Clean sweep for Mayo athletes at Céide Coast half-marathon

THE annual Céide Coast Half Marathon and Coastal 10k, hosted by Ballycastle AC, proved a huge success.

This was the last edition of the event, which has been held annually in October over recent years apart from a Covid-enforced break in 2020 and 2021.

Runners were transported from the village to the race start point at Céide Fields visitor centre/cliffs.

Both courses were ‘levelled out’ for 2023 – in the past there had been a famously steep hill in Ballycastle village for the finish, whereas for the final edition it was a different, not so steep hill finish.

Congratulations to Norah Newcombe Pieterse, half-marathon winner and first woman home in 1:23.02. She led Mayo AC to complete a unique podium top three, with John Gordon first M50 in second place in 1:23.32 and Tadgh Hanrahan first M40 a close third in 1:23:36 – great running by all three, with just over 30 seconds separating them at the finish line in Ballycastle!

Their club-mate Colette Tuohy (F50) also ran a great race to finish second woman and 12th overall in 1:30.41. She was first woman last year and seventh overall in 1:32.19.

The eighth annual Coastal 10k took place in conjunction with the half, and Mayo AC had six finishers.

Congratulations to Donna Gallagher, who was first woman across the line in 42:51, completing a Céide Coast women’s win double for Mayo AC.

Well done also to the other Mayo AC finishers: Jimmy Feeney 49:07 (1st M60), Caitlin Woods 53:08 (2nd F50), Regina Kiernan 1:00.14 (2nd F60), Colette McTigue 1:03.57 and Linda Creagh 1:13.32.

The race winner was John Regan of Celbridge AC in 37:48.

The rull results of both races can be found at www.mayoac.com.