The inaugural Kilbride 10k took place on Sunday and attracted an excellent field of some 400 runners and walkers. Conditions were calm, but persistent rain overnight carried on until the race start. The one-lap course had frequent splash-through pools and roadside streams over the first 8k and then two tough hills made it a demanding finish over the final 2k. Mark Doyle (Runworx ) was first across the line in 35.04. Performance of the day was by women's race winner Sarah Syron (Mayo AC ), whose gritty finish enabled her to win by nine seconds in 40.56.
Sarah smashed her 2011 Balla 10k personal best time by over two minutes on a tough day. This is a great example of hard work paying off and it surely won't be long before she does a sub 40 minute time. Anto Devanney was first Mayo AC man home in sixth place in a time of 37.21, followed in ninth by Dwayne Flynn in a time of 38.44, who won the fastest footballer challenge. Dwayne plays his football for Parke. Category winners included Tom Hunt M60 in 40.55, Billy Gallagher M55 in 41.50, and Pauline Moran F55 in 46.10. Other finishers included PJ Hall, Chris O'Connell, and Jimmy Donnelly (6k walk ).
Also on Sunday, the 28th Annual AXA Raheny five road race promoted by Raheny Shamrock AC took place with record numbers competing. Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers ) 23.29 and Linda Byrne (DSD ) 26.23, were the winners. Four Mayo AC runners took the wet roads east for this high profile event. John Byrne finished 24th in 25.46, an excellent result and a great start to his 2012 season. TJ McHugh was pleased with his 27.20 finish, given it is only his second race in recent months since returning to training. Catherine Conway, also returning to racing, finished a brilliant sixth place in 29.01.
West of Ireland Mini Marathon launched
The third annual West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon will take place in Castlebar on Sunday, May 6, 2012. More than 5,000 women are expected to take part in this year’s event. The event was officially launched in Áras an Chontae, Castlebar on Thursday evening, January 26, by Minister for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring. The Minister congratulated the organisers and participants who have made the event possible over the last two years and wished them the very best of luck on the May Bank Holiday Sunday this year. To enter, you can fill in the form online at www.westofirelandwomensminimarathon.com Entry costs €20.
