Search Results for 'the National'

The National 10k championships are just over two weeks away and a number of Mayo AC athletes checked out their form over the weekend. The BUPA 10k in the Phoenix Park attracted 11,000 runners. Among them TJ McHugh finished in 37th place overall in 34mins 10sec and Catherine Conway maintained her consistent current form to finish an excellent third in the main field in 37mins 02sec. Ann Lennon showed that she is back in top gear with a great time of 39mins 23sec to be the first over 40, and Caroline Conway finished in 45mins 14sec. These performances give Mayo AC a big boost of confidence as the 10k championships approach.

Andrew Lynskey from Belmullet joined Mayo AC this year and has already established himself in the senior ranks. After a great performance in the National 10k last week, he won the 10k race from Clonbur to Cornamona on Sunday in aid of Zambia Housing Project. His finishing time was 37.15 on a very difficult course in windy conditions. Close behind in second place was clubmate Anto Devaney in 37.51. Other Mayo AC finishers were Dave Huane in 40.30, - fresh from his latest PB, 17.54 in the Athenry 5k the previous Tuesday, PJ Hall, and Christy O'Malley.

There was an excellent turn-out of over 200 runners and walkers for the Carramore 10k road race on Saturday evening. This was the first race in the 2009 Vodafone C&C Cellular Mayo AC Road Race League. Despite the bad weather the rain held off until the race finished, but the blustery wind was evident on open sections of road.

FIDDLE PLAYER John Carty is one of the greatest practitioners of Irish traditional music and his virtuosity has been much praised. In 2003 he was TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year and joined the ranks of previous winners such as Tommy Peoples, Matt Molloy and Paddy Keenan.

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.

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.