Galway 5km Series
Galway 5km Series leg one winner Sarah Collins of GCH - Picture Credit John O'Connor
Conor Dolan took a commanding victory at the first leg of the 2017 Galway 5km Series in Ballybrit Racecourse on Tuesday last. Dolan clocked 16.33 for the win, ahead of talented Craughwell AC youngster Ben Ryan, in 16.51, and third placer Paddy O'Toole of Westport AC in 16.55. First lady home was Sarah Collins of GCH in 18.30, with Deirdre Brophy of Athenry AC second and Caitriona Cahalan third. There were 747 finishers, a record for the series.
Galway 5km Series leg one winner Conor Dolan of GCH - Picture Credit John O'Connor
Galway County Track and Field Championships
Ben Garrard and Gavin Cooney, Craughwell AC
Galway U19 and Senior 800m Champions 2017
Day One of the 2017 Galway County Track and Field Championships were held Saturday last in Dangan, at NUIG Sports grounds. The event featured county championships for all ages from U13 to U19, at Juvenile level, while at senior level, all distances on the track up to 1500m and all field events were held. The Senior track events over 1500 metres were among the highlights of a packed programme, and the men’s race saw a GCH one two with Jim Phelan showing a blistering turn of pace in the home straight to pip Eamon Hornibrook after a thrilling race. Phelan also took the 200m Senior title, Siobhan Egan took on the 1500m distance for the first time after her recent marathon team victory last October, and stormed to victory in the Ladies event in 5.08, with Sinead Gaffney of Craughwell second and Jean O'Connor of GCH third. At 800m, Ben Garrard of Craughwell won the U18/19 race, while his clubmate Gavin Cooney claimed the senior crown. Sinead Gaffney took ladies senior 800 gold, with Jean O'Connor taking the Masters title. Majella Loftus of GCH took a double victory, winning both the senior ladies 100m, and 200m, while Cillin Greene of GCH took the senior men’s 100m easily. Over 400m, there were wins for Shane Canavan and Nicole King both of GCH at senior level. Shane O'Rourke of Tuam AC won the 110 hurdles, with Ryan McNelis of Athenry AC claiming the 400m hurdles crown.
In the Senior field events, multi eventer Michael Breathnach of GCH won Shot Putt, Weight throw, Discus and Javelin gold, with Barry Rafferty and Rory O'Connor of Tuam taking masters golds in the Shot and WFD, O'Connor also took gold in the M50 Discus and Javelin and Keith Horan of SGAC won the Masters Javelin.
Brendan Staunton of GCH took Senior gold in the Hammer, Shane O Rourke won the High Jump and Long Jump for Tuam AC, Bryan Brennan of South Galway claimed Masters Long jump victory, Justin Lane of Tuam AC won the Triple Jump and Masters Discus and Hammer O35. In the women’s field events, Peggy Higgins of Corofin AC claimed Ladies High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump, and all the throws golds in a clean sweep of the Masters titles.
At Juvenile level, there were huge numbers participating and one of the finest performances of the day came in the U13 Girls category, via a triple gold medal winning effort for Ava McKeon of GCH, who took victory over 80m hurdles, and in the 80m sprint and 600m. The U13 Girls High Jump went to Siofra Davis of Craughwell with her clubmate taking Javelin gold Aoibhe Fahy, while Caoimhe Farrell of Loughrea AC won Long Jump gold. Caitlin Griffin of Loughrea won the Shot putt. In the U13 Boys Evan Hallinan of Craughwell took both High Jump and Long Jump gold, while Liam Shaw of Athenry AC also doubled up, and won Shot Putt and Javelin gold. On the track, there were victories for Evan Hallinan of Craughwell AC, who won his third gold of the day over hurdles, Ross Cosgrove of Tuam AC in the 80m, and Andrew Horan of South Galway AC in the 600m.
At U14 level Emma Moore of GCH secured triple gold in an amazing performance, winning the 80m sprint, the 200m and clocking the fastest 800m of any ladies on the day, a time of 2.29. Isabelle Moynihan of Tuam AC won the sprint hurdles and Roisin Geaney of South Galway AC won the 1500m title and the walk. In the Boys, Conor Hoade of Craughwell Ac won the hurdles, while Luke Dahler of GCH took the 80m and 200m sprint double and Darragh Jennings won the 800m event. Oisin Keane of East Galway AC won 1500m gold after an exciting battle with Ross McGuinness of Craughwell AC. In the U14 Girls field events, the High Jump title went to Saoirse Pearse of Craughwell AC, and there were other Craughwell wins via Rebecca Lynch, in Javelin, in Discus via Olivia Koman and Hammer via Hannah Hynes, with Nicole Quirke of GCH winning the Long Jump and Ella Rafferty of Tuam AC claiming Shot Putt gold. At U14 Boys level Lukas Schukat won both the High Jump and Long Jump titles for Craughwell, the Shot Putt was won by Rian Kearney and there was another Craughwell double win in Javelin and Hammer from Liam McDonagh, while Eoghan Jennings won the Discus
In the U15 events, Aoibheann Farrell of Loughrea won the sprint hurdles, and later took Long Jump gold, and Ellie Cronin of Craughwell AC took the 250m hurdles title. Other winners were Eimear Rowe GCH, who claimed 800m gold, Ava Finn of Craughwell in the 200m, Chloe Farragher of Craughwell won the 100m, and Joanna Healy of GCH took the 1500 title with a fast last lap finish. Corrib AC's Maeve Ford won the 2k Walk and the Shot Putt. In the U15 Girls field section, the High Jump title was won by Ellie Cronin of Craughwell, and her clubmates also were victorious- in the Javelin first place went to Lauren Mc Nally, and Annie de Hora claimed a superb double gold via Hammer and Discus wins. In the U15 Boys Paschal Walsh of Craughwell did the double winning both High and Long Jumps, as did his clubmate Conor Trehy, in winning the Triple Jump and Javelin, while Cian Davis King of Corrib AC won the Shot
In the U15 Boys races, Craughwell's Jack Fitzgerald won the 75m hurdles, and his team mate James Furey won the long hurdles gold. Paschal Walsh of Craughwell won the 100m, Lughaigh Morgan, Craughwell claimed 200m gold and Sean Cotter of Craughwell AC took a double win with 800m and 1500m gold, completing a clean sweep for Craughwell on the track in the U15 Boys events. In the field, Jack Mannion of Tuam AC won High jump gold
At U16/17 level Aoibhe Deeley took two golds home, winning the sprint hurdles and 100m for Athenry AC, as did Soren O'Toole of GCH, taking the 200m gold and 250m hurdles title, while Laoise Geraghty of GCH impressed with another double, with wins in the 400m and 800m. Craughwell's Ciara Sheppard won the 1500m race. In the Field Mieke Kroening of Tuam won the Javelin
In the field at U16/17 Craughwell had wins in the Long Jump via Leanagh Gilligan, the Triple Jump from Eva Whyte, and in the Shot Putt by the throwing phenomenon, Chloe Casey. In the U16/U17 Boys, the High Jump was won by Ryan Gallagher of Craughwell AC, the Triple and Long Jump titles went to Conor Leahy of Loughrea AC, and Eoghan Jennings of GCH won the Javelin and Discus throws
In the Boys track U16/17 events, Samuel Ukaga of Loughrea won the 100m hurdles, Ryan Gallagher of Craughwell took the 250m hurdles, and Robert McDonnell of GCH claimed a super 100m and 200m double, in the sprints. Joseph Maddison of South Galway claimed the 800m title, while Finbarr McFadden of Craughwell AC took 1500m victory in the distance events.
At U18/19 level, GCH’s Aoife Sheehy won the 400m hurdles, and 400m flat, Lydia Doyle of GCH took 100m gold and sprint hurdles glory, her GCH clubmate Laura Nally took the 200m, and Aoife Greene of Ballinasloe and District AC won the 800m
In the U18/19 Boys events, Athenry's Ryan McNelis won the 100m hurdles and Shot Putt, Diego Brule of GCH took 400m hurdles victory, Jack Dempsey of GCH was a clear winner of 100m title, Darren Costello also GCH took 200m gold, 400m, while Ben Garrard of Craughwell was most impressive as he claimed both the 400m and 800m golds
In the U18/U19 Girls field events, Laura Cunningham of Craughwell AC took a hat trick of individual Galway titles in the jumps, winning the High jump, Long jump and Triple jump; with clubmate Aoife Walsh close on her heels with silver in each of the same 3 events. In the U18/19 Boys the High Jump title went to Craughwell international athlete Jerry Keary and Daniel Callanan Forde won in the Long Jump
The always exciting relays saw wins for city club GCH in the U13 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U16 Girls and U17 girls Craughwell claimed in in the U13 Boys, U15 Boys and Girls, and U18/19 Girls and Boys
Day two of the 2017 Championships takes place this weekend, on Sunday May 7th from 10 am, and will feature competition for U8 to U12 age groups.
Craughwell AC athletes Aoife Walsh who won triple silver and Laura Cunningham who claimed triple gold in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at the Galway Track & Field 2017
World Masters Games
The multi-talented Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC came home with a superb three gold medals at the World Masters Games held recently in Auckland New Zealand, claiming victories in the over 55 High Jump, Shot Putt and placed 4th in the Discus competition.
Limerick Marathon
Ciaran Faherty, a recent GCH signing, took a fantastic second place in the Limerick half marathon last Sunday, clocking an excellent 68.30. GCH had two women finish in the top 10 of the Ladies half with Clare Rowe and Neasa De Burca performing well on the day. In the 6 miles’ race,Galway native Tara Whyte of Clonliffe took sixth place, and Jimmy Ward of GCH broke the magic three-hour barrier for the first time in the marathon, running a superb 2.57, a just reward for a very intensive training regime over the last year.
West of Ireland Mini Marathon
Winner Laura Shaughnessy, DSD AC, and Galway , at the West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon. Photo Credit Tomás Greally
Galway athlete Laura Shaughnessy, of DSD AC, won the 8th Annual Western People West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon last Sunday, clocking 35.41 for a clear victory over the 10km course.
Fixtures
Galway Sports Partnership 10k
Labane , Ardrahan hosts the annual Galway Sports Partnership 10k, which will be held next Sunday May 7th at 12 noon
