Mayo AC week-end race news including Catherine Conway 3rd in Ballycotton ’10’
It was a busy spring week-end of races at locations near and far. These days the continuing running revival has seen a parallel increase in the number of races on offer. Pick of the bunch in terms of tradition was the 34th Ballycotton ’10’ – a ‘classic race at a classic distance’ – which took place on Sunday. The ‘must do’ status of this race means it is sold out within hours of registration opening. And all this on a value for money entry fee, put together each year by the good people at East Cork AC, led by John Walshe, who still refers to himself as ‘organiser’. Three Mayo AC runners made the pilgrimage this year.
In a field of 2400 runners, Sergiu Ciobanu – pictured above – (Clonliffe Harriers) was the winner in 49.39. TJ McHugh had a great run and was well up in 33rd place in 55.38; Dave Huane finished in 68.18.
Catherine Conway did brilliantly and was happy to finish third in 60.15. Women’s race winner was Lizzie Lee (LeevaleAC) in 58.48. Back in 2000, Mayo AC’s Ann Lennon finished 4th in 58.02 – a time which would have easily won the women’s race in Ballycotton in last few years. .
On Saturday there were two races in Kinvara under the ‘Rock and Road’ banner. Timmie Glavey had a great run in the Half Marathon to finish 6th in 78.20 – a race won by M Shannon (Kilnaboy AC) in 72.51. In the 10k, Anto Devaney continued his return to form with an excellent 3rd place behind winner S Scully (Nenagh Olympic) – 33.51.
Meanwhile,,in a different parish, a couple of intrepid Mayo AC stalwarts went to Spain for the 33rd edicio of Marato Balcelona, a race of similar size to Dublin Marathon. Anne Fahey 3.51.45, and Christy O’Malley 3.59.02, will be well pleased with their performances this year given the winter weather here.. No doubt they will be back to attack the mountain road out of Tubbercurry on St Patrick’s Day for the 38th 10k, another traditional landmark race, and well placed three weeks before National 10k on April 10th.
A special word of thanks to Tom Hunt for this, and all the other recent reports compiled from a hotel room in China!!