Athletics

Five Irish Senior titles for Waterford by Ferrybank AC athletes

After a hectic few days on the continent brother and sister Thomas and Jessie Barr both returned to compete at the National Championship in Santry Stadium Dublin last weekend and both retained their titles in the 400 Metres Hurdles but neither got the A Qualifying mark for the Olympics - Jessie had the B and was just 0.4 of a second off the A - and she is selected for London on the Irish 4 x 400 Metres Relay panel of 6 from which the four to run will be chosen.

It proved to be a fantastic week end for Ferrybank AC as their athletes won five titles as well as five silver and four bronze medals. Thomas Barr who competed in a race in Liege in Belgium on Thursday was in a straight final for his race on Sunday and withstood quite a good effort by the second man home Harvey from Crusaders to win his second successive title in another good time of 50.87 seconds. Jessie who competed in race in Germany on Friday had to run a heat on Sunday and then a final which she won in 57.33 seconds to take her second title in succession.

Kelly Proper who had been injured for some time made a welcome return at the championships and on Saturday won the Long Jump with a season's best of 6.33 metres - this was her 6 th National Long Jump title - she won her first in 2006 and did not compete last year, on Sunday she took the silver medal in the 100 metres in 11.84 seconds.

Cara Kennedy retained her Hammer title with a throw of 56.22 Metres not far from her best and Mairead Murphy also had a fine win in the 100 metres Hurdles in 14.77 seconds. Niamh Whelan had her best run of the season in the 200 Metres to finish second in 23.62 metres and als was third in the 100 metres in 11.86 on Sunday she finished third i the 100 Metres and Sorcha Murphy was second in the High Jump. Also second were the men's 4x400 metres relay team of Chris Russell, James Greene, Billy Ryan and Thomas Barr and Chris Russell was fourth in the 200 Metres, Bronze medals went to Leona Byrne in the Long Jump and Sean Archer in the Triple Jump both on Saturday and to Billy Ryan in the 800 metres on Sunday. For West Waterford AC Thomas Houlihan made a brave effort to win the Pole Vault but had to settle for second wit 4.60 Metres the event was won in 4.70,.his sister Lisa was fifth in the Pole Vault and Kate Hickey was also fifth in the Discus.

Kate and Ben at World Junior Championships

Starting on Tuesday of this week the Word Junior Athletic Championships are in Barcelona and two athletes from Waterford clubs will be competing for Ireland and both will be in action on Wednesday morning. The two are World 2011 Youth 5000 Metres Walk Champion Kate Veale from Ballinroad a member of West Waterford AC and she competes in the 10 KM Walk Final at 8.30 am Irish Time and Ben Kiely 2011 European Youth Olympic 400 Metres Hurdles Champion from Dunhill who competes with Ferrybank AC and he goes in the heats of the 400 Metres Hurdles at 10.30 am. The Championships sees the biggest gathering in terms of participating national IAAF Member Federations in the history of the championships, no fewer than 180 IAAF member countries participate. With a total of 1742 athletes entered (964 men and 778 women), the record of participating men and women is also broken The championships will be a big step up for both Kate and Ben and to give an idea of the competition they will encounter in Kate's race two or three athletes are below 43 minutes she is around 45. 50 and in Ben's race a few are around 51seconds or less and Ben's best is 52.69, we wish them both well.

Results of 13th Annual Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles

Men: 1 Philip Harty, Donore Harriers 24.52, 2 Sandis Bralitis, WWAC 25.49, 3 Frank Quinlan, WAC 26.33. 0/40 Frank Hayes, East Cork 27.23, 0/45 Andrew Leary, WWAC 28. 43, 0/50 Martin McCarthy, WWAC 28.50, 0/55 Tommy Cahill, Clonmel 32.49. O60 Con Kelleher, WAC 35.14,

Ladies: Angela McCann, Clonmel 29.23, 2 Sinead Mansfield, 31.10, 3 Corinna Walsh WWAC 31.41, 0/35 Liz Nhyan WWAC, 34.41, 0/40 Irene Clark WWAC 37.15, 0/45 Ann Dunford WWAC 35.47, 0/50 Bernie Prendergast WWAC 38.49, 0/55 Marie Moore WWAC 47.29, Junior Kate Nolan WAC 34.03. Proceeds divided between Munster Special Olympics and Dogs for the Disabled. It was Race 8 in Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series.

All Ireland Juvenile

Saturday and Sunday July 14th and 15 th next will be the first two day's of the All Ireland Juvenile u 12 to 19 championships in Tullamore with a big Waterford entry. There will be lots of competitions on both days with a 10 am start but registration from 9.15 am. Full programme of events on Athletic Ireland Website

Further July Championships etc

Saturday 21st Schools International T&F Championships, Kent, England,

Sunday Jul 22 National League Round 2 Athlone/Santry

Sunday July 22nd Munster Juvenile B T&F Championships, Ennis, Sat/Sun

July 28th & 29th AAI Juvenile U12-U19 T&F Championship Tullamore

Cork City Sports

Once again Cork City Sports committee have decided to include juvenile 300m Gala in the programme for the 2012 meet on Tuesday July 17th. The 300m Gala is open to all U9 - U14 athletes, born between 1999 - 2004, inclusive. Entries are free and can be done on line @ http://http://www.corkcitysports.ie/juveniles.php. Entries will also be be taken on the day from 5pm and races will start at 5:30pm.

Road Races Coming up In July

Rathgormack 5 Miles is on next Friday July 13 th at 7.30 pm ( race 3in Oatfield Sports Series ) entries from 6.30 pm in Rathgormack,

Ballymacarbry 5 Miles on Friday July 29 th at 7.30 pm ( Ger Wyley Sports Series )

Memorial Race

Eiblis Ni hAodha, ( Liz Hayes ) Memorial 5mile Fun run/walk on

Monday, 6th August, Ballyduff, Kilmeaden.Walk starts at 6:30pm, run at 7:00pm .Registration from 5:30pm & entry €10, students €5.Prizes first three men/women. Plenty of spot prizes. Coming up on Saturday August

11 th is Alan Everett Memorial 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co

Waterford at 7 pm

5KM Island Run

The Island Run, promoted by Balance fitness, takes place on Sunday

August 19th at 1pm at Waterford Castle. 5km race, family fun day, music and BBQ. Entries at Ardkeen Quality Food Store, race sponsor, or http://www.runireland.com. More details at http://www.balance.ie.