Good times from Sligo AC in Ballina
SATURDAY was a busy day for Sligo AC runners. A very large group of Sligo AC runners made the trip to the River Moy Half Marathon in Ballina.
The course has a mixture of flat and downhills interspersed with some long drags and short sharp hills as the 550 athletes followed the banks of the River Moy with one mile of the course through the picturesque Belleek Woods.
The race was won by Bantry AC’s Alan O’Shea in 1:08:39, a new course record.
The female winner was Heather Foley of North Sligo in 1:25:49.
Great running by Seamus Somers earned him 4th in 1:15:27.
Bill Carty was 24th in 1:28:44 and 2nd M45 while Karl Boyce’s 1:29:49 made him 3rd M50.
Marie Johnston finished in 1:31:55 and 1st F50 with Rose Young’s 1:57:46 making her the 1st F60.
There were good runs also by Aoife Kilgannon 1:34:18, Shiney Steve Gilgan 1:35:56, Fiona Fahey Gilmartin 1:42:17, Sarah Jane Boyce 1:47:20, Aishling Kennedy 1:47:35, Noreen Joyce 1:48:05, Anne Marie Munnelly 1:52:32, Rachel Dunne 1:54:40, Pauline McLoughlin 1:57:09, Vanessa Foley 1:57:11, Lorena McNicholas 1:58:19, Fiona Boyle 1:58:57, Kieran Dowd 1:59:08, Niamh Kavanagh 2:01:16, Geraldine O Grady 2:02:22, Tara Savage 2:02:55, Fiona Melvin 2:03:29, Emer Kelly 2:04:18 and Aidan Kelly 2:04:57.
Highgate Harriers in North London held their annual Night of the 10,000m PBs on Saturday night. It is certainly a unique night of 10K races with circus entertainment, ‘lactic tunnels of love’, a home straight pedestrian bridge, infield spectating and live music throughout.
The event was screened live on BBC.
There were 3 Women’s races and 6 Men’s and, with an entry standard of sub 32:30, it is certainly an elite level.
It’s a long way from Dromore to Hampstead Heath but Emmett Dunleavy made the trip.
In his race, Emmett ran a great 31:08, not far outside his PB of 30:49.
The event also incorporates the British Championships and the A race was won in a whopping 27:36.