Ethiopian Tonosa runs red-hot in chilly Duhallow
ETHIOPIAN Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin) shook off the arctic blues to retain his Ayrton Group Duhallow 10-mile Road Race at a bitterly cold Newmarket. Sleet and an icy wind may have conspired against best times yet there was no stopping Tonosa and impressive ladies winner Aoife Cooke from Youghal AC.
Twenty-four old Tonosa is no stranger to North Cork after powering to victory in the inaugural Duhallow 10 miler last season and followed up to add the Newmarket 5 in December. Again, Tonosa meant business in search of the €500 first prize yet it took a massive effort to deny some of the best athletes from Ireland and beyond.
Run over a flat and fast course, Tonosa alongside Kevin Munsell (Clonmel) were amongst the front runners in the initial thrus, at the five mile mark, the battle at the head raged between leader Munsell and Tonosa. But when required, Tonosa upped the tempo on a dash to brush the tape in impressive fashion in a marvellous time of 52 minutes 19 seconds, well ahead of Munsell on 55.11 with the fast finishing Michael McMahon (Raheny Shamrock) only two seconds adrift.
Also in the places were Sean O’Sullivan (Riocht) followed by Niall O’Riordan (An Brú) and Ciaran Carr (Newbridge).
Popular visitor to Duhallow, Aoife Cooke (Youghal) demonstrated her talents to take a decisive victory in the senior ladies category. Though the icy wind cut through the Newmarket to Rockchapel thoroughfare, there was no stopping Cooke’s intensity, her powerful drive delivered a record breaking ladies course record of 56.45minutes.
Leevale pair Claire McCarthy and Michelle Finn filled runner up and third places followed home by Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane) and Lorraine Bolster (Mallow).
Race co-ordinators Duhallow AC were thrilled with the outcome and at a subsequent post-race presentation, organisers commended participants, sponsors, helpers and members on contributing to a hugely successful staging. Apart from the big walk, the public got involved, a 4km walk incorporated, proceeds from the staging went towards the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association.
“No massive staging can function without sponsorship, the organisers would like to extend a huge thanks to those that made it possible to generate an attractive prize fund with special thanks to main sponsor Ayrton,” he said.
For any public or sporting event, safety is a priority, Duhallow AC expressing thanks to Newmarket Garda Sergeant Dan Murphy and his colleagues for devising a traffic management on approach roads into Newmarket in addition to Ambulance and Red Cross outlets.
RESULTS
Men
1. H Tonosa (DSD) 52.19; 2 K Munsell (Clonmel) 55.11; 3 M McMahon (Raheny Shamrocks) 55:13; 4 S O’Sullivan (An Riocht) 56.40; 5 N O’Riordan (An Brú) 57.01; 6 C Carr (Newbridge) 57.10; 7 V Foley (Eagle) 57.12; 8 A O’Brien (Eagle) 57.27; 9 M Buckley (Togher) 57.44; 10 J Feery (Clonmel) 57.47.
Women
1 A Cooke (Youghal) 56.45; 2. C McCarthy (Leevale) 57.22; 2 M Finn (Leevale) 57.58; 4 S O’Doherty (Borrisokane) 60:13; 5 L Bolster (Mallow) 66:06; 6 L Wolfe (North Cork) 68.53.