Coolaney 5k, Charlestown 10k results
John Byrne (right) presented with Charlestown 10k winner’s prize by Martin Donohue, St Attracta’s Nursing Home (sponsors)
Friday August 31: The Coolaney 5k was hosted by Coolaney/Mullinabreena GAA club. One lap course starting at Rockfield and finishing in Coolaney village. An excellently organised event with team led energetically by Gerry Lee.
Running conditions were very good in a light drizzle. Wonderful atmosphere at the finish line and afterwards at prizegiving in adjacent Community Centre.
The race winner was Shane Hayes (Sligo AC) 16:34; first woman Caroline Coulter (Tireragh AC) 20:07.
Well done to the three Mayo AC members who competed – two of them were among the age category prizewinners. Anto Devaney was first of them home in 19:00 and 15th overall.
Breege Staunton ran another great race, crossing the line in 24:05 and first W40. She also won a prize there last year when the event was run over 8k and ran 23:35 in the recent Streets of Sligo 5k – a slightly faster course. Tom Hunt finished second M60 in 21:49.
Results (167 finishers)
There was a timely reminder at prizegiving for runners and joggers to take simple preventative steps to reduce the risks of exposure to ticks. Lyme Disease can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick. More information on http://www.elainefightslyme.com/
Saturday September 1: Charlestown 10k returned to the race calendar after two unfortunate weather related cancellations in 2017. The organising team led by Valerie Murphy did an excellent job in association with the CBD Complex and Charlestown Sarsfields GAA.
The popular course starts at Lowpark, heads out through the town to a rural 8k loop and then back through via Lavey to the finish outside the GAA park. Running conditions were good though humidity was a factor.
Well done John Byrne (Mayo AC) who came home the clear winner in 33:58 – equalling his 2014 winning time. He was almost two minutes ahead of Daire Comer (Tuam AC) 35:44 with David Tiernan (Mayo AC) third in 35:49. John held the course record back in 2013 with 32:32 before Matt Bidwell cut four seconds off it in 2016.
The women’s race provided a close finish with just under fifty seconds separating the first four. Local runner Trina Donohue was first woman finisher with a fine performance – 10th overall in 44:45. Denise Barrett came over from Donegal to claim second in 45:10. Jackie Fleming, another local athlete ran strongly for third in 45:24. Catherina Diskin Hunt (Mayo AC) finished in 1:05.14.
Other prizewinners:
o40 Men 1 Michael Regan 46:25, 2 Eugene Hassey 47:09
o40 Women: 1 Patricia McKeon (Swinford AC) 45:32, 2 Eimear Dowd 49:14.
U19 men 1 Daire Dowd 42:44
results: Charlestown10km2018