Results of the Waterford AC Half-Marathon - Sat 3rd Dec 2022

The Waterford AC Half-Marathon was held on Saturday the 3rd of December 2022 on what was a cool but dry day.

I had forgotten just how big this half marathon is. With almost 1900 runners taking part, it's one of the largest half-marathons in Munster and is certainly way bigger than the Waterford Viking Half-Marathon which had 676 finishers this year.

Why the big numbers? Maybe it's the time of year when there are fewer races? There aren't that many races in the South-East so this would be an attractive race for runners in Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford. The entry price of €30 would certainly help as opposed to say €50-€60. Or maybe it's the Bobbly Hat! 

The exact number of finishers was 1894 finishers which is down 15% on the last outing in 2019. As can be seen from the chart above, the peak was back in 2018 and it declined the next year.

The post pandemic drop of 15% is pretty typical of a lot of races as quite a number of people have  stopped running or old habits have been broken. The unknown is whether it will continue its slide, stay static and grow again. I suspect the numbers will decline slowly in the years ahead but it will remain to be one of the most popular half-marathons.

Top 10 men & women...

1 Ryan CREECH 01:05:02 01:05:02 2472 M MS Leevale AC
2 Yared DERESE 01:05:49 01:05:50 2480 M M40 Carrick Aces AC
3 Sergiu CIOBANU 01:07:18 01:07:19 285 M MS Clonliffe Harriers
4 Tudor MOLDOVAN 01:09:16 01:09:17 1469 M MS Clonliffe Harriers
5 Conor MCCAULEY 01:09:16 01:09:17 1369 M MS Leevale AC
6 Tomas FITZPATRICK 01:11:40 01:11:41 702 M M40 Tallaght AC
7 Cillian O'LEARY 01:11:47 01:11:48 1787 M M40 Raheny Shamrock AC
8 Noel MURPHY 01:12:03 01:12:03 2549 M MS Waterford AC
9 Vivian FOLEY 01:12:20 01:12:21 2413 M M50 Eagle AC
10 Paul DORAN 01:12:31 01:12:32 569 M M40 United Striders
1 Aoife COOKE 01:12:58 01:12:58 2515 F F35 Eagle AC
2 Fiona KEHOE 01:19:31 01:19:31 1081 F F40 Kilmore AC
3 Aoife O'LEARY 01:21:31 01:21:32 1788 F F40 Sportsworld RC
4 Sally FORRISTAL 01:22:13 01:22:14 761 F FS St Joesphes AC
5 Catherine O'CONNOR 01:22:31 01:22:33 1694 F F45 Sli Cualann AC
6 Angela MCCANN 01:22:07 01:22:37 1345 F F50 Clonmel AC
7 Megan MCCARTHY 01:23:24 01:23:28 1366 F FS
8 Adele WALSH 01:23:50 01:24:09 2301 F F45 St Senans AC
9 Linda O'SULLIVAN 01:24:28 01:24:38 2471 F F50 Watergrashill AC

10 Elle O'DRISCOLL 01:24:52 01:25:08 1739 F FS Liffey Valley AC

Full results HERE

Photos...
1) Waterford AC have a gallery HERE

Waterford...Results & photos of the Waterford Half-Marathon - Sat 6th Dec 2014

This years Waterford Half-Marathon attracted a large field of just over 1500 runners. In 2013, there were 1384 finishers. It was 1352 in 2013. Now in 2014, it's up at 1509 which as half marathons go outside of Dublin, it's up there with the biggest.

Both the mens and womens course record weren't as much broken but utterly smashed. Martin Fagan took over 2 minutes off the mens record while Lizzie Lee took a huge three minutes thirty three seconds off the womens.

Male    Brian MacMahon    Clonliffe Harriers AC    1:06:37    2013
Female    Elish Kelly    Raheny Shamrocks    1:18:03    2013

1 Fagan    Martin 1:04:16 4:54/M    Open  
2 O'Leary    Cillian 1:08:37 5:14/M    Open    Raheny Shamrock AC
3 Callaghan Eoin 1:08:56 5:16/M    Open    Star of the Sea
4 Harrington Chris 1:09:09 5:17/M    Open    Leevale AC
5 Meade    John 1:09:35 5:19/M    Open    St. Finbarr's AC
6 Feely    Liam 1:09:51 5:20/M    Open    North Leitrim AC

11 Lee    Lizzie 1:14:30 5:41/M    Open    Leevale AC
19 O'Doherty    Siobhan 1:16:35 5:51/M    Open    Borrisokane AC
42 Curley    Pauline 1:20:09 6:07/M    Open    Tullamore Harriers AC
62 Curley    Anne 1:23:17 6:21/M    Open    Donore Harriers AC
89 Kearney Charlotte 1:24:34     6:27/M    Open    Donadea RC
106 McCann Angela 1:25:18     6:31/M    Open    Clonmel AC

The full results can be seen on the Total Timing website

Photos...(Updated 7pm Sun 7th Dec)
1) Waterford AC have a large gallery on their Facebook page HERE
2) Gearóid Ó Laoi has almost 1000 photos HERE 
3) John Coleman has some on his Facebook page HERE (Facebook account required to view)
4) West Waterford AC have a gallery HERE

Notice...Waterford Half-Marathon - Sat 6th Dec 2014

The annual Waterford Half-Marathon is coming up on Saturday the 6th of December 2014. Last year, this race attracted over 1300 runners so it's hugely popular. The race is organised by Waterford Athletic Club and costs €25 to enter.

Entry costs €25 and includes:
Race entry
One of WAC’s now famous half marathon hats
A medal (new for 2014)
Post-race refreshments (plenty of Blaas!!)
Goodie bag
Race pack postage

The deadline for entries has been extended until midnight on Wed 19th Nov.

You can enter and find more info on the race website... http://www.waterfordachalf.com/

Maps & Directions HERE

Athletic Clubs in Waterford by size...Aug 2012

A few days ago, Athletics Ireland released their figures for club membership. What they show is that the numbers of adults in athletics clubs have increased in all 26 counties except one...Waterford. In May 2011, some 502 adults were members of athletic clubs in the county of Waterford. By August 2012, it had dropped to 463 adults, a drop of 8%.

These are the athletic clubs in Waterford with more than 10 adult members...

Notes...
1) West Waterford AC are now the biggest club in Waterford with 209 adult members, an increase of 14% on the May 2011 figure of 183.
2) A big drop in Waterford AC numbers with a 35% decline from 213 to 138 adult members in just 15 months.
3) The remaining three clubs all recorded small increases in membership.

The two big clubs of course are West Waterford AC and Waterford AC. The numbers in West Waterford AC are remarkable in that they exceed the other two city based clubs combined. The main town in West Waterford is Dungarvan with a population of some 8,000 people. The other two clubs based in Waterford City have a population base of 47,000 to draw on yet they are significantly smaller. It does suggest however that with the current running boom, there is plenty of potential for the clubs in the east of the county to pick up new members if they want to.

Waterford...Waterford City Winter League - Thurs 5th Jan to 9th Feb 2012

Registration for this winter league is at the Regional Sports centre in Waterford City. Entry on the night is €4 and you have a choice of two routes........a short route of approx 2.5 miles OR a longer route of approx 5 miles.

These events are suitable for runners of all abilities. For safety purposes, all runners must wear a high visibilty vest. Entry on the night is €4.

Entries are taken at 6:30pm with the races start at 7pm.

Directions......The Regional Sports Centre is on the Cork Road.....

Regional Sports Centre.......

Choice of routes.......

Waterford...Half Marathon in Waterford postponed until the 15th of Jan...

Updated 8:30pm......The Half-Marathon in Waterford has now been postponed until Sat, the 15th of Jan at 12 noon.

See the statement below..."We have decided to postpone the race this Saturday. Looking at the route today there is no way it will be clear even if it was 40 degrees tomorrrow and Friday. The conditions would be too dangerous. We will run the race on Saturday 18th December  15th January at 12 noon...........Waterford AC "

Waterford...Results of the Waterford-Tramore 7.5 - Sat 8 May 2010

The 41th annual Waterford to Tramore road race, held in memory of Paddy Flanagan, took place on a great evening, with an increase of 24 over 2009.

I must say that this race, had the poshest registration I've seen yet, at the Theatre Royal, The Mall. Did somebody sprinkle rose petals at the front door, or did the wind do it ?

Chip Timing was used, and full results were produced by the time prizes were presented.

New course records were set by Sandis Bralitis, West Waterford AC (- 1:09) and Pauline Lamb, Tullamore Harriers AC (- 0:05)
Significant work has been done by the local council on the R675, from Tramore Road Roundabout, to Ballindud Roundabout - perhaps this helped ?

Water station was brought forward to 3.5 mile, outside Grace Dieu.
The finish line was moved slightly to outside Splashworld, and all finishers received a water bottle and banana.

Saturday 8th May 2010, 19:00
Sponsored by Bausch and Lomb
The results are now up on the West Waterford AC site.

Individual prizes winners :-
1st Sandis Bralitis WWAC 36.44
2nd Raivis Zakis WWAC 38.25
3rd Ruairi OÂ Donnell Limerick AC 39.19
4th Graham Power Ferrybank 39.50
5th Rory Moloney WWAC 39.59
O/40 Michael Dwyer WWAC 45.00
0/40 Brendan Aspel WAC 45.06
O/45 Gabriel Murphy WAC 43.42
0/45 Martin Hayes WWAC 44.11
O/50 Larry Lacey St. JosephÂs A.C 42.50
0/50 Thomas Burns N/A 46.24
O/55 Joe Gough WWAC 43.59
1st Junior Shane Maher 42.12

1st Pauline Lambe 44.03
2nd Angela McCann Clonmel AC 45.21
3rd Jackie Carthy Kilmore 45.51
4th Norma Wall WWAC 47.07
5th Adele Walsh St. SenanÂs 47.55
O/35 Sylvia Malone WAC 48.34
O/40 Diane Behan WAC 48.44
O/45 Liz Nolan WAC 51.40
0/50 Bernie Prendergast WWAC 55.18

Waterford AC won both the Ladie's and Men's team prizes.

All prizes were presented by Mrs. Flanagan, wife of Paddy Flanagan,
Also a special prize was given to the Waterford Athlete of Mrs. Flanagan's choice.

Did anybody have issues with the distance recorded by GPS watches, e.g. Garmin ?

The next race in this series is the Clashmore 5 mile race, which takes place at 8pm on Friday 28th May 2010.

Thanks to James Veale, and Waterford AC for the above results and pictures.

Waterford...Preview of the Waterford-Tramore 7.5 - Sat 8 May 2010

The 41st Annual Bausch And Lomb Waterford To Tramore 7.5 takes place at 7pm on Saturday.

This is the third race in the Ger Wyley Summer Series. In 2009, there were 354 finishers.

It's a point-to-point race, so there are some logistical issues to be considered.

Whilst pre-entry has been encouraged, you can still register on the day from 5.45 to 6.45 sharp at The Theatre Royal, The Mall, Waterford.
Entry fee on the day: €12 (or Juniors u20 at €5) All entrants must be over 16.

Last year, the weather was ideal. This year, the forecast is for potential rain in South Munster / South Leinster.

Chip timing will be used. This will be stapled to the back of your bib, and must be returned at the end of the race.
The start line will be about 200m from the Theatre Royal.
The course is outbound from Waterford via Parnell Street, to Tramore, along the R675 road. It will be supervised, but not closed to road traffic. After 2 miles, there is a decent hard-shoulder on both sides. There are no serious hills. As I recall from last year, it was running on the left-hand side all the way; and there was one waterstation, about half-way outside Steinberg Fireplaces, at Coolgower, about 4 miles out, plus water at the finish line, which is just outside the Tramore Bus Éireann depot, opposite the Majestic Hotel.

If you managed to do the first race in the series - the 'Marine Climb 6', then you should have no difficulty over this distance. If you felt comfortable at the 'Butlerstown 10k', then it's just 20% extra distance, over similar terrain.

There is a Bus Éireann service Route 360 between Waterford & Tramore.
You could either drive to Tramore early, and get the bus into Waterford; or park in Waterford, and get a bus back after the race.
Or travel in pairs to Tramore, and share a car back to Waterford.

There will be showers, refreshments, results & prizes at the Tramore GAA Clubhouse afterwards. At about 6.5 miles, as you enter Tramore, there is a roundabout at a high-point on the road. The GAA club is to the left (east) of this roundabout.

Safety announcement :-

• No Headphones / iPods !

For exact details, checkout the MapMyRun (created by Waterford AC)

Course record :-
F: Pauline Lambe, Tullamore Harriers AC 44.08 (2009)
M: Sandis Bralitis, West Waterford AC 37.53 (2008)

Organized by Waterford AC
Contact: Malachy Mc Glynn (086) 824 7605, Derek Grant (087) 2893485, James Veale (086) 818 4762
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