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While Hugh Armstrong was busy winning a silver medal in the All-Ireland youths’ mountain running championships in scenic Glendalough, the senior athletes of Ballina AC were also busy at a variety of races around the country. The evergreen Michael Courell made his annual trip to Kilnaboy, Co Clare for a tough 10 mile road race where he finished the race in 1:17:57. Running under eight minute mile pace all the way is no mean achievement for the course. Both Bernard Barrett and William Heverin made the trip to Dublin for the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park. Both should be very happy with their times of 38:56 and 44:46 respectively. Both will use these times to set lower time targets for the remainder of the season.

Athletics

The annual Mayo Athletics Awards hosted by Mayo Athletics Board and sponsored by C&C Cellular/Vodafone took place at the McMillan Park Hotel, Claremorris, on Sunday. Mayo AC celebrated their most successful year so far with 20 members nominated for awards. All of them won national medals as individuals or as part of a team in track, field, and road running championships in 2008. Among the nominees for senior and masters categories, Mayo AC athletes won four of the five awards. They were Anne Lennon, Women, Masters Road Racing; Ronnie Naylor, Masters Male High Achievement; Catherine Conway/Mary Gleeson shared Senior Women Road Racing; Tom Hunt, Masters Male Road Racing.

There were over 100 participants in the inaugural Ballindine four mile race on Sunday in aid of Western Alzheimer’s. The race was the brainchild of local organiser and Mayo AC athlete Dave Huane - with a little help from his running friends on both sides of the border. The runners/walkers put down their estimated finishing time on the entry form and were not allowed carry any time recording device during the race. The closest time to that predicted would determine the winner. As it turned out, three athletes finished within three seconds of their predicted time and were declared joint winners. They were David Mullins (Tuam AC), Angela O'Connor (Mayo AC) and Paul Fallon (GCH). They were followed by Michael McGrath (Mayo AC) +five secs, Fergal Egan (GCH) +10, Deirdre Ruddy (Mayo AC) +11, John Stagg, Hollymount +11. The fastest finisher was John Byrne (Mayo AC) in 21.17, with Ian Egan of GCH second in 23.27. Angela O'Connor was fastest woman in 26.50.

It may be just coincidence that the Balla 10k is on the same weekend as climbing the 'Reek'. It just gives the penitents another choice, while some extreme sinners opt for both. The 17th Annual Balla 10k, which is race three in the Vodafone C&C Mayo AC Road League, took place on Saturday evening. Conditions were very good with a slight breeze freshening faces as the field turned for home after 5k. Brendan Conwell and his team of 35 once again put on a well organised event, with an extensive prize list; no mean achievement in these lean times. As usual the Balla course provided a real challenge. Some 250 runners and walkers participated. This year the better conditions produced generally faster times and as usual many tortured and triumphant souls had tales to share. 2008 winner Robbie Matthews (Dunshaughlin AC) made it a double finishing first again in 32.05, 50 seconds faster than last year. He was 13 seconds ahead of Robert Malseed (Mayo AC) who improved his 2008 time by a minute. John Byrne third (33.21), and TJ McHugh fourth (33.47), showed that they are in very good shape as did the whole Mayo AC team in the lead up to the National half marathon in just under six weeks time.

It had been quite a while since Mayo AC did not have a finisher in the top three of a Road Race League. This happened last Saturday in the fifth race in Mayo AC's 2009 Road Race League, sponsored by C & C Cellular, which took place in sunny conditions over a recognised testing course at Claremorris. The eighth DeCare International sponsored road race and walk started and finished in Main Street.

“It was a wonderful day, one of the most successful we have ever had,” said a delighted club chairman, Michael McGrath as Mayo AC swept the boards at the AAI National Half Marathon Championships at Ballybofey on Sunday. The event was hosted by Finn Valley AC and attracted a field of over 200 of the top club athletes from all over the country. The 13.1 mile one lap course went out along one side of the river Finn, across the bridge at 7 miles and back to town via the main road. Conditions were excellent — misty but not wet. Mayo AC had 23 runners of whom 14 won medals. The club had five teams and all participants competed as individuals in age categories from senior to over 70. Four of the five teams won — two gold and two silver — and six individuals collected medals.

“It was a wonderful day, one of the most successful we have ever had,” said a delighted club chairman, Michael McGrath as Mayo AC swept the boards at the AAI National Half Marathon Championships at Ballybofey on Sunday. The event was hosted by Finn Valley AC and attracted a field of over 200 of the top club athletes from all over the country. The 13.1 mile one lap course went out along one side of the river Finn, across the bridge at 7 miles and back to town via the main road. Conditions were excellent — misty but not wet. Mayo AC had 23 runners of whom 14 won medals. The club had five teams and all participants competed as individuals in age categories from senior to over 70. Four of the five teams won — two gold and two silver — and six individuals collected medals.