Delaney Trophy for Mullingar Harriers Ladies Team

The Bord na Mona Tullamore Harriers AC Half Marathon, incorporating the Leinster Championships, was the major road racing event at the weekend. The half marathon started from the Tullamore Harriers Stadium, taking in a scenic route through Mucklagh, Killurin and Cloonagh before finishing with a lap of the stadium track. The course is best described as undulating.

With the entire country enjoying a belated summer’s day of warm sunshine, there was a downside for the athletes. The Mullingar Harriers competing, and several others, remarked on the difficulty caused by the heat, several having to slow and take in extra hydration in the latter stages of the race.

It was a successful event for the 37 Mullingar Harriers athletes who were part of a huge field of 1162 finishers. Pride of place to our ladies team of Mary Stuart 1:29:56, Criona Reid 1:32:33, Jacintha Reilly 1:33:13, and Aisling Corcoran 1:34:25, who combined to win the coveted Phyllis Delaney Trophy for the first ladies team.

Mary, Criona and Jacintha also took gold for first ladies team in the Leinster Ladies Club Championships. There was further success for the quartet when they took silver along with Therese Hughes 1:27:49 and Monika Dealmedia 1:36:47, both of Athlone AC, in the Leinster County category.

Our ladies F50 team took bronze in the club category; Caroline Mullen 1:47:16, Michelle O’Halloran 1:52:21, and Anna Redmond 2:05:09, while Caroline combined with Lisa O’Rourke 1:38:59 and Julie Maguire 1:46:57, both of Athlone AC, to take bronze in the F50 county category.

Mary Stuart won golds in her individual category and in her Leinster category. Criona Reid won gold in her individual Leinster category. Marie Louise Johnson was third in her Leinster category.

Our male team took bronze in the club category, with Eddie Newman 1:20:19, Eoin Clarke 1:20:41, Alan Crowley 1:21:24 and Tony Doran 1:22:37. In the Leinster championship, the same three combined to take bronze in the M35 category.

A silver medal for the second M50 club in Leinster went to Mullingar Harriers, with Gerard Gavin 1:23:39, James Cribben 1:27:11 and Mark Geoghegan 1:28:57. The bronze medal for M35 county went to Westmeath with Eddie, Eoin, Allan and Gerard joined by Jim Whelehan 1:19:40 from Coralstown Kinnegad AC and Sebastian Soklowski 1:20:49 from Athlone AC.

There was gold for Eddie and Gerry, who combined in the County M50 category with Jim Whelehan and David Watson 1; 26:19 from Athlone AC. Eddie Newman won golds in his individual category and in his Leinster category. Gerrard Gavin was a silver medal winner in his Leinster category.

Our other athletes to compete in Tullamore were – Ollie Geoghegan 1:24:54, Enda Seery 1:28:55, Darren Carroll 1:28:55, Dara O’Shea 1:29:26, Tommy Byrne 1:31:22, Evan McCormack 1:32:39, Enda O’Carolan 1:33;14, Kieran Dodrill 1:38:04, Mark Dunne 1;38:53, John Long 1:38:52, Therese Glynn 1:38:41, John McNamara 1:40:33, Marie Louise Johnston 1:41:42, Linda Cunningham 1:43:14, Zane Smukste 1:43:37, Gemma Kelly 1:44:42, Lorraine Claffey 1:45:10, Brendan Rice 1:51:50, Michelle O’Halloran 1:51:38, Ray Smyth 1:57:59, Martin Mullen 2:00;41, Kevin O’Brien 2:02:36, Rodney Farry 2:03:05 and Joan Mulvihill 2:05;24.

Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run

Over the weekend, Breast Cancer Ireland ran their annual Very Pink Runs at Leopardstown Racecourse. Further events in Kilkenny and Cork will follow. Five members from Mullingar Harriers enjoyed the atmosphere and all aspects of the 5k at Leopardstown on Saturday morning, while raising funds for the vital work of Breast Cancer Ireland. Some 5,000 ran the 5k at midday on Saturday including Joanna Tyrrell, Marna Groenewald, Michelle Kavanagh, Ger Langtry and Pauline Troy from Mullingar Harriers. After the run, they made their way to the Forty Foot for a dip in the sea and had a most enjoyable evening.

Cross country season beckons

It’s September and there only a few weeks to the start of the cross country season. Our juveniles continue their preparations on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the club, as well as Sunday mornings at Belvedere. The adult group commence their cross-country training at Belvedere from this Saturday morning. Details next week on the upcoming cross country events later in September.

Fit4Life returns

Preparations are under way for the autumn programme of fit4life from Monday 23 September. The programme gives beginners and those returning to running an opportunity over 12 Monday evenings to develop their fitness and get valuable coaching from our trained coaches. Further details will be available in the next week on our website and on club noticeboard.

Sympathy

The executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to extend sincere sympathy to Aeilish McGovern and Eithne Clinton and their families on the passing of their father-in-law Eddie Clinton RIP.

Check the club website at mullingarharriers.com or and Facebook page for all the latest news.