Harriers among medals at Tullamore Half Marathon

While a lot of recent road races were down in numbers, the Tullamore Half Marathon last Saturday morning was a huge success and hit record numbers.

Just over 1,200 signed up for the race and on the day nearly 840 took to the start and finished, among them a good number from Mullingar Harriers. The race incorporated the Leinster Half Marathon Championships, so with individual and team honours up for grabs, it gave an added incentive for a good performance.

It was already 19 degrees Celsius when the race started, rising to the low twenties by the finish, tough conditions for a long distance race, but the Mullingar athletes dug deep to turn in some excellent performances, including several personal bests, and winning individual prizes, medals and taking team honours.

The men’s race was won by pre-race favourite Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC) in a new course record of 1 hour 7 minutes 24 seconds and the women’s race was won by Catherine O’Connor (Sli Culann AC) in 1 hour 23 minutes 27 seconds.

Finishing very strongly in an excellent eighteenth place against top quality opposition was Andrew Nevin in 1:15:36. Also finishing fast was James Keegan (1:17:38) and Eddie Newman (1:17:52) first in his master category in the open race to win a prize and first in his master category in the Leinster race.

Next to finish was Gerard Gavin in 1:18:33, a new personal best to place fourth in his master category in the Leinster race, just missing a Leinster medal, closely followed by Alan Crowley in 1:18:44, also a new personal best. Then came Kedagh Geoghegan (1:19:21), Eoin Clarke (1:21:07), Kris Foster (1:24:07), Tony Doran (1:24:39), James Cribbin (1:25:43) third in his master category in the Leinster race, and Stephen Naughton (1:26:19) second in his master category in the Leinster race.

Mary Stuart (1:29:33) ran a personal best and finished very strong to place seventh woman overall and first in her master category in the open race to win a prize and first in her master category in the Leinster race, followed by Tommy Byrne (1:30:35), Aisling Corcoran (1:32:54) fourth in her master category in the Leinster race, but because the first two women were first and second place overall in the race and awarded the Leinster senior medals, Aisling was promoted to second place in her master category to win the Leinster silver medal, a memorable result considering she nearly didn’t run because she had a cold!

Emer O’Hanlon (1:40:07) was third in her master category in the Leinster race to win a Leinster medal, followed by Criona Reid (1:48:21), Joan Hickson (1:51:16), Linda Cunningham (1:53:07) delighted with her debut half marathon and Garret O’Brien (1:53:23), all pleased with their races in tough conditions.

In the Quinlan Cup, with four to score, the Mullingar men team of Andrew Nevin, James Keegan, Eddie Newman and Gerard Gavin was second club and in the Delaney Cup, also with four to score, the Mullingar women team of Mary Stuart, Aisling Corcoran, Emer O’Hanlon and Criona Reid was third club.

There were no prizes for these second or third place teams but there were team medals in the Leinster race, where it was three to score on teams. Mary Stuart, Aisling Corcoran and Emer O’Hanlon finished second senior women club team, just one point behind winners Athlone AC.

Gerard Gavin, Alan Crowley and Eoin Clarke were third Club in their master category, Eddie Newman, James Cribbin and Stephen Naughton were first club in their category, and James Keegan, Kedagh Geoghegan and Kris Foster finished a very creditable fourth senior men club team.

Elsewhere on the road

Andrew Nevin used the Celbridge 5k last Thursday evening as a final blow-out before the Tullamore Half Marathon two days later.

Starting at the gates to the club grounds and finishing with one lap of the grass track, the race was run on a fast course on the roads of Celbridge and Andrew was happy to finish strong in ninth place of the 389 finishers in 15 minutes 44 seconds.

Tara AC hosted another fantastic evening of racing in Skryne, near Navan, Co. Meath last Friday evening when nearly 250 competed in the 5k race.

Staying in contact with the leading group throughout, Enda O’Carolan was delighted to finish well up in thirteenth place in 18 minutes 6 seconds, taking the prize for second place in his master category.

World Masters Mountain Running

This coming Saturday, the 21st World Masters Mountain Running Championships will take place in Clonmel, over the Comeragh Mountains. It will be the first time a World Masters event will be held in Ireland.

Among those entered to run are eight from Mullingar Harriers, namely Jenny Algar, Michelle Bohan, Linda Cunningham, Declan Costello, Gerard Gavin, Sean McMullin, Stephen Naughton and Colm Walsh.

The race route starts in Clonmel Town and climbs into the Comeragh Mountains in adjoining County Waterford, along a mixture of trails, forest paths and open mountain tracks, finishing at the Holy Year Cross overlooking Clonmel Town and the River Suir Valley.

Depending on age, there will be a long course (10.5km, 635m ascent, 345m descent) for men and women aged 35 up to 54 years of age and a short course (8.4km, 509m ascent, 217m descent) for men and women aged 55 up to 79 years of age. Definitely not for the faint hearted! It should prove a great event and everyone at the Club wishes our athletes well.

September committee meeting

The September meeting of the committee is on Tuesday September 6, in the clubhouse at 8.20pm, after training. As there was no meeting in August, there will be a full agenda, including arrangements for the Westmeath Schools Cross Country, so a full attendance is required.

Online

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