Clare's Donal Devane was the winner of the 35th edition of the Galway Clinic sponsored Streets of Galway 8k held Bank Holiday Sunday.
Nearly one thousand athletes took to the streets and completed the 8km circuit, and on a sunny autumn day, the race turned into a competitive three-way tussle for glory. Donal Devane of Ennis Track, Niall Shanahan of An Bru AC, and William Fitzgerald of Craughwell AC formed a breakaway lead group midway through the race.
Shanahan and Devane exchanged the lead, with the former looking strong along the Prom. However, Devane came back strongly, and in the last kilometre he kicked on to storm home for the victory in a time of 24.21.
Shanahan was the runner-up in 24.24, and the talented 19-year-old Fitzgerald, who is a real prospect, took third in 24.31.
The women's race saw Olympian Lizzie Lee make the trip west, and she duly delivered. The Lee Valley athlete won in a fast 26.57, placing 11th overall.
The second woman home was Galway City Harriers' Regina Casey n 29.24, with Ellen Moran, also of the city club, third over the line in 29.50.
Hosted as always by Galway City Harriers, the event returned to Galway streets with the help of an army of volunteers and the support of the city, gardai and the council.
Connacht Cross Country
Galway schools had great individual success at the Connacht Primary Schools Cross Country in Rathcormack, Co Sligo, on Saturday.
Luke Walsh of Lurga NS stormed home to win gold in the senior boys' race, just ahead of silver medallist Stephen Joyce of Scoil Iosaif Naofa, Oranmore. Also medal winners were Aaron Byrne of Monivea NS, second in the junior boys' event, and Isla Day of Gaelscoil Dara Renmore, third in the senior girls' race.
In the team event, Carabane NS won bronze in the junior girls, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh did likewise in the junior boys race, and Gaelscoil Dara Renmore completed a hat trick of bronzes with third place in the senior girls event.
The first leg of the Connacht Senior League was held directly after the schools' event with Castlegar athletes impressing via Abbas Edris who was second in the men's race, while Aisling Moyles was fifth and Triona Moran 10th in the women's event.
GCH was represented well by Niamh Hennell in 11th, Lloyd Malcolm 10th and Dave Mannion in 24th place.
This Sunday sees the Connacht Juvenile Even Ages Event, along with Senior League day two in Belleek, Ballina, Co Mayo, hosted by Moy Valley AC
Lettermore in Connemara hosts the Ceantar na nOilean 5k and 10k races this Saturday October 30 at 12 noon. Clare River Harriers hold a 5k race Halloween on Sunday October 31 at 2pm. Race HQ is at Claregalway Community Centre.
