Galway City Harriers women claimed the winner's podium at the Irish Life Health National Indoor Senior Championships in Athlone Indoor Arena the weekend.
The team of Sinead Foran, Majella Loftus, Niamh Hennelly and Kathryn Casserly won gold in the 4x200m relay, while GCH won team bronze in the men's event.
It was a successful day for many of the county's athletes. GCH throwers Brendan Staunton and Sean Breathnach won two golds each at O35 and O40 level in the shot putt and weight for distance throws - Breathnach taking the senior WFD title - while Richard O'Hanlon won bronze in the O60 shot putt.
On the track Kathryn Casserly won a superb double silver at 800m and 1500m in the O40 section, while Niamh Hennelly took bronze in her 1500m race, with Jean O'Connor just behind in fourth. Jim Phelan took Masters silver in the 400m and bronze in the 200m at O45 level. Rvergreen Martin McEvilly took O70 gold in the 800m, and silver in his 1500m and 3000m events, while Margaret Sheridan was third in the women's O55 800m.
Sprinter Ronnie Warde led the way as the Craughwell squad, sealing their first Masters team title with a superb victory in the 4x200m relay. The team of John Walkin, Ronnie Warde, Evan Morgan and Cormac Kearney blazed away from the field to seal a comfortable victory ahead of Gowran AC in second and GCH in third. Warde also claimed two individual medals, 60m silver in a fine time of 7.31 and a 200m bronze in 24.66.
It was a super day for Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC. She won four golds in the high jump, long jump, shot putt and weight throw, with bronze in the 60m for good measure. Clubmate Pat Hannon made a return to action with bronze in the 800m for Loughrea at O60 level.
Five golds was the medal haul for Margaret Higgins of Corofin AC at O65 level, while clubmate Tommy Farragher won gold in the weight, and silver in the shot at O70 level.
Kinvara Rock and Road races: Mayo AC athlete John Byrne was an impressive winner of the marathon in 2 hours 36 minutes at the Kinvara Rock and Road series of distance races on Saturday
Large fields turned out across the three race programme, with Christine Kinsella the first female to cross the tape in 3 hours 16 minutes.
The 10km race was won by Louis McCarthy of Rathfarnham in 33.26, ahead of GCH duo Neill Keane and Diarmuid Hennessy. The first female home was Julie Kirwan in 39.09.
David Bohan of GCH won the half marathon in a time of 1.15.32, after a great battle with Brian Furey of Rathfarnham in second, while Jane Ann Meehan was first woman home in 1.23.15, again for GCH. Clubmate Grainne Ni Uallachain was not far behind in 1.23.58.
Irish Schools Cross Country: The hugely competitive Irish Schools Cross Country Championships was held in Santry on Saturday, and there were a number of impressive Galway performances, notably from Mathys Bocquet of Calasanctius Oranmore who was fifth in the junior boys' race. Rian De Bairead of Colaiste Einde was another who impressed with 20th place in the senior boys' event.
Irish Universities Cross Country: NUI Galway athletes narrowly missed out on national silverware Saturday at the Intervarsities Cross Country. NUIG Men’s team placed fourth overall, just two points off a medal, and were led home by a great run from Pierre Murchan in fourth place, while Donal Devane, in seventh, also ran exceptionally well. The other men’s team scorers were Aaron Brennan, Finley Daly, James Frizzell, and Jack Miskella .
NUI Galway women's team were fifth, led by Aoife O Brien, with Rhona Pierce, Fiona Molloy and Eibhlin McCarthy completing the four scorers.
Top billing on the day went to Caron Ryan of Trinity College and Craughwell AC continued her great season, claiming individual bronze in the women's race
St Patrick’s Day Mile: Tuam AC host a mile race in conjunction with St Patrick's Day. It is open to all, with the event starting at 1.30pm in the town square.
