Racers and pacers at Ballina Half Marathon

It was another big day out for Mayo AC and their Fit4Life groups at Ballina. Between racers and pacers they made up 10% of the Ballina field of 553 finishers. It was three in a row for winner Corkman Alan O’Shea (Bantry AC)  coming home first in a fast 68:54 – a new course record.
Our runners were led home in fine style by John Byrne who ran a brilliant race to finish second ahead of two formidable challengers Richard Gorman and Liam Feely. As John says “I had a serious battle with Richard up to 11.5 miles, and although I felt I was beaten many times, held on and put in a painful 5:22 13th mile to eventually break him – could have gone either way”. That’s the calibre of our top man.
It has been a busy time for John, as he’s raced over a variety of distances almost every week-end recently and shown that he’s lost none of his competitiveness with podium positions the norm. His long service success and leadership of Mayo AC in the Irish athletics world are a continuing cause of celebration.
There were many of our Ballina finishers today who have been inspired by his well documented story. There was a big contingent from Castlebar Fit4Life, a number of first time half marathoners, particularly from Ballyhaunis Fit4Life. And there are probably a few pbs as well, our finishers are listed below- well done to them all.

Our pacers were well appreciated by the organisers and Ambrose Gaughan says “I’ve got a lot of positive feed back already, emails and texts. The hugs and kisses at the finishing line told the full story”. Mayo AC pacers crew: Brendan Hession, Paddy Walsh, Ambrose Gaughan, Paul Reynolds, Ronan Kirrane, Owen Mongan, Annemarie Staunton, PJ Hall , Chris O’Connell, John Geraghty, Jimmy Feeney, and Thomas Jennings.

See photos etc at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-Moy-12-Marathon-Ballina-CoMayo/327598773343

Good to see so many members getting out together to go and race in new places recently. Michael McNeela finished 4th in the Inisbofin Half marathon today in 1:33.01. He also ran the Connemara marathon last month in 3:22. Well done, Micheal.
Sat 16th May: Ballina Half Marathon (553 finishers) results www.precisiontiming.net

Men 1 Alan O’Shea (Bantry AC) 68:54, John Byrne (Mayo AC) 72:26, Richard Gorman (Sligo AC) 72:56
Women 1 Tara Malone (Enniskillen Running Club) 89:03, 2 Mari Johnston (Sligo AC) 89:12, 3 Patricia McCosker (N.Sligo AC) 91:12

Our other finishers:
11 Brendan Gill 80:43
Matthew Gill 85:25
Padraig McVann 95:07
Julie Kearney 98:34
Thomas Kelly 1:41:16
Donal Tighe 1:42:00
Reiltin Shaw 1:43:43
Aileen Shaw 1:44:35
Tim Ganley 1:47:26
Karen Devaney 1:48:21
Shane Timothy 1:48:21
Frank Cloherty 1:48:45
Mary T McDonald 1:51:44
Christy O’Malley 1:52:56
Pawel Lach 1:53:48
Monica Joyce 1:54:07
Edel Feeney 1:54:46
Angela McVann 1:55.00
Caroline Allworthy 1:55.50
Geraldine Murphy 1:56.25
Martin Fitzmaurice 1:56.26
Ger Fahy 1:57.12
Mags Connell 1:57.12
Ailish Lawless 1:58.41
Siobhan Ryan 2:00.29
Deirdre Gavin 2:02.53
Trisha Kavanagh 2:02.53
Caroline Hession 2:03.33
Geraldine Heneghan 2:03.30
Karen Davitt 2:05.26
Anne Marie O’Cathasaigh 2:11.23
Ewa Jablonska 2:11.42
Liz Walsh 2:15.00
Patricia Waldron 2:15.01
Elaine Patterson 2:15.21
Lorraine Keane 2:15.34
Marie Murphy 2:18.32
Emma Corley 2:23.45
Gerry Corley 2:23.45
Mary Niland 2:25.51
Marie Mullarkey 2:37.47