Search Results for 'Michael Canty'

The extended summer sunshine lit up a glorious October Sunday for the fourth annual Breaffy 10k on Sunday last. It was also the final race in this year's Mayo AC Move2Improve Series. The event was brilliantly organised by Maggie Heneghan and team, comprising the local Breaffy community and GAA club. They were also assisted by Castlebar Fit4Life and Mayo AC. One hundred and forty finishers made it to the finish line outside race HQ at the national school. The warm sun and a few uphill sections between the 5k and 8k marks made for a challenging event, and there were the usual scenes of joy, pain, exhaustion, and sheer exhilaration at the finish line.

The Berlin Marathon is one of the five major city marathons in the world and has a reputation for fast times. The world record has been broken there in each of the last two years. Roger Barrett of Mayo AC trained hard for this year's race and had a brilliant run finishing with a personal best in 2:30:14 - well inside his 2:32:53 finish at the 2012 Dublin Marathon. Roger narrowly missed out on his target sub 2:30, but on this form he will soon achieve that goal. Well done too to Michael Canty (Ballina AC) who also achieved a personal best finishing in 2:36. Last Saturday in the tough Clew Bay Half Marathon, Mayo AC had more success when Noel Gibbons who came home first in 1:22: 27.

The postponed Breaffy 10k road race originally scheduled for Sunday, August 25 has a new date. The Breaffy 10k is now set for Sunday October 6 at 1.30pm. This will now be the final race in the Mayo AC Road League and the relatively flat course should see some good times from finishers. The postponement was due to the involvement of the local GAA Club, for which the race is a fundraiser, with players competing in both the minor and senior teams in the All Ireland football semi-finals on August 25 in Dublin. The organisers apologise for the change of date. They hope that the new date will attract even more competitors as it is the only local permitted race on that weekend.

The national half marathon takes place next Sunday, September 2 at Athenry at 1pm. Mayo AC will have 38 athletes in the field competing in all categories as individuals and teams. This represents their largest team ever at a national championships. All Mayo AC team members are asked to be at Race HQ in the Presentation College beside the arch at Athenry by 11.30am to enable team declaration and registration. Members not running are encouraged to go along in support.

Mayo AC continued their recent impressive run of podium positions in

Ballina Athletic Club athletes travelled to Sligo Racecourse last week for the even ages and senior cross country championships and acquitted themselves very well. Emma Loftus ran a brilliant race in the u14 girls 3,000m race and finished in ninth place overall out of a field of 130 athletes, and took home a bronze medal in the process. Emma is eligible to run in the same age again next year. Hugh Armstrong, who competed in the European and World Mountain Running championships during the year, competed in the u18 boys 6,000m race and finished in eigth place overall to take home a bronze medal also. Maria Reilly was leading the u12 girls race until she had to pull out due to injury. Bridget Mills ran very well in the same competition, as did Cormac MacDermott in the u12 boys race. The u18 boys team of Hugh Armstrong, Cian Mulrooney, Jonathan Deane, and Ciaran Treacy performed very well and finished in sixth place overall. Roger Barrett was the first Mayo man home in the senior competition when he finished in 32nd place overall. His club mates Michael Canty, Sean Gallagher, and Tommy Neville competed also as members of the Mayo Intercounties Team. The uneven ages and novice championships takes place in the Curragh on Sunday next, December 11.

The annual home countries Masters International Cross Country championships took place on Saturday at Bellahouston Park near Glasgow. Once again the Irish team finished in overall second place to England - winners for the umpteenth time. The event took place in very difficult conditions - rain, mud, and high winds.

The senior male athletes of Ballina AC retained the senior team title at the recent Hollymount 10K road race held on a three lap circuit of the south Mayo village. This is a famous race which has been held for the past 46 years under the stewardship of Seán Reilly.

Ballyhaunis was blessed with welcome September sun on Saturday afternoon for the fourth annual 8k and final race in 2011 Mayo AC C&C Cellular Road League. Race organiser Martin Fitzmaurice and team put on an excellent, well-marshalled event.