Paula Pendergast smashes PB at record 40th Tubbercurry 10k

Paula Prendergast finishes 2nd in personal best 40:20

It was an historic day for South Sligo AC as they hosted the 40th Annual Tubbercurry 10k. Teeling St was in festive mood for this real St Patrick’s Day event as 303 runners and 38 walkers gathered at Annie Killoran’s HQ. Over the past forty years competitors have faced all kinds of spring weather and the 2013 conditions were tough around this honest one lap course. A strong blustery wind surfed and circled over the Ox Mountains and into the faces of competitors as they turned for the Square at 6k.
Eamon McAndrew (Sligo Tri) led out around the town circuit over 2k and thereafter was never headed from gun to tape to win in 32.19.
John Byrne was the first of our finishers in fifth followed by Timmie Glavey 35:51,  Brendan Gill 36:09, and Anto Devaney 37:45 They won the men’s team with 37 points from Ballina AC (44).
The performance of the day was by Paula Prendergast (Mayo AC) – 2nd behind Carina Clarke (Sligo AC) Paula’s time 40:20, was two minutes inside her personal best, a major improvement on her 3rd place finish last year in 42.45. She has put in some good speed work sessions recently and attributed her achievement to this factor. At halfway she was comfortably in 4th and resisted the temptation to push hard and it paid off brilliantly. Paula  will now head to the National 10k with confidence. There was another remarkable run by Lucy Brennan (Sligo AC) who won this race many times over the years – 3rd in 40:22.
Last year’s winner Ann Lennon was 6th in 40.57 and entered as a senior – she would easily have won the W45 category. Mayo AC women were 3rd team – Paula, Ann, Pauline Moran 44:51, AnnMarie Staunton 47:28.
Other Mayo AC listed Dwayne Flynn 38:48, Patrick Walsh 40:38, Michael McNeela 42:18, Ambrose Gaughan 46:30, Christy O’Malley 48:00, Ann Murray 49:47, Chris O’Connell 51:54.

The race was excellently organised by South Sligo AC and as usual Annie Killoran and her team ensured that everyone was well
nourished afterwards.  Gearoid Surlis presented Annie with a special award in recognition of her support for this event since she started it four decades ago.
There was also a special presentation to Billy Gallagher (Mayo AC) – he won this race 11 times but was unable to start this year due to injury.
Also recognised was Phillip Morrison (Sligo AC, M50) who ran in the first Tubber 10k and finished in 42:20 this year.

Race results at www.precisiontiming.net

Alan Kearins, Timmie Glavey and Michael O’Connell  head out on the town circuit

(provisional) 40th Tubbercurry St Patrick’s Day 10k results summary:

Senior men
1 Owen McAndrew (Sligo Tri) 32.19
2 Roger Barrett (Ballina AC) 32.25
3 Tristan Druet 33.11

o40
1 Sean Gallagher(Ballina AC) 36.30
2 Michael O’Connell (Sligo AC) 36.32
o50
1 Graham Allen (Carrick AC) 36.26
2  David Corcoran 38.27
o60
1 Willie Parke (Sligo AC) 46.38
2 Michael Courell (Ballina AC) 49.24

Team 1 Mayo AC

40th Tubbercurry 10k start

Senior women:
1 Carina Clarke (Sligo AC) 40.10
2 Paula Prendergast (Mayo AC) 40.20
3 Lucy Brennan (Sligo AC) 40:22
o40
1 Mari Johnston (Sligo AC) 40:40
2  Monica Henry (South Sligo AC) 43.31

o45
1 Ann Hunter 44:10
2 Catherine Bradley (Sligo AC) 46.07

o50
1 Pauline Moran (Mayo AC) 44:52
2 Geraldine McSweeney (Carrick AC) 47.47

Team 1 North Sligo AC

Ist Junior M Cillian Walsh (GCH) 47:46; 1st Junior F Rosie Hynes (Swinford AC) 44.01