Galway 5k
Series
The 2019 Galway 5km Series finished Tuesday last in
Kilcornan, with 600 athletes completing the final race of the series despite
the unseasonal conditions. Visitor Matt Coffey competing with Castlegar AC was
first home, in 16.31, ahead of Cathal O’Reilly of Loughrea AC in second in
16.43, and Kevin Moore third home in 16.47.
First lady with her debut win in the series, was Edel
Kelly of Athenry AC in a time of 19.38, with second home Yvonne Fehily, also of
Athenry and third Aine O’Farrell, thus making it a clean sweep for the Athenry
ladies.
Galway Athletics would like to thank sponsors Windsor
Motors, all the clubs who hosted the six events and those 1,000 athletes who
took part over the last six weeks of racing.
Galway Senior, Masters and Junior Track and FieldChampionships
The final day of The Galway Senior, Masters and Junior
Track and Field Championships was held last Thursday with another full
programme of events, and it featured two incredible performance s from Claire
Fagan over 10,000m and Tommy Farragher in the Hammer
Claire Fagan of Mullingar Harriers put on a superb
display of distance running to win the Ladies 10,000m at the Galway Track and
Field championships and in doing so she clocked a superb European U23
qualifying standard of 36.01 with a gritty and determined performance in front
of an enthralled crowd. Fagan will now look forward to the European U23 Championships
in Sweden this summer.
The hugely talented Gerry Ryan of Craughwell AC made
an amazing comeback to the sport winning the Men’s 10000m,beating all comers to
clock 33.25 for victory in a new National masters record, with Mark Davis also Craughwell in second and
Shane Begley of Castlegar AC third.
Tommy Farragher of Corofin AC also starred on the
night, setting a new Irish Hammer record of 43.87 metres at over 70 level and
his prior throw also broke the previous record. Brendan Staunton won the Men’s
senior competition, with Leone Hegarty of Tuam AC taking gold in the Ladies
section
Gavin Cooney of Craughwell AC won the Mile in 4.52,
with a front running performance, while Ailbhe Miskella also Craughwell AC was
first lady home.
The Craughwell AC team won the League element of the three-day
competition led by manager Michael Tobin
Sarah Quinn of NUIG and GCH Junior athlete Robert
McDonnell won the 120m sprint time trials, with Robert Meagher and Nicole Walsh
both GCH, winning the 300m event
Connacht Juvenile Track and Field
Championships
The Connacht Juvenile Track and Field Championships were
held last Saturday in a packed Dangan, at the Regional Sports Centre track. The
events featured the U9 to 11 pairs competitions, and the U12 and U 13
individual events.
Galway had several medal winners on the day, firstly
in the U9 Pairs competition as Rhys Costello and Dean Garvey of Tuam AC won the
U9 Boys 60m title. The Craughwell pair of Darragh O’Donnell and James Niland
won the 300m distance race at U9 level.
In the U10 events, Cian McGinn and Eanna McGrath of
Tuam AC took gold in the 500m track race.
At U11 level, the Craughwell pairing of Kai Watters and
Jack Cahill won the 60m sprint gold. Cahill also starred for Craughwell in the
600m race, winning gold with clubmate Stephen Joyce.
In the U11 Girls events, Hazel Fahy and Hannah McGrath of Loughrea AC won gold medals in the 500m distance event.
In the relays, Tuam AC won double gold in the younger
age groups, taking Connacht titles in the U10 Boys and U11 Girls events, while
Craughwell AC took gold in the U11 Boys relay
At U12 level, Angela Cielecka of GCH won the Girls 60m
sprint with a fast 8.94, while JJ Oifoh of Tuam AC made it a Galway double in
claiming the Boys 60m title. In the field, Keevagh Barry of Craughwell AC won
the Long Jump with a best of 4.27 metres, with clubmate Sean Hoade claiming the
U12 Boys title
Emma O’Donovan of Craughwell AC and Ciaran O’Donnell
of Tuam were victorious in the High Jump, while Ruby Casey of East Galway
powered to victory with a big throw of 7.67 metres to win the Girls Shot Putt.
In the U12 relays, Craughwell AC girls and Tuam AC Boys teams won Connacht gold
In the U13 events, Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC
continues to stand out, winning an incredible triple individual gold in the
Boys events in the 80m Sprint, Hurdles and Long Jump. Fahy also won a relay gold
medal and will look forward now to the upcoming All Irelands. There were strong
medal winning performances behind him for Galway athletes such as Ronan Duggan and
Richard McGrath of GCH, on the track.
Ella Farrelly of Craughwell AC was another who hugely impressed,
winning a hat trick of golds at U13 level, emerging victorious in the U13 Girls
80m sprint, the 60m Hurdles and the Long Jump.
Darragh Kelly of Craughwell won gold in the High Jump and silver in Long Jump, while Danielle Moynihan of Tuam AC won U13 Girls gold in the High Jump. In the throws,
In the Relays, Tuam AC Girls and the Loughrea AC Boys
teams stormed home to win their respective Connacht titles at U13 level.
Day two of the Connacht championships will be held on
Saturday 15th June in Sligo IT with The U14-19 Juvenile events and the adult
championships taking place
Irish Milers Club
Several Galway athletes competed on Saturday at the Le
Chéile International in Leixlip where Irish athletes took on a team of athletes
from Great Britain in a series of graded races.
Nicole Walsh of GCH ran a season's best of 55.63 to
claim silver in the Ladies ' A' 400m and clubmate Laura Nally ran a 57. 76 personal
best to take bronze in the same race. Jack Dempsey of the city club clocked an
impressive 10.89 in the 100m in a great return to form as did GCH’s Rob Meagher
who clocked 11.05 for 100m to take second in his race. Maebh Brannigan
continued her good form and took silver in the 800m in 2.20.
Keith Fallon also of GCH continues to impress over
800m this year with a 4th place finish in 1.55, just ahead of Craughwell’s Jack
Miskella who set a new best of 1.57.5.
Clifden 10k
The Clifden 10k was held Sunday last on a testing
circuit around the West Galway town and first home was Michael Canty of Moy
Valley AC, ahead of Malachy Wolohan and Niall Murphy, both of GCH
Portumna
Forest Marathon races
The annual Portumna Forest 10k, Half Marathon, Full
Marathon, 50k and 100k series of races were held last Saturday in the scenic
surrounds of Portumna Forest park.
David Murray clocked a fast time of 1 hour 14 minutes to
take first place in the Portumna forest half marathon, while Linda Grogan was
first lady home in the Half in 1.26.
The full marathon over 26.2 miles was won by Gary
Byrne in 2.55, with Helen Hartnett first lady in 3.30
The 50k victory went to Stephen Connon in 3 hours 32
minutes, with Colette O'Donoghue was first lady home while the
gruelling 100k event was won by Laszlo Barcokski in 8 hours 51 minutes with Deirdre
Lynn first lady home
Ed Maher won the 10 k in 36.45, with Madeline Doyle
first woman home.
Masters Records
Loughrea AC athlete Mary Barrett was in record
breaking form last weekend, competing in the Leinster Masters last weekend in
Tullamore she set a new Irish Over 60 Shot Putt and Discus record. Barrett
smashed both of those marks again on Sunday last at the Munster Masters in
Templemore throwing the Shot out to 9.87m a new record, set a new Discus record
of 23.74m and a High Jump record for good measure
Fixtures
Killeeneen NS 5k
A busy week of road races kicks off with the annual
Killeeneen National School 5krace,which will be held next Thursday, 13th June at
7pm. The5km race will route onto a looped flat surface in Killeeneen near Craughwell.
This event has something for everyone with a 5km Run, 2.5km Walk and Junior 1km
challenge. The event is AAI measured and Permit
approved and entry is €18, while race headquarters is at Killeeneen
National School, Co Galway
Bullaun NS
8k
The Bullaun 8k is an AAI approved race, and will take
place for the 5th consecutive year on Friday evening next, June 14th at 7.30pm.
The course is a fast loop, on closed roads in the countryside. The event will
also include a 5k walk and 1k kids run. Registration will open at 5
pm on Friday June 14th at Bullaun National School, with the start 500 metres
away at Turoe Pet Farm. Registration is €15 at active.com.
Ballinderry
NS 5k
The Ballinderry NS 5k race takes place Sunday, 16th
June, next at 1pm .Race Registration will take place in Ballinderry National
School from 11am on the morning of the race. The race starts at Gills Pub,
Ballinastack, Ballyglunin, Co Galway at 1pm, and is AAI permitted and timed.
Prize giving and the legendary local refreshments will be available in
Ballinderry National School. All proceeds go to the extending of
Ballinderry National School.
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