Bidwell breaks course record to win Breaffy 10k

October 12, 2014

Top 3 women l-r: 2nd Colette Tuohy, 1st Norah Newcombe, 3rd Paula Prendergast

The extended summer sunshine lit up a glorious October Sunday for the 4th Annual Breaffy 10k on Sunday. It was also the final race in this year’s Mayo AC Move2Improve Series. The event was brilliantly organised by Maggie Heneghan and team comprised of the local Breaffy Community and G.A.A. club. They were also assisted by Castlebar Fit4Life and Mayo AC, particularly in recording results and prompt publication. The event enabled runners and walkers of all abilities and levels of fitness to participate and enjoy. 140 finishers made it to the finish line outside race HQ at the National School. The warm sun and a few uphill sections between 5-8k made for a challenging event and there were the usual scenes of joy, pain, exhaustion andsheer exhilaration at the finish.

The clear race winner was popular GCH athlete Matt Bidwell, former winner of the Mayo AC Road League. Matt broke Roger Barrett’s record in his first run over the Breaffy loop course, coming home in a fast 31:59. Michael Canty (Ballina AC) finished second in 33:10, also his best Breaffy time and showing the form which gave him a marathon PB in Berlin recently. John Byrne (Mayo AC) was third in 33:26, slightly disappointed given great form in training ahead of the Dublin Marathon in two weeks time. However, his training form indicated he can look to the 34th Dublin with confidence.

Norah Newcombe-Pieterse (Ballina AC) was also the clear winner of the women’s race in 36:42, following her 10k PB last week in Galway. She is obviously in great form ahead of Dublin and beat Ann Lennon’s course record by well over a minute. Colette Tuohy finished second in 39:10, a few seconds faster than 2013 and Paula Prendergast was just over 40 mins in third place. Both of them were part of an excellent turnout of Mayo AC singlets in the field, all taking advantage of the great racing conditions. One of many to benefit was Edel Feeney who came home with an excellent PB in 46:16.

Mayo AC chairman Michael McGrath also had a good run finishing in 45:49 and was on hand later to present medals to the club’s National Half Marathon teams: o50 Gold, Senior Bronze, and individual category medal winners Pauline Moran Gold W55, Mary Murphy Bronze W60, and John Byrne Bronze M35. (see photos below).

The other Breaffy prizewinners in the o50 category were David Corcoran and Pauline Moran who had a great return to form with a 43:39 finish.

Martin Greaney, Chairman Breaffy GAA thanked all the organisers and helpers on and off the course, and made the presentations to those named below in prizewinners summary. We are blessed with the quality and quantity of post race refreshments here in the West and Breaffy was no exception. Where would we be without the cuppa, scones etc and a chance to connect!

Sun 12 Oct, Breaffy 10k results (140 finishers) full results files below
Men 1:Matt Bidwell (GCH) 31:59, 2 Michael Canty(Ballina AC)) 33:10: 3: John Byrne (Mayo AC) 33:26

Women 1: Norah Newcombe-Pieterse (Ballina AC) 36:42, 2: Colette Tuohy W45 (Mayo AC) 39:10; 3 Paula Prendergast (Mayo AC) 40:16

050 Men 1 David Corcoran) 38:39, 050 women 1 Pauline Moran W55 (Mayo AC) 43:39

Results pdf: Breaffy Results 2014
Results xls: Breaffy Results 2014