Waterford...Results of the Open Cross Country - Sun 6th Oct 2013

21ST  ANNUAL WEST WATERFORD AC OPEN CROSS COUNTRY EVENT FOR THE JAMES HUGHES PERPETUAL CUP.

Donal Power presents the Ladies the winner Dympna Ryan Dundrum AC with her prize at the 21st Annual West Waterford athletic club open cross country race held last Sunday, 6th Oct 2013. Also shown is the mens winner Tim O'Donoghue of East Cork AC receiving the James Hughes perpetual cup

Report from West Waterford AC...21 years of cross country running was celebrated in style by our club last Sunday at the 21st Annual event held at St Augustine’s college the home of cross country running in these parts. Celebrating the 21st year of any event is a special occasion and to mark the day our club was delighted to accept a beautiful new perpetual cup donated to the race by Donal Power and the Power family of Abbeyside in honour of their grandfather James. West Waterford AC are honoured and privileged to have this beautiful trophy honouring such an outstanding athlete from another era and it’s a delightful tribute by the Power family to see fit in honouring their grandfather James Hughes who through the war years was a noted Irish international cross country runner who represented his county near and far during the very troubled times of the war. Our wish for the years going forward are that many a great battle will ensue on the battle fields of our cross country race when great athletes will make claim to have their name inscribed on the trophy. 

The 21st running of the race took place last Sunday in very mild conditions and all assembled were prepared to battle it out from the blast of Br Patricks starters whistle, two East Cork AC athletes and one from Riocht AC a club down in Castleisland  Co Kerry took the lead and after a very fast 1st lap one was to drop off the pace and by the second lap it was between Tim O’ Donoghue and James Doran of An Riocht as Sean McGrath had dropped back. From here on in it was a two man race and over the latter stages Tim O’ Donoghue stamped his authority on the race and on the final lap it was a certain that he would win which he did. James Doran was happy to claim second and Sean McGrath of East Cork held onto third place. It was nice to see that the prizes were spread out among different clubs and counties. Kenny Curran of Ballynonty AC Tipperary took the 0/40 prize, Ray Hahessy West Waterford AC claimed the 0/45 prize, Derek Nolan of Clonmel was happy to take the 0/50 prize and Con Kelleher of Waterford took the 0/60 prize. The first junior prize went to Liam Mulligan of KCK, well done to all.

Men’s Results
Tim O’ Donoghue                  East Cork       24.48
James Doran                          An Riocht       25.04
Sean McGrath                       East Cork       25.30
0/40 Kenny Curran                Ballynonty AC 25.57
0/45 Ray Hahessy                  WWAC           29.16
0/50 Derek Nolan                  Clonmel          28.39
0/60 Con Kelleher                  WAC               34.49
Junior Liam Mulligan            KCK               29.52

CLEAR VICTORY FOR DYMPNA  RYAN IN LADIES RACE....The number of female runners in the West Waterford AC cross country race has been on the rise and this year saw the biggest entry for this race in many years. We were delighted to see Dympna Ryan of Dundrum AC in the field, an athlete of particular of note who has been to the fore all around the country recently in top road and cross country events. From the gun over the 2 lap ladies distance Dympna was to add yet another victory to her extending list of achievements as she lead all the way over the two laps despite the best efforts of our own  West Waterford’s Corinna Walsh who has won this race on previous occasions, finishing 2nd Corinna had a great run and she had work really hard over the last lap especially as the very fast finishing Waterford AC athlete Suzanne Dullaghan was closing in on her but Corinna held on for a great second place with Suzanne on this occasion having to settle for third place. Suzanne’s team-mate Joan Mahony won the over 35 prize and the remainder of prizes were won by West Waterford athletes. Well done to Brigid Coffey who won the 0/40 and to Onra Power who claimed the 0/45 prize. Lucy O’Brien had a great run to win the junior prize, well done to all.

RESULTS
Dympna Ryan                        Dundrum         13.52
Corinna Walsh                       WWAC           14.33
Suzanne Dullaghan                WAC               14.54
0/35 Joan Mahony                 WAC               15.34
0/40 Brigid Coffey                  WWAC           18.17
0/45 Onra Power                    WWAC           19.12
Junior Lucy O’ Brien             WWAC           16.30

THANKS.....Firstly our sincere thanks to the Power family especially Donal Power, grandson of James Hughes who donated the magnificent trophy and thank’s all the Power family for this kind gesture and their attendance at the race Sunday. Once again our thanks to Br Patrick Lennon for laying out the course and to the College for the use of their facility to hold the race and to all the crew that helped with the race in anyway especially all our own club crew.
The full results can be seen HERE (Waiting on results)

Photos...A gallery of photos from West Waterford AC can be seen HERE