•This Saturday will see the inaugural COPE Galway triathlon taking place in Salthill. The race, aimed at raising funds for the local charity, will see up to 500 competitors will test their skills and endurance over a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre cycle and a five kilometre run. Set against the backdrop of Galway Bay, the race is set to be a great day for competitors and spectators alike.
•Setting a new course record with a running time of 1:24:40, Dermot Lowe, who is a consultant anesthetist in Galway, was the overall winner of Croí’s fourth annual Inishbofin half marathon last weekend. Overall second and third place of this time-trial event went to Galwaymen Gary Doherty and Donal Reddan.
•Cortoon Badminton Club captured All-Ireland glory last weekend by claiming victory in the interleague finals at the National Badminton Centre in Baldoyle, Dublin. The team was coached by Christy Clarke and captained by Liz Corbett. Also representing Galway were Galway Lawn Tennis Club and Oranmore Badminton Club.
•Galway was among the winners of the 2009 Basketball Ireland annual awards. Ciara Newell of Oranmore won the best female u-16 player, while Oranmore’s Joe Shields was named women’s underage coach of the year. The volunteer award for the western region was Joe Naughton.
•Ahascragh United is hosting its 26th annual seven-a-side soccer tournament on Sunday May 31 and Monday June 1. The tournament is now running succesfully for 26 years and is as popular as ever. Bookings for teams are now open and are on a first come first served basis. The tournament is open to all and interested teams are asked to contact 087 9127946 or email [email protected]
•There was more success for Connacht riders in Wexford with young Galway native Michael Duffy topping the podium for the second week running on Sunday in the National Premier League Ponies Grand Prix. The young Turloughmore rider followed up last week’s victory in Cavan with a superb win in Barnadown and in the process impressed selectors of Ireland’s European Championship team which will compete in Belgium in June. The event acted as a trial for that competition and Duffy’s quadruple clear on Sillogue Darkey made him the stand-out rider. The event also saw a great result for Galway city rider Cian Melia who finished a superb fifth in the Grand Prix on Bertie Brown. The Bushy Park native jumped clear in round one and had just one fence down in the jump off. Had he gone clear, his time could have been enough to win.
•Galway ladies juniors overcame their Mayo counterparts by a single point on Sunday. Galway started well, leading by 0 - 7 to 0 - 2, but Mayo struck back, scoring 1- 4 to edge the battle at half time by 1 - 6 to 0 8. They extended that lead after the break before Melissa Casserly hit the ne, after a great passing movement involving no fewer than 10 players. Mayo again went in front, Galway responded with another goal by Cliona Gannon to narrow the gap to two points with two minutes remaining. However from a last-gasp free Gillian O’Connor scored a vital goal to ensure Galway tok the spoils. Team: M Killea, N Ryan, N Connaughton, AM Mongan, A Joyce, C Dillion, S Divilly, M Murray, N Breanacht, K Quinn, G O’Connor, T Mullins, K Keane, R Houlihan, C Gannon, J Fahy, A Hyland, M Casserly
