Search Results for 'Owen Mongan'

Mayo Athletic Club’s new Move to Improve series has proven to be very successful in helping its members improve on their fitness levels and race times, according to organisers at the club.

Last weekend’s athletics action centred on Westport and Hollymount amid Sunday showers. The second leg of the Connacht Cross Country Championships for senior, novice, masters, took place after over 500 juveniles had completed eight races around the one kilometre lap course at Westport House. By the time the adult races took place the tough, twisting, hilly and in places slippery course, had become even more testing and many struggled with their footing. However there were some excellent racing performances. Sara Doohan (Corran AC) showed great form again and was the clear winner of the Senior women's 4k, adding to her victory in the first leg at Loughrea. Roger Barrett (Mayo AC) got in some useful training ahead of the Masters International Cross Country in Nottingham. He also easily won the senior men's race over eight laps. Finishing places over the two legs will determine the championship medals, but Doohan has definitely won the senior title with her two first place finishes. Three Mayo AC women ran in the Masters event, Pauline Moran, Chris Gallagher, Mary Moylette and they await the publication of results, as do Danny Green, Tom Hunt, David Dinsmore, and Tom Waldron who ran eight hard laps in the men's masters.

Mayo AC had a record 37 runners at the start for the 35th Dublin City Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday.

A number of Mayo runners were in action last weekend and put in good showings at the Flatline Half Marathon in Athlone. Ballina AC's Nora Newcombe was the winner of the women’s event in a time of 79.57, coming off a good performance the week before in the Charlestown 10K and the Tullamore Half Marathon two weeks ago. There were 14 Mayo AC runners in the event using it as practice for the upcoming Dublin Marathon. John Byrne was the best Mayo AC finisher coming home in fourth place overall in a time of 73.26, Brendan Hession finished in 32nd place in a time of 80.27 which was a new personal best. The other Mayo AC finishers were Paul Reynolds, Sean Murphy, Ann McDonnell, Laura Heneghan, Val P Glynn, Monica Joyce, Tracy Durkan, Mags Connell, Rebecca McHugh, Trish Kavanagh, Barbara Ronayne, and Finian Joyce.

The Achill Half Marathon took place in breezy conditions with more than 1,000 finishers. The excitement was tangible and Keel was awash with colour and crowds last Saturday. Congratulations go to Michael Shannon, who set a new course record at 1 hour, 11 minutes, 56 seconds in breezy conditions. The first woman to cross the finish line, and this was not her first win in Achill, was Fionnuala Doherty in 1 hour, 29 minutes, 43 seconds.

At the Run for Ollie 10k in Milltown on Saturday (470 finishers) there was an excellent performance from Mayo AC's Mary Gleeson who finished first woman and fifth overall in 37:23. Clubmate Sarah Syron was second in 41:35

Lough Key Forest Park was the setting for another great performance by Mayo AC at Woodie’s DIY AAI Masters Cross Country Championships on Sunday. A mild misty day is usually welcomed by athletes, but many struggled in the tough conditions over hill and hollow.

A large number of members from Mayo AC are getting ready to take on the challenge of the 2011 Dublin Marathon on Monday morning. Almost half of those who are taking part have come into running through the Mayo Fit4Life scheme in Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Castlebar. The women’s senior team consists of Ann McDonnell, Maggie Heneghan, Kathy Connolly, Patricia Gallagher, Paula Prendergast and Yvonne Byrne. The women’s o-40 team is made up of Gwen Daly, Anne Fahy Ronayne, Pauline Joyce, Mary Walsh, Chris Gallagher and Mary Murphy. The senior men’s team is Damien Glacken, Brendan Harrison, Gerry Corley and John Byrne, while the o-50 side consists of Brian Cusack, John Timothy, Jimmy Feeney, Billy Gallagher, Owen Mongan, Chris O’Connell and Tom Hunt.

There will be a very strong Mayo AC representation at the national 10k championships this weekend. The Mayo AC senior men’s team will be made up of TJ McHugh .Anthony Devanney, Timmy Glavey, Brendan Hession, Dave Huane, Andrew Lynskey, and Kevin Mellett. The senior ladies’ team is Catherine Conway, Mary Gleeson, Paula Prendergast, Sarah Syron, and Colette Tuohy. Christy O’Malley will be competing in the men’s over 40, with Billy Gallagher, Tom Hunt, Owen Mongan, Ronnie Naylor, Michael McGrath and John Timothy in the over 50s section. The women’s over 40s team will consist of Chris Gallagher, Anne Murray and Angela O'Connor. Mary Naylor and Una McGrath will be competing for Mayo AC in the over 50s women’s event.

People often shake their heads when they hear you are about to run a marathon. Mayo AC's John Byrne is well used to dedicated preparation. He has been their most successful athlete over many years now at a range of distances from 5k upwards. He has completed 24 marathons and a 50k. Over the past year John has moved on to new goals. Given the number of training miles he runs it seemed a natural step-up that he would progress 'beyond the marathon', or that zone defined as ultra distance running. The 100k is the equivalent of running two marathons plus ten miles - 62.5 miles in total. Start out in Ballaghaderreen, run along the N5 to Bohola, take a diversion down to John's homeplace in Straide, then back onto N5 at Ballyvary, through Castlebar and Westport, then on to the R335 until you hit Louisburgh - you will still have 3k to run to complete 100k!