Swinford 8k – Results

Swinford AC hosted their annual 8k race on Sunday. It was also the fifth race in Mayo AC’s C&C Cellular Road League. As usual it was
a well organised event with spectator friendly traffic-free start and finishing areas in the town centre. Conditions were good for running
despite the Bank Holiday clouds – although the early part of course
was reported to be slippery.
Picture: l-r Mary Gleeson, Niall Cawley and Peter Hynes

The turnout was slightly down due to distractions elsewhere. As the
start times of global and national sports clashed, the gaelic result
put icing on Sunday’s athletic cake. However, the Croker lads enjoyed
a half-time rest, massage, and fresh oranges!

(Pictured 3rd woman Siobhán Lennon leads Michael Sweeney after 2k.)

Matt Bidwell (GCH) and Roger Barrett (Ballina AC) looked relaxed chatting together as they led over the early kilometres, with Mayo AC’s John Byrne in steady pursuit. However, after halfway Matt opened
a gap and went on to win convincingly by over forty seconds  in 25.41
–  45 seconds outside the great Gerry Ryan’s Swinford 2010 time of 24.56. John Byrne was satisfied with his third place in 27.12, as he is in ‘ultra’ training mode for the World 100k championships in a few weeks. There was another notable performance by Hugh Armstrong
(Ballina AC) finishing 5th overall in 28.11, and first Junior u19 as he did in Balla 10k the previous week.

Picture l-r Womens race winner Mary Gleeson, Cathy Connolly 2nd, Sarah Syron 4th, Chris Gallagher 1st o45 (all Mayo AC)

Mary Gleeson (Mayo AC) was the clear women’s race winner – her third
Swinford 8k in a row – and only one second outside her fastest time
time in 2009. She ran hard all the way and is well out of sight leading the league table on 123pts. Cathy Connolly was close to her
best time in second – 32.09 and was five seconds ahead of 3rd placed
Siobhán Lennon, who is having a fine return to racing. As usual there
were a number of personal bests, among them a quartet of Mayo AC
athletes – Brendan Hession 30.56, Sarah Syron 32.36 and 4th woman
overall, Tony Gleeson 36.30 and o50 winner Una McGrath 42.17.

Tony Gleeson pictured on way to another PB

There was a good number of Fit4Life participants in the field and they will be looking forward to the first of Swinford AC’s upcoming autumn race series beginning with a 5k at Foxford on Wed 10th August at 7.30.
The sixth race in the Road League is the De Care Claremorris 5 on Aug 27th – more details on this next week and as always on www.mayoac.com

l-r Sean Murphy and Hugh Duffy

Full Results :[Download not found]

Swinford 8k prizewinners
Senior Men
1 Matt Bidwell (GCH) 25.41
2 Roger Barrett (Ballina AC) 26.23
3 John Byrne (Mayo AC) 27.12

o40 1 Sean Gallagher (Ballina AC)
o50 1 Billy Gallagher (Mayo AC) 28.24
o60
1 Michael Courell (Ballina AC) 37.49

Junior u19
1 Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) 28.11

Senior Women
1 Mary Gleeson (Mayo AC) 29.22
2 Cathy Connolly (Mayo AC) 32.09
3  Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track) 32.14

040
1 Joan Walsh (Mayo AC) 35.47
o45
1 Chris Gallagher (Mayo AC) 34.03
o50
1 Una McGrath  (Mayo AC) 42.17

Junior u19
1 Dara Sherry (Swinford AC) 47.13

Pictured at 2k, Sarah Syron and Owen Mongan
Picutred with 3k to go: Ronnie Naylor(1565) ahead of Michael McNeela