GYOT: Tommy Joe is right on time!

Sean Murphy (Mayo AC) with ‘Guess’ winner Tommy Joe Whyte (Tuam AC) on right

The soggy weather did not deter organiser in chief, Dave Huane from clocking  up his 5th Annual Ballindine 4 Mile GYOT Road Race on Saturday evening. A good field assembled at the hill-top start at Ard Lugalisheen and were checked over for watches and other timepieces, having ‘guessed their own finishing time’ when they entered. This event is held in support of Western Alzheimer’s. A daylong downpour made conditions tough as the runners picked their way through puddles and pot-holes up and down through Woodstock and Garryduff and back on to the N17 hard shoulder at Pollnasillagh. The ‘guessers’ are getting better every year and the top ten closest to their ‘guess’ time were all within seconds of that target. Popular Tuam AC athlete Tommy Joe Whyte had predicted  down 24.30 and finished in exactly that time. Next came Liam McDonnell, having cycled to the start from Swinford, he was just a second out. Adrian Fitzmaurice (Athenry AC) was just two seconds off in third, and former top guesser Brendan Monaghan (Tuam AC) fourth – four seconds slower – is he losing his touch?
The results are attached and show the full sequence of slower/faster results. Ballindine-4miler-race-2013  Thanks to Alan Burke for prompt production of results.
There was a special prize for Fiona Fitzpatrick from Claremorris who was furthest off her prediction (45 mins) but was a rewarded with a 37:56 finish. As usual there were lots of prizes and spots, and a wonderful spread of refreshments thanks to Dave’s Community Centre team. Noel Higgins from Western Alzheimer’s thanked everyone for their support. There is a list of sponsors and more photos in a separate report.
Fastest finishers were:
Men 1 John Byrne (Mayo AC) 21:32, 2 Ian Egan (GCH) 23:29 3 Dan O’Rourke (Tuam AC) 24:08
Women (all Mayo AC) 1 Mary Gleeson 24:22, 2 Catherine Conway 25:20; 3 Paula Prendergast 25:29

Deirdre Ward and Rhona Dempsey – both GCH