Road League race 1, Kilmovee 10k: wins for Martin Conroy and Mary Gleeson

After the rigours of a torrid day in the Phoenix Park two weeks ago,
Kilmovee provided a pleasant change for the opening race of our 2011
Road League. It was no surprise that most of those who ran in Dublin
improved on their performances.

Conditions were good for the second Annual Kilmovee 10k last Saturday
afternoon. Some said it was very hot, but nobody among the record
turnout of runners and walkers -335 finishers- were really
complaining. There were entries from 16 counties and from the UK.
John Roddy and his community team at Kilmovee Shamrocks
put on an excellently organised race with the help of John Fitzsimons
and Pat Hooper from Raheny Shamrock AC.

The course was mainly on single track road, flat with gentle
undulations and a short but tough uphill section after the 9k mark to
test tired legs. “It’s a hill, get over it” read the supportive
roadside notice at the beginning of the climb.
Some may have missed the other eight similarly veined notices out on
the course.

Race winner Martin Conroy (Sligo AC) led from the start and had a 25
metre lead over Robert Malseed (Mayo AC) at 3k. He gradually extended
this lead, though pressed tenaciously by Robert and finished forty
seconds ahead in 32.40, the same time as his 2010 victory, A Mayo AC
quartet ran together for most of the race before Timmie Glavey broke
away to finish third (34.37) ahead of 4th Anto Devaney (35.02), 5th
Kevin Mellett (35.11) and 6th Andrew Lynskey (35.37)
The women’s race saw Mary Gleeson set the pace from the start and she
ran a great race to finish first in 37.20. Mary is an experienced Road
League former winner and has set out on the 2011 League trail with 25
points on the leaderboard. Westport native Niamh Richardson (Kilkenny
City Harriers) finished second in 38.41 closely followed by Colette
Tuohy (Mayo AC) in 38.57, her best time of the three 10k races she has
run in the past two weeks.

Mayo AC athletes won both women’s age category races. Angela O’Connor
(41.01)  ran almost 40 seconds faster than her time in Dublin when she
won the National 10k o45 title. Ann Lennon made a fine comeback to the
road to win the o40 section in 41.22.
Our other finishers (excluding those in summary):
Brendan Hession SM 39.58 PB, Hugh Duffy o45M 40.25, Ronnie Naylor o50M 4122,
Chris Gallagher o40W 43.07, Owen Mongan o55M 44.47, Christy O’Malley o40M 44.59,
Paula Prendergast SW 46.56. Brendan Conwell o45M, 48.42, Mary Naylor
o50W, 48.45, Una McGrath o50W 51.48.

The second Road League race is at Carramore nr Claremorris on Saturday
evening 21st May. The Carramore 10k course is quite similar to
Kilmovee and produces fast times. It will be a great opportunity for
those who ran on Saturday last to measure improvement. Carramore is a
well established race, good value for money  and deserves lots of
support. Full details soon on www.mayoac.com

Kilmovee provisional results: –> [Download not found]

Kilmovee 10k Results Summary
Senior Men
1: Martin Conroy (Sligo AC) 32.40
2: Robert Malseed (Mayo AC) 33.24
3: Timmie Glavey (Mayo AC) 34.37

Senior Women
1: Mary Gleeson (Mayo AC) 37.20
2: Niamh Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) 38.41
3:  Colette Tuohy (Mayo AC) 38.57

Men over 40
1st: David Corcoran (Civil Service) 36.44

Women over 40
1st: Ann Lennon (Mayo AC) 41.22

Women over 45
1st: Angela O’Connor (Mayo AC) 41.01

Men over 50
1st  Billy Gallagher (Mayo AC) 39.20

Junior Men  1st: Jonathan Deal 38.29
Junior Women 1st:Susan Shiel-Rankin 39.06