The popular yearly Galway 5k Series, which attracts hundreds of runners, is back this year, organised by the Galway Athletics Board and clubs.
Sponsored by EY, the 2022 edition is once again a sell-out, with the first of the six-race series having kicked off on Tuesday.
Tuam hosted the first leg, and the next races take place in Loughrea, Caltra, Athenry, Craughwell and Clarenbridge, each one on a Tuesday at 8pm.
Galway clubs were also involved in the National Road Relays which took place over the famed one-mile loop in Raheny, Dublin on Sunday.
The team races are highly competitive, bringing together most of the top middle and long-distance runners in the country.
This year Clonliffe Harriers and UCD took the men’s and women’s titles respectively, while the numerous Galway clubs athletes who travelled acquitted themselves well against the best in the country.
At senior level, Craughwell's strong senior men’s squad placed a fighting ninth place overall, with four excellent runs from captain Jack Miskella, Oisin Davis, Sean Cotter, and Paddy Noonan on the anchor leg.
GCH also ran strongly in eleventh via the quartet of Aaron Brennan, David Carter, Conor Byrne and David Bohan, while
Sinead Gaffney ran a storming first leg on the Craughwell women's team to help her team of Caron Ryan and Emma Boyle to a 11th place finish in the club’s debut in this event.
Galway City Harriers fielded three senior women's teams, with several among the squad still in the junior ranks. The leading team being that of Ella O'Connor, Aine O'Farrell and Isabella Burke placed 14th, with the other two squads of Anna McGinley, Aoife King and Sarah McDonnell in 22nd, and Keela Loomes, Eleanor Whyte and Ellie Mai Sutton in 25th.
At masters level, the two Galway entrants both made the top six, with Castlegar 50 squad finishing a great fourth led by club supremo John Connolly, ably assisted by Robert Malseed and the evergreen Ian Egan.
GCH M50 women's team placed sixth via Eileen McCarthy, Carmel Brannigan and Mary Kealy.
