Search Results for 'John Byrne'

Athletics

John Byrne was the clear winner of the Maugherow 10k on Sunday in 33.33. The race was run over a picturesque figure of eight course on the north Sligo coast, from the local church to the causeway with a tough second half and an uphill finish. Lucy Brennan (Sligo AC) was first woman in 38.08, less than two weeks after her victory in the Cork Marathon. Mayo AC's Andrew Lynskey was third in 36.34. Tom Hunt 40.36, PJ Hall 42.25, Ann Murray 45.07, Christy O'Malley 46.05, Sarah Syron 48.50 all had good workouts on a humid afternoon. Other finishers included Breege Staunton and Fit4Life participants Chris Clarke, Clare Walshe from Claremorris, and Michelle Reynolds from Ballina.

At the Dublin Athletic Board Graded meeting last week two Mayo AC vets took part in the 1500 metres race. Seamus (Jim) Gaughan has been training back in Mayo recently and it showed as he recorded an excellent 4.57.33 in the over 55 category. His Dublin based colleague and clubmate Mick Ferry (over 60) also had a good run to finish 5.40.13.

There were over 100 participants in the inaugural Ballindine four mile race on Sunday in aid of Western Alzheimer’s. The race was the brainchild of local organiser and Mayo AC athlete Dave Huane - with a little help from his running friends on both sides of the border. The runners/walkers put down their estimated finishing time on the entry form and were not allowed carry any time recording device during the race. The closest time to that predicted would determine the winner. As it turned out, three athletes finished within three seconds of their predicted time and were declared joint winners. They were David Mullins (Tuam AC), Angela O'Connor (Mayo AC) and Paul Fallon (GCH). They were followed by Michael McGrath (Mayo AC) +five secs, Fergal Egan (GCH) +10, Deirdre Ruddy (Mayo AC) +11, John Stagg, Hollymount +11. The fastest finisher was John Byrne (Mayo AC) in 21.17, with Ian Egan of GCH second in 23.27. Angela O'Connor was fastest woman in 26.50.

It may be just coincidence that the Balla 10k is on the same weekend as climbing the 'Reek'. It just gives the penitents another choice, while some extreme sinners opt for both. The 17th Annual Balla 10k, which is race three in the Vodafone C&C Mayo AC Road League, took place on Saturday evening. Conditions were very good with a slight breeze freshening faces as the field turned for home after 5k. Brendan Conwell and his team of 35 once again put on a well organised event, with an extensive prize list; no mean achievement in these lean times. As usual the Balla course provided a real challenge. Some 250 runners and walkers participated. This year the better conditions produced generally faster times and as usual many tortured and triumphant souls had tales to share. 2008 winner Robbie Matthews (Dunshaughlin AC) made it a double finishing first again in 32.05, 50 seconds faster than last year. He was 13 seconds ahead of Robert Malseed (Mayo AC) who improved his 2008 time by a minute. John Byrne third (33.21), and TJ McHugh fourth (33.47), showed that they are in very good shape as did the whole Mayo AC team in the lead up to the National half marathon in just under six weeks time.

Swinford was in Síamsa Sráide Festive mode on Sunday when the local athletic club put on their annual 8k race. It was the fourth race in the 2009 C&C Cellular Mayo AC Road League.

It had been quite a while since Mayo AC did not have a finisher in the top three of a Road Race League. This happened last Saturday in the fifth race in Mayo AC's 2009 Road Race League, sponsored by C & C Cellular, which took place in sunny conditions over a recognised testing course at Claremorris. The eighth DeCare International sponsored road race and walk started and finished in Main Street.

The low winter sun chased the shadows and raced across the fields around the village of Hollymount as the 44rd Annual Road Races took place on Sunday. Once again they were excellently organised by Sean Reilly and his team. It was an emotional day for him and his family as the local community and the racing community from near and far assembled in November sunshine to remember his brother Tom. Tom Reilly's widow Jill, and her daughter Siobhan unveiled a plaque set into the simple stone wall adjacent to the finishing line. It is inscribed 'In memory of Tom Reilly sportsman and scientist 1941-2009'. A chestnut tree was planted beside it by Tom's childhood friend, local man Paddy Connolly.

The 22nd running of the British and Irish Cross Country International took place in Perry Park, Birmingham, on Saturday. It was hosted this year by the England Athletics Masters Association in conjunction with the famous Birchfield Harriers at their excellent facilities at Perry Barr. The event involves five teams: England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They all compete as individuals and teams in the various masters’ age categories from 35 upwards. It is highly competitive and fiercely patriotic. But overall there is camaraderie not often seen in athletics which has been matured over many meetings. A deep respect has developed for all those taking part who compete to the best of their ability. The post race prize giving function is where all of this is best witnessed. The Irish team has had a number Mayo AC participants over the past few years and this year Breege Blehein-McHale (o40) and Tom Hunt (o60) were in the Irish team having qualified at the Masters’ cross country trial in the Phoenix Park last month. Breege had previously taken part in Falkirk, Scotland in 2006, when she ran on the winning Irish o40 team, while Tom was part of the bronze medal team in Belfast (2007) and gold medal team in Swansea (2008). Conditions in Perry Park were tough, with cold blustery showers but the course — just over 2k lap — was a fair test, some soggy stretches and an uphill finish. Women and o65/70 men ran three laps, and men in remaining categories, four. The Irish women's o40 team won silver and were just pipped for first place by one point by Wales' 14pts (3,4,7). Carmel Crowley (Bandon AC) second, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld) fifth, and a great run by Breege Blehein (eighth) gave them 15 points, with the fourth Irish finisher Helen White (Sportsworld) in 11th. The Irish o60 team were without 2008 individual winner Martin McEvilly (GCH) and drafted in two last minute replacements (including Frenchpark native Liam Hester) finishing fifth with 39 pts (6,16,17) behind winners Wales 12pts (1,3,8). Tom Meehan (Sligo AC) won silver with the o50 team in his first appearance for Ireland. England were overall winners once again with Ireland a very creditable second of the five countries. Of the 15 team categories Ireland won three (M35, M55, W50) and were second in eight, with four runners winning individual gold: M35, M50, W45, W50.

In wet and windy Leenane on Sunday, Brendan Gill (Mayo AC) was the winner of a tough five mile race. The local terrain was hard enough, but gales and rain made it doubly difficult. Gill finished in 31.28, a great time in the circumstances. The Westport man is having a brilliant first season with Mayo AC, winning silver medals in both the National half and full marathons as part of their successful o-35 team. Other brave Mayo AC souls among the finishers in Leenane were Jimmy Feeney, PJ Hall and that man again, Christy O'Malley now heading towards completing 70 races before the end of 2009. The race was organised by the Leenane/Maam Branch of the Red Cross to raise funds for upkeep of an ambulance.