Mullingar Half Marathon 2018 (17th March)
Harsh conditions for Mullingar Half Marathon
The fourth edition of the Mullingar Half Marathon on St. Patrick’s Day attracted a huge entry of nearly 1,600, of which nearly 1,200 took to the start line and competed, a big increase on last year, so it is an event that continues to go from strength to strength. The event was a fundraiser for TEAM (Temporary Emergency Accommodation Mullingar), a very deserving local cause. To say conditions were harsh is an understatement with temperatures barely above freezing and a strong wind that added a significant wind chill factor, a headwind for the first half and tailwind on the second half, so far from ideal for the runners facing into the 13.1 mile race. Despite the weather, it was great to watch the huge mass of runners fill the street as they made their way from the start, cheered on by a good gathering of hardy supporters. Among the throng were 40 from the Club, though with such a large entry it is easy to miss someone out of the results. Even though it was a charity event, and for most the event was simply a chance to run the distance in company, for some a race is still a race and they ran hard from the start looking to record a good time on a fast mostly flat course.
Race winner was Johnny Daly (Longford Road) in 1:12:21 and first woman was Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin AC) in a very strong 1:18:59. First finisher for Mullingar Harriers was Andrew Nevin in 8th place (1:15:10), followed by Tom McGrath 14th overall and 1st in his master category (1:18:16), Eddie Newman 17th overall and 2nd in his master category (1:19:03), Aidan Daly (1:19:47), Enda O’Carolan (1:21:09), Aine O’Reilly an excellent 42nd overall and finishing third woman (1:23:41), Eoin Clarke (1:23:59), Alan Crowley (1:24:15), James Keegan (1:24:20), Eoghan Bracken (1:26:40), Nollaig McEntegart 1st in his master category (1:26:44), Liam Woods (1:26:59), Enda Seery (1:30:57), Paul Ginnell (1:31:40), Sean Liston (1:31:54), Brian Collentine (1:32:41), Michael O’Sullivan 3rd in his master category (1:37:50), Michelle O’Halloran (1:38:06), Gillian Walsh (1:39:31) expertly paced by husband Mal McDonnell, Aidan Rafferty (1:40:23), Ray Daly (1:41:13), Jane Creevy (1:42:03), Eva McMorrow (1:42:13), Criona Reid (1:43:32), Declan Costello (1:43:34), Colm Walsh (1:43:52), Andy Quinn (1:45:24), Mark Bate (1:45:45), Terri Greene (1:45:54), Brian Boyle (1:46:16), Joanna Tyrrell (1:50:18), Emer O’Hanlon (1:51:34), Richard Ferris (1:53:01), Tommy Archbold (1:53:10), Ruth Greene (1:53:57), Olivia Cooney (1:55:14), Ronan Bracken (1:55:28), Michelle Kavanagh (2:07:08) and PJ Ballesty.
