Athletic Notes

Tipperary Challenge

Poulmucka is the venue for the annual 8k road race which is the 3rd race in this year’s Tipperary Challenge. Preparations are well advanced for what should be a great race. Indications are that last year’s entry of 100 athletes will be matched and may even be surpassed. In last year’s race Sandis Bralitis of West Waterford made his intentions known by setting a fast pace and he went on to win in 24 mins 14 secs. Then we had Raivis Zakis of West Waterford also running very well to finish 2^nd in 26 mins 51 secs. Pat O Sullivan of Carrick on Suir was 3^rd in 27 mins 5 secs. David Kenneally of Thurles Crokes won the 0/35 award in 27 mins 52 with Valera Turcon of Clonmel 2^nd in 28 mins 42 secs. Tadhg Vaughan of Coolquill won the 0/40 award in 27 mins 51 sec with Dick O Gorman of Clonmel finishing 2^nd in 28 mins 7 secs. Benny English of Dundrum won the 0/45 award while Matt Alexander of Coolquill won the 0/50 award. Joe Grinsell of Clonmel won the 0/55 award while Willie O Gorman of St Catherine’s won the 0/60 award. In the Ladies race Laura Taylor of Clonmel won in 31 mins 35 secs with Kealey Tideswell of Clonmel 2^nd in 32 mins 21 secs. Aine Roche of Clonmel was 3^rd senior lady in 33 mins 10 secs while Kate McLoughlin of Clonmel was 4^th in 33 mins 58 secs. Denise Compton of Dundrum won the 0/35 award while Anne Cronin of Carrick on Suir won the 0/40 award. Eileen Hynes of Clonmel won the 0/45 award. In the team event the Ballynonty trio of Eoin Fanning, Pat Cormack and Noel Ryan won while the Carrick on Suir team of Anthony Grace, John O Sullivan and Tommy Falconer was 2^nd. Dundrum were 3^rd and their team was Martin Keane, Eugene Carew and Colin Bradshaw. Carrick on Suir won the master team event. In the Ladies team competition the Clonmel team of Donna Nagle, Elaine O Brien and Aoife O Callaghan were the winners while the Dundrum team of Claire Devitt, Brigid Ryan and Mary Anne Callinan were 2^nd. Like last year competition will be very keen this year and we should witness some great performances. The question is will Sandis and Siobhain continue their winning ways as they have both won the first two races of this year’s series.

This Year’s Series

Going into the 3^rd race of this year’s series we have a total of athletes who have competed in the first two races and are in line to receive a specially designed momentum on completing all four races. The athletes who have competed in the two races are as follows:

Ballynonty athletes like Danny Smith, Owen Fanning, Neillie Hall, Noel O Dwyer, Paddy Shelly and Fred Healy, Borrisokane’s Siobhain O Doherty, Paddy O Dwyer from Borrisoleigh, Carrick on Suir athletes Corneilius McFadden, Mary Molloy, Gerard O Loughlin, Tommy Falconer, Anne Cronin, Jimmy Power and Mark Corcoran, Clonmel athletes like Mark Boland, Maurice Boland, Tommy Cahill, Stephen Hunter, Brian long, Angela McCann, Aine Roche, Jimmy McHugh, Anthony O Brien, Niall O Ceallaigh, Billy O Grady, David Quigley, Seamus Brady, Ned O Brien, Brendan Kinnane, Kealey Tideswell, Valeran Thzcoin, Eamon Crowley, Anthony Power, Martin Walsh, Edigitius Sinicker, Coolquill athletes like Andrew Smyth, Matt Alexander, Brendan Delaney, Donal Horgan and Andrew Galloway, Dundrum athletes like Mary Anne Callinan, Mairead O Connor, Kieran O Dwyer, Martin Keane, Donal Keane, Ruaidhri Devitt, Tommy Byrnes, Denise Compton, Tom McGrath, Kevin Ryan, Michelle Carew, Michelle Ryan and Jon Marshall, Mark King from Moyne, Terence Ryan from St Abban’s, William O Gorman of St Catherine’s, Adele Walsh of St Senan’s, the Thurles Crokes athletes like Shane Mullaney, Tony Fogarty, Bobby Farrell, Michael Dundon, Mary Moloney, Nora Kennedy, Eileen Carey and Chris Touhy and the West Waterford athletes like Diane Behan, Inese Melne, Sandis Bralitis, Raivis Zakis, Joe Gough, Brigid Coffey. We also have Phil Kelly completing the two races.

Most improved Competition

In this year’s Tipperary Challenge we are holding a competition for all those athletes that ran in all the three races last year and there will be a prize for the most improved Male and Female athlete, based on their improvement on their 2007 combined performances. This is proving to be a great competition with both sections going down to the last race, the Poulmucka 8K race this Friday night.

In the Ladies competition Aine Roche of Clonmel leads going into the final race of this competition. She has improved by 138 seconds on her performances in both the John Joe Barry 5k and the Bulmers 10k performances of last year. In 2^nd place we have Mary Anne Callinan of Dundrum moving from 4^th to 2^nd place on her combined time of 80 seconds outside her 2007 performances. 3^rd place is occupied by Mairead O Connor of Dundrum who is 89 seconds outside her 2007 performances with Mary Molloy of Carrick on Suir in 4^th place who is 99 seconds outside her 2007 performances. As you can see all these athletes are still in with a chance of victory with a good performance over the Poulmucka 8k course this Friday night. Aine’s target time is 33 mins 6 secs, Mary Anne’s target is 43 mins 15 secs, and Mairead’s target is 43 mins 15 secs while Mary’s target time is 35 mins 5 secs.

In the Men’s competition we have Tommy Falconer of Carrick on Suir moving from 4^th to 1^st place with a great run in the Bulmers 10k race. Tommy has improved a combined 43 seconds on his 2007 performances in both the John Joe Barry 5k and Bulmers 10k road races. Andrew Smyth of Coolquill slips to 2^nd place on a combined improvement of 29 seconds on his 2006 performances. 3^rd place is occupied by Neillie Hall of Ballynonty whose great run in the Bulmers 10k saw him jump up the table on a combined improvement of 23 seconds on his 2006 performances. Only 20 seconds separate the top three going into the Poulmucka 8k race. Tommy’s time last year was 31 mins 12 secs, Neillie’s time was 30 mins 16 secs while Andrew’s target is 32 mins 53 secs. For

Fethard 6k Road Race

The final race of this year’s Tipperary Challenge takes place on Thursday night, May 28^th in Fethard. At this race all those athletes that will have completed all four races will receive a special momentum at the end of the race, well worth competing for. The Fethard 6k will start at 8 pm. The List of Prizes for this year’s race are as follows1^st 4 Senior Men, 1^st 2 Vets 0/40, 0/45, 1^st Vet 0/50, 0/55, 0/60, 0/65 and 1^st Junior Man, 1^st 4 Senior Ladies, 1^st 2 0/35 and 1^st Junior Lady. Spot Prizes as well. The Entry Fee is 8 Euros and there will be changing facilities at the ICA Hall in Fethard. There will also be post race refreshments. Last year’s race was won by Dzintars Klava of West Waterford in 21 mins 43 secs with Madeline Dorney of Thurles Crokes winning the Ladies race in 25 mins 21 secs. Last year’s race attracted a great entry of 48 athletes and preparations are well advanced for this year’s event which should attract a bigger entry than last year. Indeed the record entry for this race is 62 set in 2003 and there is a great chance that a new record entry for this event can be set at this year’s race such is the level of interest in athletics in the County at present.

Enquiries - Leslie Smyth – 052 54236, Niall O Sullivan – 052 38287

County Athletic Notes

Tipperary Challenge

Poulmucka is the venue for the annual 8k road race which is the 3rd race in this year’s Tipperary Challenge. Preparations are well advanced for what should be a great race. Indications are that last year’s entry of 100 athletes will be matched and may even be surpassed. In last year’s race Sandis Bralitis of West Waterford made his intentions known by setting a fast pace and he went on to win in 24 mins 14 secs. Then we had Raivis Zakis of West Waterford also running very well to finish 2^nd in 26 mins 51 secs. Pat O Sullivan of Carrick on Suir was 3^rd in 27 mins 5 secs. David Kenneally of Thurles Crokes won the 0/35 award in 27 mins 52 with Valera Turcon of Clonmel 2^nd in 28 mins 42 secs. Tadhg Vaughan of Coolquill won the 0/40 award in 27 mins 51 sec with Dick O Gorman of Clonmel finishing 2^nd in 28 mins 7 secs. Benny English of Dundrum won the 0/45 award while Matt Alexander of Coolquill won the 0/50 award. Joe Grinsell of Clonmel won the 0/55 award while Willie O Gorman of St Catherine’s won the 0/60 award. In the Ladies race Laura Taylor of Clonmel won in 31 mins 35 secs with Kealey Tideswell of Clonmel 2^nd in 32 mins 21 secs. Aine Roche of Clonmel was 3^rd senior lady in 33 mins 10 secs while Kate McLoughlin of Clonmel was 4^th in 33 mins 58 secs. Denise Compton of Dundrum won the 0/35 award while Anne Cronin of Carrick on Suir won the 0/40 award. Eileen Hynes of Clonmel won the 0/45 award. In the team event the Ballynonty trio of Eoin Fanning, Pat Cormack and Noel Ryan won while the Carrick on Suir team of Anthony Grace, John O Sullivan and Tommy Falconer was 2^nd. Dundrum were 3^rd and their team was Martin Keane, Eugene Carew and Colin Bradshaw. Carrick on Suir won the master team event. In the Ladies team competition the Clonmel team of Donna Nagle, Elaine O Brien and Aoife O Callaghan were the winners while the Dundrum team of Claire Devitt, Brigid Ryan and Mary Anne Callinan were 2^nd. Like last year competition will be very keen this year and we should witness some great performances. The question is will Sandis and Siobhain continue their winning ways as they have both won the first two races of this year’s series.

This Year’s Series

Going into the 3^rd race of this year’s series we have a total of athletes who have competed in the first two races and are in line to receive a specially designed momentum on completing all four races. The athletes who have competed in the two races are as follows:

Ballynonty athletes like Danny Smith, Owen Fanning, Neillie Hall, Noel O Dwyer, Paddy Shelly and Fred Healy, Borrisokane’s Siobhain O Doherty, Paddy O Dwyer from Borrisoleigh, Carrick on Suir athletes Corneilius McFadden, Mary Molloy, Gerard O Loughlin, Tommy Falconer, Anne Cronin, Jimmy Power and Mark Corcoran, Clonmel athletes like Mark Boland, Maurice Boland, Tommy Cahill, Stephen Hunter, Brian long, Angela McCann, Aine Roche, Jimmy McHugh, Anthony O Brien, Niall O Ceallaigh, Billy O Grady, David Quigley, Seamus Brady, Ned O Brien, Brendan Kinnane, Kealey Tideswell, Valeran Thzcoin, Eamon Crowley, Anthony Power, Martin Walsh, Edigitius Sinicker, Coolquill athletes like Andrew Smyth, Matt Alexander, Brendan Delaney, Donal Horgan and Andrew Galloway, Dundrum athletes like Mary Anne Callinan, Mairead O Connor, Kieran O Dwyer, Martin Keane, Donal Keane, Ruaidhri Devitt, Tommy Byrnes, Denise Compton, Tom McGrath, Kevin Ryan, Michelle Carew, Michelle Ryan and Jon Marshall, Mark King from Moyne, Terence Ryan from St Abban’s, William O Gorman of St Catherine’s, Adele Walsh of St Senan’s, the Thurles Crokes athletes like Shane Mullaney, Tony Fogarty, Bobby Farrell, Michael Dundon, Mary Moloney, Nora Kennedy, Eileen Carey and Chris Touhy and the West Waterford athletes like Diane Behan, Inese Melne, Sandis Bralitis, Raivis Zakis, Joe Gough, Brigid Coffey. We also have Phil Kelly completing the two races.

Most improved Competition

In this year’s Tipperary Challenge we are holding a competition for all those athletes that ran in all the three races last year and there will be a prize for the most improved Male and Female athlete, based on their improvement on their 2007 combined performances. This is proving to be a great competition with both sections going down to the last race, the Poulmucka 8K race this Friday night.

In the Ladies competition Aine Roche of Clonmel leads going into the final race of this competition. She has improved by 138 seconds on her performances in both the John Joe Barry 5k and the Bulmers 10k performances of last year. In 2^nd place we have Mary Anne Callinan of Dundrum moving from 4^th to 2^nd place on her combined time of 80 seconds outside her 2007 performances. 3^rd place is occupied by Mairead O Connor of Dundrum who is 89 seconds outside her 2007 performances with Mary Molloy of Carrick on Suir in 4^th place who is 99 seconds outside her 2007 performances. As you can see all these athletes are still in with a chance of victory with a good performance over the Poulmucka 8k course this Friday night. Aine’s target time is 33 mins 6 secs, Mary Anne’s target is 43 mins 15 secs, and Mairead’s target is 43 mins 15 secs while Mary’s target time is 35 mins 5 secs.

In the Men’s competition we have Tommy Falconer of Carrick on Suir moving from 4^th to 1^st place with a great run in the Bulmers 10k race. Tommy has improved a combined 43 seconds on his 2007 performances in both the John Joe Barry 5k and Bulmers 10k road races. Andrew Smyth of Coolquill slips to 2^nd place on a combined improvement of 29 seconds on his 2006 performances. 3^rd place is occupied by Neillie Hall of Ballynonty whose great run in the Bulmers 10k saw him jump up the table on a combined improvement of 23 seconds on his 2006 performances. Only 20 seconds separate the top three going into the Poulmucka 8k race. Tommy’s time last year was 31 mins 12 secs, Neillie’s time was 30 mins 16 secs while Andrew’s target is 32 mins 53 secs. For

Fethard 6k Road Race

The final race of this year’s Tipperary Challenge takes place on Thursday night, May 28^th in Fethard. At this race all those athletes that will have completed all four races will receive a special momentum at the end of the race, well worth competing for. The Fethard 6k will start at 8 pm. The List of Prizes for this year’s race are as follows1^st 4 Senior Men, 1^st 2 Vets 0/40, 0/45, 1^st Vet 0/50, 0/55, 0/60, 0/65 and 1^st Junior Man, 1^st 4 Senior Ladies, 1^st 2 0/35 and 1^st Junior Lady. Spot Prizes as well. The Entry Fee is 8 Euros and there will be changing facilities at the ICA Hall in Fethard. There will also be post race refreshments. Last year’s race was won by Dzintars Klava of West Waterford in 21 mins 43 secs with Madeline Dorney of Thurles Crokes winning the Ladies race in 25 mins 21 secs. Last year’s race attracted a great entry of 48 athletes and preparations are well advanced for this year’s event which should attract a bigger entry than last year. Indeed the record entry for this race is 62 set in 2003 and there is a great chance that a new record entry for this event can be set at this year’s race such is the level of interest in athletics in the County at present.

Enquiries - Leslie Smyth – 052 54236, Niall O Sullivan – 052 38287