The fourth annual Kilmovee 10k Road Race and Walk takes place on Easter Saturday, March 30 starting at 1pm. This popular event attracted over 400 runners, joggers, and walkers last year. It has an AAI permit issued through Mayo AC and is organised by Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA Club. It is a joint fundraiser with Mayo/Roscommon Hospice and Kilmovee Shamrocks. The hospice is the main beneficiary - with €19,000 raised for them in the past three years. This is the first big road race in Mayo this year. Race organiser, John Roddy and his team are busy putting final plans in place for what is expected to be the biggest version of this event to date.
The race starts beside the GAA pitch and finishes beside the church. The course is rural and flat with just one testing hill in the last kilometre. The race weekend is a great example of a local community working together. Every year, many Kilmovee natives return specially to either run, jog, or walk or just to help out on the big day.
Due to some changes in other race fixtures, the race is not part of the 2013 Mayo AC Road League which will begin in July. As in previous years the Kilmovee 10k is set to attract leading runners from around the west and further afield. There is a full cash prize fund on offer for the top three men, women, top two men/women over 35 and 50 and the top junior men and women, under 19.
There will also be specially designed T-shirts for all participants. Chip timing will be used and there will be a finish line clock. Last year Martin Conroy (Ballina AC ) won for the third time in 32.45, with Mary Gleeson Mayo AC (36.34 ) first woman - both went on to achieve national success in 2012. Online entry at €20 is now available at www.kilmoveerace.com Due to safety concerns the number of participants is limited and people are advised to enter early online. However, some entries will be taken on the day at the GAA Centre. On the day entry is also €20 and not €30 as was published earlier in error.
Good performances from Mayo athletes in Tubbercurry 10k
It was an historic day for South Sligo AC as they hosted the 40th Annual Tubbercurry 10k. Teeling St was in festive mood for this real St Patrick's Day event as 303 runners and 38 walkers gathered at the starting line. Eamon McAndrew (Sligo Tri ) won in a time of 32.19, with Roger Barrett (Ballina AC ) sticking in gamely all the way for a second place finish in a time of 32:25.
John Byrne was the first of Mayo AC finishers in fifth followed by Timmy Glavey 35:51, Brendan Gill 36:09, and Anto Devaney 37:45. Mayo AC won the men's team section with 37 points from Ballina AC (44 ).
The performance of the day was by Paula Prendergast (Mayo AC ) - finishing second behind Carina Clarke (Sligo AC ). Paula's finish time 40:20, was two minutes inside her personal best, and a major improvement on her third place finish last year in 42.45. She has put in some good speed work sessions recently and attributed her achievement to this factor.
Other Mayo AC listed finishers included: Dwayne Flynn 38:48, Patrick Walsh 40:38, Michael McNeela 42:18, Ambrose Gaughan 46:30, Christy O'Malley 48:00, Ann Murray 49:47, Chris O'Connell 51:54. The race was excellently organised by South Sligo AC and as usual Annie Killoran and her team ensured that everyone was well nourished afterwards. Annie was presented with a special award in recognition of her support for this event since she started it four decades ago. There was also a special presentation to Billy Gallagher (Mayo AC ) - he won this race 11 times but was unable to start this year due to injury. Also recognised was Phillip Morrison (Sligo AC, M50 ) who ran in the first Tubbercurry 10k and finished in 42:20 this year.
