Search Results for 'Kathy Connolly'

The Mayo AC ladies team have been rewarded for their good performances this year by being selected to take part in the 24th European road race inter club championships in Torres Vedras, Portugal. The event, which will take place on Sunday October 17 over a 15km course, will have top athletic clubs from all over the continent taking part. The Mayo AC team which will compete in the event will be finalised over the coming weeks.

Mayo AC members recorded some great performances at the annual Frank Duffy 10-míle road race in the Phoenix Park recently which attracted more than 6,000 competitors. John Byrne finished ninth overall in a time of 53.44, while Paddy O’Toole finished in 59.46 and Kevin Mellett, who has recovered from recent injury, came home in 62.27. Catherine Conway ran an excellent race finishing fourth in the senior woman in 62.10, while Paula Prendergast clocked 70.02. Caroline Conway ran strongly to cross the finish line in 75.13.

The ninth DecareDental/Claremorris five mile run and walk which took place recently was again a great success attracting competitors from all over the west of Ireland. The event, which was in aid of Mayo Cancer Support, was held in dry but windy conditions ensuring that personal best times for the five mile distance were hard to achieve. Pre-race favourite John Byrne finished strongly to take the men’s title in a time of 26.50, just six seconds ahead of team mate Robert Malseed, while TJ McHugh continued his recent good form coming home in third in 27.26. Roger Barrett finishing fourth in 27.34 was first of a number of Ballina AC runners who performed well on the evening.

Any runners celebrating their performance at an event in recent weeks might like to look away now as Westport Athletic Club this week pays tribute to one of its many fine athletes.

The Mayo County Athletics Board Awards evening was hosted recently by Mayo AC at Balla Resources centre. Six Mayo AC athletes were among many recognised for their achievements in 2009. They were Catherine Conway - senior women road racing, Kathy Connolly and Ann Murray (jointly) - master’s women road racing, TJ McHugh - master’s men road racing o35, Breege Blehein-McHale - international achievement, and Tom Hunt - master men road racing o50.

Seven Mayo AC athletes won a total of 20 medals at the AAI National Masters Indoors Championships at Nenagh. As usual it was colder track-side than outside at this venue. Club chairman Padraic Cullina set the standard on Saturday in the combined events quadrathlon. He amassed a fine total of 1,419 points competing in the 60 metres, long jump, shot, and 1,000 metres to win gold. On Sunday, when the indoors championship events took place, he won gold in the long jump and silver in the high jump in over 50 category. Patrick Moran (over 55) won four medals — gold in the high jump, silver in both the long jump and 400 metres, and bronze in 1,500 metres. PJ Hall (over 50) was one of four Mayo AC athletes competing indoors for the first time. He won silver in 200 metres and bronze 60 metres. Breege Blehein-McHale (over 40) won gold and silver medals. Ann Murray (over 45) won three silver medals in the 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m, and Anthony Devaney (over 35) won silver in the 3,000m and bronze in the 800m. Tom Hunt (over 60) was second in the 400m and 3,000m and third in 800m and 1,500m. This was a great start to the championship year for Mayo AC and they will be looking to add to this medal haul at the intermediate and masters cross country at Forest Park in Boyle on February 21.

The running boom continues to flourish as record numbers have entered this year’s Lifestyle Sports adidas Dublin Marathon which takes place Bank Holiday Monday next. Registration closed at 5pm on Monday October 6 with a total of over 11,700 entries, making it the largest field ever in the 29 years of the event.

The 43rd Annual Hollymount Road Races take place on Sunday November 9. The 3km plus course is a familiar testing one, with a stiff uphill finish along the main street in the village. Three laps make up the men's 10km, while the women just do one in their 3km, race. Many famous names in Irish athletics have done battle here over the years and once again a top class field is expected from clubs around the province and further afield as well as the traditional coachload from Liverpool. Of course individuals are heartily welcome too. The race format has not changed much over the years, and is typical of many races around the country that originated in the 60s and 70s. The programme is: 1pm: U17 boys/girls 3km; 1.30pm: women's 3km, various master's categories. Entries (€10) /changing/post race presentation in Community Centre. Contact: Sean Reilly 094 954 0110, 086 840 2679

One of Mayo’s top young athletes is in with a chance of walking away with an award at next weekend’s Athletics Ireland National Athletics Awards. Pamela Hughes from Westport AC is nominated following her impressive performances this season. The second annual National Athletics Awards, which are in association with Waterford Crystal, will honour the best Irish athletes, clubs and coaches from across the country.

The 10th Annual Mayo AC Road League, which concluded with the ninth race at Westport recently, was the most successful so far. Increasing numbers are taking part in running related events and the Fit4Life programme has become another opportunity for people of all ages to get involved. During the course of the 2008 League 104 men and 100 women won individual points through finishing in the top 25 in at least one of the races.