Croagh Patrick world record climb attempt

Fri, May 20, 2011

Friday July 1 could be remembered as the day Croagh Patrick broke all records. A group of hardy souls have been in training for the past four months and are now ready to set a few records straight. The group aim to climb up and down the mountain 12 times with three objectives in mind. The first is a Guinness World record attempt for the highest metres ascended and descended in a 24 hour period. The second is to break the national record of nine climbs on the holy mountain in one day, and thirdly to climb more metres than Everest, and go beyond the endurance required climbing the highest mountain in the world, and to achieve it without leaving the country.

The current World record stands at 17,011.5 vertical ascent/descent metres (55,812.01 feet) the aim of the group is to climb the mountain 12 times. Each lap of the climb up is 764m and down, 1,530m total metres climbed and descended. After 12 climbs this will amount to 18,360m (60,240ft).

All eyes on Carramore this weekend

Fri, May 20, 2011

The Carramore race is a traditional 10k race ran over a fast flat rural one lap course. The Carramore 10k has been organised by Christy Heneghan and his local committee for the past 10 years or so. There is also a four mile walk over a separate course. Both events start at 6pm on Saturday May 21 and both are in support of Mayo Roscommon Hospice. This is the second race in the 2011 Mayo AC Road Race League. Gerry Ryan, John Byrne, and Robert Malseed are previous Carramore 10k winners and Catherine Conway, Mary Gleeson, and Regina Casey have won the women's race.

Slow start to the championship, but better days are coming

Fri, May 20, 2011

I walked into Maughan’s bar last Sunday evening in Crossmolina and noticed that the Donegal v Antrim Ulster Championship match was still on. It was showing on the big screen, but to be honest it was a match that would have been more appropriate for a small black and white monitor such was the poor quality of football. Maybe it is too early in the year? I am not sure what the reason is, but it was awful stuff. I turned away after a few minutes of watching for no other reason than the fact that I lost complete interest in it. From what I could see there weren’t too many other patrons that interested either. Maybe people are not quite into championship mode yet.

Sports Shorts

Fri, May 20, 2011

Ballina Braves AGM
The AGM of Ballina Braves Basketball Club will be held in the Sean Duffy Community Centre, Ardnaree, on Monday, May 30 at 9pm. All interested in the future of Ballina basketball are asked to attend including players, parents and supporters. Items for decision include the question of participation in the senior National League for the forthcoming season as well as competition for under age players.

Steering committee disassociates itself from final GAA strategic review

Mon, May 16, 2011

The steering committee set up to draft the Strategic Action Plan for Mayo GAA have disassociated themselves from the final draft plan which was released by the County Board this week. In a strongly worded statement from the steering committee chairman, Liam Horan, released on Monday, May 16 the committee hit out at the official draft plan. He said: “The final plan now produced ticks a box, but does no more than that. Somewhere, an entry can now be made: ‘Yes, Mayo now has a strategic plan.’ But it is a dry document without any soul or heart.

Ballintubber to host last challenge before championship

Fri, May 13, 2011

It’s a sort of homecoming on Saturday evening for Mayo manager James Horan and his captain Alan Dillon. Mayo will take on Offaly in their last challenge game ahead of the championship throw in on Sunday fortnight in Ruislip against London. The challenge game has been organised to mark the official opening of the new €1 million development by Ballintubber GAA Club which has redeveloped the pitch and installed an Astroturf pitch along with redevelopment of the resource centre. Mayo will face down against Offaly at 5pm, and the game will be proceeded by the Horan Cup final between Ballintubber and Kilcock from Kildare at 2pm. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, is expected to be on hand to perform the official opening at 4pm.

Carramore 10k brings it back to basics

Fri, May 13, 2011

Just a couple of years ago the first race of the year in Mayo was the Carramore 10k in May, and it signalled the start of Mayo AC's annual road league. How times have changed, and in tandem a surprising growth area races here, there, and everywhere have sprung up. But it is back to basics with the Carramore 10k which will suit all the Fit4Life groups as they test out their Spring into Summer programmes, in a hope of reducing times and improving endurance. Other athletes will want to build confidence with a fast time and see what the hard work done during the recent good weather produces.

Connacht Gold Cup could throw up some surprises

Fri, May 13, 2011

Claremorris, who have had a great start to the Super League this season winning three of their opening four games, will be looking to keep up that good form on Saturday evening in the Connacht Gold Cup, the only all top level clash of the round. Michael Hutton’s side will make the trip to The Green to take on a bottom of the table Ballinrobe Town side who have not even been able to get a point on the board so far this season. Ballinrobe are coming into the game off the back of a 4-2 home defeat to league leaders Castlebar Celtic, while Claremorris were the latest side to topple defending champions Ballina Town with a 3-1 win in north Mayo. Derek Glynn was the man on target for Claremorris last weekend, grabbing all three goals in their win.

Ballina mourns the passing of club president

Fri, May 13, 2011

Ballina
Clive Gilmartin was the winner of the 18 hole single Stableford with a score of 63 nett. Pat Fox came second, with Pat Hopkins taking third place.

Clive Gilmartin was the winner of the 18 hole single Stableford with a score of 63 nett. Pat Fox came second, with Pat Hopkins taking third place.

Maughan takes on charity cycle

Fri, May 13, 2011

In between managing his home town side Crossmolina as they build up their preparation towards another crack at the Moclair Cup this summer Mayo Advertiser columnist John Maughan will be taking on the Rás challenge later this month. The former Mayo manager is taking up the challenge to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and will be taking on two of the gruelling legs of the Rás. Maughan will be joining a number of well known GAA personalities on the challenge which is being organised by former Roscommon footballer Paul Early. “It’s for a great cause and it’s something I’m really looking forward to getting involved in. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’ve been putting in the training for it, each leg is about 100 miles so I know it’s going to be a tough event” he said.

Lap of the Mask leisure cycle

Fri, May 13, 2011

As the leisure cycle season gets under way in earnest in the month of May, Western Lakes Cycling Club in Ballinrobe is getting ready for the Lap of the Mask, its first big leisure cycling event of the summer. A large crowd is expected to attend this year’s event, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday). Last year’s Lap of the Mask saw a 150 strong crowd complete the 64km circuit around the lake.