Saturday success for Mayo AC at Race2Glory and Headford 8k

LAST Saturday was a busy day across a number of sports, not least athletics – and there was local success for Mayo AC at Race to Glory in the morning and Headford 8k in the evening.

The Race2Glory adventure race involves cycling, running and a river run, and it took place in Kiltimagh in the morning. There were two courses – a 40k encompassing a 10k mountain run, 23k cycle and 7k run, and a 20k consisting of a 3k run, 10k cycle and 7k run.

In the 40k full distance event, the winner was Sebastien Giraud in 1:47.10 while the first woman to finish was Niamh Cleary in 2:12.24.

Congratulations to Anto Devaney and Dwayne Flynn, who competed as Team West in the relay section and came home in first place in 1:48.57 and third overall.

Well done to other Mayo AC finishers in the full distance 40k: John Gordon (relay) 2:05.21, Marcella McDonnell 2:38.11 and Tim Ganley 2:40.18.

The winner of the 20k sprint was Declan Donnellan in 59:58. The first woman to cross the line was Rhianna Heneghan in 1:10.50.

There was a great performance by John Brennan of Mayo AC, who finished second behind Donnellan in 1:00.18. He was also second in the event in 2018.

Well done also to Mayo AC's other prizewinners and finishers: Darren Brewer, fifth overall in 1:05.47 and second M40; Padraic McVann, eighth overall in 1:07.35 and second M50; Paul Brennan 1:12.47; Noelle Kilduff 1:17.11; Angela McVann 1:26.54; Catrina Houlihan 1:32.44; and Patricia Nyland 2:03.47.

Darren commented: "It was a super day – great atmosphere and tough course." Fair play to him too for heading over to the ‘local race’ in the evening to complete the Headford 8k in 38:09.

That Headford 8k Charity Road Race returned on Saturday evening last after a two-year break due to the pandemic. It was the 16th edition of the popular event.

All the proceeds from the race go to local charities supporting people with intellectual disabilities. The race has raised over €50,000 since it began in 2006 and provides valuable additional funds to support people with disabilities in their own communities such as day services, family support and respite care.

This year’s race winners were Jamie Walsh (men's race) of Medway & Maidstone AC in 27:15 and Jane Ann Healy of GCH (women's race) in 29:12 (sixth overall).

Well done to Mayo AC prizewinners Colette Tuohy, who was an excellent second woman home in 32:29, and Paula Donnellan, who produced a great run to finish third in 33:32.

There was good running too by Wesley Hurst, who was first Mayo AC man home in 32:13. Other Mayo AC finishers were: Ray Clarke 33:10, Dee Corcoran 35:59 (second W40 prizewinner), Ann McDonnell 38:08, Darren Brewer 38:09 (in action for second time after completing the Race2Glory sprint in the morning – see above), W50 prizewinners Joan Walsh (first in 41:11) and Geraldine Murphy (second in 41:29), and Edel Feeney 49:29

It was a well organised event, with welcome al fresco refreshments afterwards for all finishers.

QUALITY FIELD

Meanwhile, the seventh annual Roscommon Harriers AC 10 attracted a quality field on July 2 last.

First across the line was William Maunsell, Clonmel AC, in 50:34. A top class women’s field was led home by a number of Irish internationals. Ann Marie McGlynn of LetterkennyAC won in 55:22, finishing ninth overall, with Michelle Finn, Leevale AC, 11th in 56:42, followed by

Lizzie Lee, also of Leevale AC, in 59:51 and Maria McCambridge, DSD AC, in a time of 60:56.

Mayo AC had six finishers in Roscommon following great runs by Tadgh Hanrahan (61:40), Gerry Kirrane (63:22), Paula Donnellan (72:17), Michael McNeela (73:19), Donna Gallagher (78:32) and Tim Ganley (90:29).

There were two races in Achill on July 2 also. Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers AC won the half in 77:05, with Leitrim native and Olympian Breege Connolly, North Belfast Harriers AC, coming in fifth overall and first woman home in 81:02.

Mayo AC finishers were led led home by another brilliant run by Achill native Paraic Sweeney in 1:44.28. Paraic (M70) joined the club in May and completed his first race in the Mayo AC vest in the recent River Moy half, where he ran a half personal best (PB) in 1:48.43.

His Achill run represents a great new PB for Paraic, who made the short trip over from Bleanaskill on this tough course, which goes via Dugort and Bunacurry. Well done also to Tom Jennings, who ran 1:49.47

The Achill 10k winner was John Lee in 36:12. Well done to Mayo AC's finishers Kevin Donnellan (46:51), Patricia Ryder (58:56) and Regina Kiernan (58:57).

Full results from Kiltimagh and Headford can be found at www.mayoac.com.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Mayo County 10k Championship will be held in Killasser on Wednesday, July 20, at 7 p.m. Registration will be at Killasser Community Centre from 6.15 to 6.45 p.m.

The fee for the 10k will be €10, collected on the day. Clubs are asked to fill out a spreadsheet to give hosts Swinford AC an idea of athletes taking part and send in by Saturday (July 16). Entries will also be taken on the night.

The age categories are: junior 16-19 years, senior, masters O35, O50 and O65. Team category: overall male and overall female, first four runners across the line from a club to count.

Meanwhile, Swinford AC will also be hosting a 5k run from Killasser on the night at 7 p.m. There will be refreshments after the race in the community centre.