A large number of members from Mayo AC are getting ready to take on the challenge of the 2011 Dublin Marathon on Monday morning. Almost half of those who are taking part have come into running through the Mayo Fit4Life scheme in Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Castlebar. The women’s senior team consists of Ann McDonnell, Maggie Heneghan, Kathy Connolly, Patricia Gallagher, Paula Prendergast and Yvonne Byrne. The women’s o-40 team is made up of Gwen Daly, Anne Fahy Ronayne, Pauline Joyce, Mary Walsh, Chris Gallagher and Mary Murphy. The senior men’s team is Damien Glacken, Brendan Harrison, Gerry Corley and John Byrne, while the o-50 side consists of Brian Cusack, John Timothy, Jimmy Feeney, Billy Gallagher, Owen Mongan, Chris O’Connell and Tom Hunt.
Mayo AC women’s team back in international action
Mayo AC will continue their excellent record in international athletics competition when they compete in Portugal on Sunday in the European Inter Clubs Road Championships. Mayo AC Senior women now have the distinction of competing in the European Clubs road race for the fourth time - Formia Italy 2002, Moscow 2003, and in hot and hilly Torres Vedras, Portugal last year, where they finished in fourth place. Catherine Conway, who finished ninth, led the team there, with Mary Gleeson 12th and Colette Tuohy 14th. This year they will compete in the 25th European Clubs Road race Championships over a 15k (9.3mile ) course in Almeirim, an historic town north-east of Lisbon. They qualified to represent Ireland through winning the senior women's team title at the National Half Marathon Championships in 2010. On that occasion Catherine Conway led the winning senior team that won the honour to compete in Almeirim in 2011.
Mary Gleeson, who will lead the four-strong team, has been in brilliant form in 2011 with numerous race wins and personal bests, including a record fourth Mayo AC Road League title. She will be joined by Colette Tuohy, Kathy Connolly, and Sarah Syron - all of them showing consistently improving performances throughout the year. Mary, Kathy and Colette made up the Senior team who won bronze at this year's National Half Marathon in Waterford in September. The experience gained last year will serve them well as they look forward to competing with the leading club runners from all over Europe. The team will be accompanied by club chairman Michael McGrath and PJ Hall as team manager.
