Brilliant win for Barrett at Breaffy 10k

The extended summer sunshine spread across the fields near Breaffy for the 3rd Annual 10k on Sunday. It was also the final race in this year’s Mayo AC Road League organized by Breaffy Community/ Breaffy G.A.A & Mayo Roscommon Hospice.This community inspired event is aimed at runners and walkers of all abilities and levels of fitness and 138 finishers made it to the line outside race HQ at the National School. The warm sun and a few uphill sections between 5-8k made their task tougher than normal and there were the usual scenes of joy, pain, exhaustion and sheer exhilaration at the finish. Winner Roger Barrett and second placed Garrett Coughlan were together for most of the race, and were a couple of minutes ahead of John Byrne who struggled to find the form that brought him a sub 32 min win in Charlestown. Joint Road League winners Brendan Gill and David Tiernan have enjoyed a keen rivalry all summer and they ran together until 8k when Gill pulled away for 4th place. Ann Lennon was the women’s race winner in a great time of 37:58. She has had a tremendous season winning all the League races and a number of others notably gold in the National Half Marathon. In her W45 category she established a unique place in the history of the Road League winning the title for the third time. She was winner in 2000 and 2002. Two popular Castlebar based runners Jimmy Feeney and Angela O’Connor won the o45 categories in great style. Margaret Glavey W60 and Pauline Moran W55 continued to set the pace and example for a host of athletes. There was an excellent turnout from the Fit4life groups and their many PBs rounded off a brilliant summer.

Maggie Heneghan led the Breaffy team who organised an excellent event well supported by sponsors and the local community

Sun 6 Oct, Breaffy 10k results (138 finishers)

Men 1:Roger Barrett (Ballina AC 32:41, 2 Garrett Coughlan (Unatt) 32:50: 3: John Byrne (Mayo AC) 34:41

Women 1: Ann Lennon W45 (Mayo AC) 37:58, 2: Colette Tuohy W40 (Mayo AC) 39:17 3:Sarah Syron WS (Mayo AC) 40:56

M45 1 Jimmy Feeney M55 (Mayo AC) 40:36, W45 1: Angela O’Connor W45 (Mayo AC) 41:39
u18 Men Fergal Gill 44:08