There was a blustery breeze around the 8k course as more than 100 runners lined up at the start outside Caulfield's shop in Ballyhaunis on Saturday afternoon for the fifth annual 8k run west race. It was also the seventh race in 2012 Mayo AC C&C Cellular Road League. The road was dry as they raced down main street and turned out Clare road. The pace dropped for many as they came on a tough hill section as they approached Gorteen after the 4k mark . By then Con Doherty (Westport ) who led out from the start had a few seconds lead over Matt Bidwell (GCH ).
He maintained that to the finish to win by over ten seconds in 26:11. Doherty is a member of the Irish Junior triathlon high performance squad and finished seventh in a field of over 70 top juniors at the ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup in July. Many used the race as a speed session in preparation for the Dublin Marathon, such as Martin Conroy (Ballina AC ) in third and Fergal Whitty (Donore Harriers ) in fourth 27:12.
Mayo AC's Mary Gleeson continued her domination of the league races to finish first woman in 29:22, a few seconds outside her PB. Catherine Conway showed she is returning to form finishing a minute behind in second place. She held off Dervila Holmes (Donore Harriers ) third in 30:26, who was second in the West of Ireland 10k and won the half marathon in her native Ballina in May. Among a number of visitors, Michael O'Connor (Farranfore AC ) returned to win the o60 race, he was second last year. Runners from 10 clubs shared the prizes. Martin Fitzmaurice and his team did a great job organising the event, with the support of many local sponsors.
Armstrong collects another international medal
Hugh Armstrong Ballina Athletic Club continues to impress on the mountain running circuit. On his travels recently to Cumbria for the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running championships he was the second Irish athlete home in the junior men’s competition. In the process he won a bronze medal with the Irish team which finished on equal points with England and one point behind Scotland. Congrats also to Aoife Mulroy and Rosie Hynes of Swinford Athletic Club who won silver medals with the Irish u16 team in Cumbria.
10k in Moylough will be a good test for local athletes
The north east Galway 10k in Moylough is back for its second year on Sunday, October 14 at 12pm. Last year’s event proved to be a tremendous success combining great local community participation along with athletics from all clubs throughout the county and further afield taking part. To book call 087 737 2159 or register online at www.runireland.com Registration will be open from 10am on the day of race also.
Big turn out for Ballina 10K
The annual Ballina Athletic Club 10k Road Race again attracted a large crowd of runners for all over the country. Following last year's challenging route local man Roger Barrett ran a powerful race from the word go. He took a commanding lead from the beginning and built on this to the end. He finished in a time of 32:07 which was a personal best for him at this distance. Brendan Gill Mayo AC finished in second place in a time of 34:56 and in third place was John Courell, Ballina.
Mary Gleeson, Mayo AC ran a great race to again win the senior ladies category in a time of 37:16, with Ann Lennon and Angela O’Connor finishing in second and third places. Ballina AC’s Cormac Blehein won the men’s junior race with Rosie Hynes from Swinford AC taking the ladies’ junior event.
