There was a welcome number of road race events in the West last Sunday to give athletes some more long-awaited opportunities to compete again.
Mayo AC were represented in them all. Despite the pandemic, over 40% of the club's members have competed in events so far in 2021.
East Mayo AC hosted their third road running event of 2021 on Saturday last in Charlestown. The inaugural half marathon anti-clockwise course was over one lap. 93 runners started out and the race winner was Enda Marren (unattached ) in an excellent time of 1:15.09, second was Alan Kelly (Ballina AC ) 1:16.18, third was Declan Brennan 1:17.54. First woman was Roisin Golden 1:33.38, second Susan Gannon 1:40.50 and third was Rachel Burgess 1:41.01.
Mayo AC had a few members competing: Andy Neary 1:35.24, Tom McNicholas 1:34.02, Donna Gallagher 1:47.02, Geraldine Murphy 2:02.59, and Caitlin Woods 2:05.33.
East Mayo AC's team of organisers were led by Trina Donohue who also completed the half-marathon just two weeks after her brilliant 3:33 PB in the Belfast Marathon and was fourth woman finisher in 1:41.
Also on Saturday, the second annual Clogher half-marathon took place over a 7k looped course. Conditions were ideal for the 79 finishers.
Race winner was Shaun McLoughlin (Westport AC ) in a fast 1:12.50. Neasa De Burca was first woman home in 1:24.33. Newcomer Pawel Ziembik led a group of Mayo AC runners in a brilliant fifth place PB - 1:22.02. He was followed by Michael Rocke 1:27.29, Colette Tuohy 1:30.04 (fifth woman ), David McQuillan 1:30.16, Brendan Murphy 1:36.55, Helen Hopkins 1:41.12, John Geraghty 1:46.55, Noelle Kilduff 1:48.22, Erika Ryan 1:53.43.
On Sunday morning (October 17 ) the Knocknarea Loop 8 mile starting out from Strandhill in Sligo attracted an excellent field of 112. There was a one kilometre steep climb in this picturesque event. Winner was Dessie Burke (Ballina AC ) 45.25, First woman: Heather Foley (Sligo AC ) 51:41. Mayo AC’s Johnny Cribbin 14th overall and first M50 in 55:52, and Breege Cribbin 72:57.
Also on Sunday the North East Galway 10k took place. Kevin Danagher (Rathfarnham WSAF AC ) was the winner in 32:45. First Woman was Yvonne Fehily in 42:50. There were two Mayo AC finishers: Dee Corcoran third woman home in 46:20, and Raymond Clarke 43:21.
Back in Clogher there was a small field - 29 finishers - in the full marathon over the same 7k course as Saturday morning’s half – the full distance being six loops plus 885 metres. The race winner was John Gordon (Mayo AC ) who finished in an excellent time 2:58.46. Paula Donnellan made it a Mayo AC double as she was the first woman across the line in 3:34.47. She was second in this race last year in 3:28.The other Mayo AC finisher in the men’s race was Padraic McVann also in a great time, 3:30.30, fifth overall and a new personal best – well done!
Claremorris 5k run and walk
A fund raising 5k Run and Walk will be held in Claremorris this Saturday, October 23. The event organised by the Claremorris No Name Club in cooperation with the local Park Run Committee will be held within the confines of the McMahon Park/Clare Lake complex starting at 12 noon. All funds raised will go to the Patient Comfort Fund, Oncology Department at Castlebar Hospital Registration will be at the Park entrance from 11 am and all participants will receive a goody bag. Enquiries to (087 ) 2941227. The 5k will be held in compliance with current Covid-19 regulations.
