Joe O’ Sullivan Bandon A.C. 60.14 Male O/50 1. Larry Lacey St. Josephs 59.00 2. Gerry Cantwell West Waterford 61.39 Male O/55 1. Pat Twomey Eagle A.C. 63.04 2. Maurice Tobin Grange-Fermoy 64.38 Male O/60 1. Patrick O’Brien Charleville 76.26 Male O/65 Pat Doran Limerick 80.02 1. West Waterford AC 2.Eagle AC 3. West Waterford Raivis Zakis 13 Declan O’Shea 33 Philip Harty 34 Sean Stilwell 16 Ciaran Dunne 38 Trevor Mason 50 Padraig Healy 20 John Desmond 62 Pat O’Riordan 52 49 PTS 133 PTS 136 PTS The following are the ladies results in the ten mile road race. 1. Mary Margaret Meade North Belfast Harriers 58.59 2. Pauline Curley Tullamore Harriers 59.02 3. Madeline Dorney Thurles Crokes 62.35 4. Mary Sweeney St. Finbars 63.46 O/35 1. Diane Behan West Waterford 66.09 2. Kathleen O’ Callaghan Sportsworld 66.27 O/40 1. Tracey Guilfoyle Kilnaboy 65.20 2. Angela McEvoy St. Finbarrs 69.14 O/45 1. Bernie Kelly Galway City Harriers 77.19 2. Josie Uí Chuirrín West Waterford 79.02 O/50 1. Mary Sheehan Grange- Fermoy 2. Anne Fitzgerald Waterford A.C. 69.57 O/55 1. Margaret Barry Middleton AC 86.34 O/60 Maggie Dunne Grange/Fermoy AC 85.07 The winning ladies team were Waterford A.C. 558 points. The members of this team were Brea Cooke 153, Mary Burke 179. and Sylvia Malone 226. Wheelchair: 1 J Forde (Blarney-Inniscarra) 87:45.