The SVT Activity and Wellness Hub, in Stradbally Vicarstown and Timahoe, enjoyed huge success with a novel event on St Patricks Day.
All local clubs, groups, teams and workplaces were invited to pick a 10 person team, each to run and time themselves over a mile, and tot up the 10 individual times for a ‘team time’.
Juvenile teams had 20 runners, each doing a half-mile. It was expected that five or six teams might participate but by the end of the day, 17 teams had run their 10 miles and posted great finish times.
A total of 210 men, women and children donned in their club colours, took to the roads in every corner of the parish-all within their 5k local radius and in a socially distanced manner.
Timahoe Ladies Football led the way with three teams. St Colman’s NS Stradbally did their 5th and 6th class runs (20 x 800m each) on Tuesday while the teachers caught the bug too, and posted their times on Wednesday evening.
Not to be outdone, the Buggie School of Irish Dancing posted times for their team of 20 young dancers, along with a team of mammies and daddies too.
Stradbally Town AFC, along with Stradbally GAA adults and U-15 teams kept their colours flying high.
Annanough had three teams too, adult, U-15 and a team of 20 young juveniles, including 4-year-old Eve O’Connell who must have been the youngest participant on the day.
Oughaval AC had two strong teams, a team of over 30 juveniles, and an adult team. The competition between the 30 juveniles was fierce, in order to make the team of 20.
In the end, the Oughaval Juveniles emerged the winners, with Oughaval Adults in second place.
Competition for third place was intense, with Annanough adult team just pipping Stradbally adult team, with Stradbally U-15s and Timahoe Ladies very close behind.
The top three all posted times under the hour mark for the 10 miles, so the bar is now set for next year.
Organisers thanked all who took part and are already looking forward
They said: “Well done to all the participants. Thanks to all who organised and encouraged teams, those who recorded and submitted the times, took photos, crunched numbers, and who promoted and supported the event.
“SVT Activity and Wellness Hub is a Sport Ireland funded initiative, bringing new and exciting activities to the parish. We aim to connect communities while increasing physical activity and fitness.
“Along with our very supportive partners in Laois Sports Partnership and Laois Co Co, we look forward to more exciting events in the coming weeks.
“If you would like to know more about the SVT or become involved in any of our future activities contact John Scully or Kathleen Sheridan (Vicarstown), Ann Simpson (Stradbally) or Mary O’Dwyer/Dundon (Timahoe).”
Check out some great pictures from the day below:
