It will be another landmark day in the history of Mayo AC on Sunday next when the club’s women’s team are Ireland’s representatives in the 24th European Women’s Road Race Interclubs Championship in Portugal. The race, held over a distance of 15km, takes place in Torres Vedras about 30 miles outside Lisbon. The Mayo AC team consists of five members, Catherine Conway Mary Gleeson, Colette Tuohy, Kathy Connolly, and Chris Gallagher, all of whom have been in outstanding form on the road racing circuit in recent times and are looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the leading club runners from around Europe. Last year’s event was held in France and was won by Maratona club de Portugal while ACS Moscow were runners up
Competing in this event on Sunday will no doubt be the highlight of all the Mayo AC women’s running careers to date, it is even more remarkable considering that all have come into the sport within the past five years or so. Team members have had numerous successes, not just on the west of Ireland running scene but also at national level, all five team members have won AAI national medals in 2010. The club’s great win in the recent AAI National Half Marathon Championships means that they have also qualified for the 2011 European Clubs Championship to be held in autumn 2011.
Sunday will be the third occasion that Mayo AC will be represented in the European Clubs’ Cup. In 2002 the club’s team competed in Italy near Rome, while in 2003 they took part in the race staged in Moscow. A group of club members and friends is also travelling to Portugal to support the Mayo AC women on their big day and no doubt will avail of the opportunity to get in some warm weather training in preparation for numerous races that are coming up over the coming weeks. Speaking recently on behalf of all in Mayo AC Michael McGrath club chairperson, congratulated the team and wished them every success in Portugal describing them as an “outstanding group of athletes and an inspiration to all who will do their club, county, and country proud”.
Masters cross country trials
Trials for Irish masters’ teams to compete in the British and Irish Cross Country International will be held this Sunday October 17 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, starting at 2pm. It is expected that a number of Mayo AC members will be pushing for places on teams which start at over 35 category for men and women, right up to over 70 in five year age groups.
Large Mayo AC entry for Dublin marathon
It appears that Mayo AC will have a record number of members running in this year’s Dublin City Marathon. The event also incorporates the 2010 AAI National Marathon Championships and Mayo AC will be pushing hard for medals at both men and women senior level and also in the age categories.
