O’Donoghue and team take 4th in County Novice B Road Championships
A new venue greeted the runners of the County Novice B Road Championship race last Sunday in Fethard Co. Tipperary. Fethard Town Park is an all-inclusive multipurpose shared municipal facility which is in construction in the South Tipp town, located directly adjacent to existing school, sports facilities and residential areas. Once completed, the 26 acre park will contain 2 full size playing pitches; 1 3G all-weather pitch and 1 grass pitch, intergenerational multipurpose hall, dressing rooms, coffee dock, gym, clubhouse, running/ walking trail, sensory garden and open parkland. Hosts were Fethard AC in what will be a beautiful facility once construction is completed.
A tarred 1.5k loop around this park was where the athletes performed last Sunday morning. 2 loops (3k) for the ladies and 4 loops (6k) for the men. The club unfortunately had no ladies take part in this race but had 5 eligible men whom all raised their hand and took part in this one. Willie O’Donoghue put in a great performance and finished just short of the podium in 4th place. Our men’s team of Willie O’Donoghue, Damien Holian who finished 10th, Gerard Hanley, Liam O’Donnell and Liam Lewis also lost out in the sliverware taking 4th place, loosing out on the bronze medals by a mere 2 points.
IMRA TOMIES/ PURPLE MOUNTAIN
A short hop from his native home was Kevin Lenihan last Sunday out on the open mountains in Killarney, Co. Kerry in a 12.5k race over Tomies/Purple Mountain. The race commenced along a twisting gravel and muddy road through the old golf course, gradually climbing. Immediately upon the exit from the golf course, the path gradient steepened. Kevin then hit a cross road of muddy farm tracks where he kept right of the deer fence following the narrow and twisting single track uphill along the Lower Slopes of Tomies. This was the part that where decisions had to be made as it can be a tight bottleneck so Kevin had to either be out in front or wait behind and knowing Kevin, he was out in front.
Continuing along this braided, muddy single track uphill heading in a southerly direction, and as Kevin left the deer fence behind, he could see he was out on the open mountain. The gradient steepened sharply for a lung bursting climb on grass and heather to the top of Tomies at a height 568m. Upon reaching this point Kevin then gradually descended south along the path into the saddle for approximated 400m before picking up the well defined rocky path climbing steeply up Tomies Mountain. At the race half way point, competitors had a choice of a preference on what summit route they would like to take to the summit shelter on Purple Mountain. Kevin then followed back the route the way he came from the start for a hairraisng, leg-burning descent to the finish. Kevin finished 11th overall.
COBH 10 MILE
Ballymore Cobh Athletic Club hosted the ‘Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10’ Road Race last Sunday morning the lovely sundrinched town of Cobh. The race which was formerly known as ‘The Great Island Road Race’ was a fundraiser for the Breakthrough Cancer Research and the further development of Ballymore Cobh AC’s Juvenile facilities. Out wearing the club’s colours for this event was the great Padraigin Riggs, running a fine race and taking 1st in her category.
MICHAEL ‘CURLEY’ CUNNINGHAM 4 MILE
Remembering ‘Curley’ on his 5th Anniversary doing what Curley loved most! running. The Michael Curley Cunningham 4 Mile Road Race will take place on Friday the 13th of May in the village of Galbally, home to Mooreabbey Milers at 7.30pm. Registration on the night €15 in the community hall. Prizes for the top 3 males and females and 1st male and female junior. Spot prizes on the night with refreshments after.
DIARY
Club events planned for 2022: The Michael Curley Cunningham 4 Mile (13th May), The Mooreabbey 10 Mile (10th July), The Mile Dash (31st December) . World Masters Mountain Race Clonmel 2022. Registration is now open at https:// wmmrch2022.ie.
LISTEN UP
All eyes and ears look and listen up, because I think you won’t want to miss or pass up an opportunity of a life time to represent your country in an amazing event to be held in our back yard per sé. As many of you will know by now, Ireland were successful in the bid to host the World Masters Mountain Race this coming September. There will be a great opportunity for all to take the course on a test drive on June 19th to be known as ‘ The Great Irish Run (registration on www.imra.ie) before committing and signing up for the big event itself on September 3rd. To participate in the event there are no qualifications and the only restriction lies is that you must be over the age of 35 and under 80, be familiar with mountain running, competitive over 10k and very fit.
So if you’re willing to back yourself, we are ready to back you and we would only love to see a flood of green jerseys on the trail. Event details can be found on the website https://www. wmmrch2022.ie/.
ADULT TRAINING
Adult training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the community field IN Galbally from 7pm to 8pm. Newbies are always welcome, so should you have an interest in joining us at our training sessions, please message us via our social media page Mooreabbey Milers AC and we will point your running shoes in the right direction.