Week ending Saturday 29th March
Memorable International Debut by Lily Walsh
Lily Walsh made her International debut last Saturday in Falkirk, Scotland, representing Ireland and Loreto College at the SIAB International Schools Cross Country in Callendar Park. Racing with the Irish Junior girls team against teams from Scotland, Wales and England, it was a debut to remember.
The race covered two laps of an undulating 1,500m loop which, although spectator friendly, proved testing for the athletes taking in hills, soft uneven ground and even passed through a dry riverbed twice on each lap. Lily and three Irish team mates chased the English girls who took an early lead and dominated for most of the race. Into the last kilometre, the Irish quartet began catching the English athletes and opened a big gap on the Scottish and Welsh squads behind. Finishing completely exhausted in thirteenth place, the fourth Irish scorer in a team of eight, Lily spared nothing to help secure second team place for Ireland behind eventual winners England, and ahead of Scotland and Wales, to win a team silver medal on a memorable International debut.
Making the trip to Scotland even more memorable for Lily was having the support of her grandparents there on race day, where her grandmother, Geraldine Walsh, had herself twice represented Ireland at the same venue. Now that Lily has made her International debut for Ireland, her name will be added to the International Roll of Honour in the Clubhouse, the one hundred and thirty first name on the marble wall plaque. Lily’s name on the plaque makes a nice bit of Club history, as she joins her father Colm and grandmother Geraldine, the first time we have three generations from one family [CW].
National 10k title for Jack O’Leary
The National 10k was incorporated in the annual Dunboyne 10k last Sunday morning, which added an extra element of competition to what is already a very competitive race. Starting on a narrow country road on the edge of the town, it took quite some time for the more than 1,400 runners to clear the start line, but no problem for the Mullingar squad, led by Jack O’Leary who was up at the front and charged from the gun to set a fast early pace. David McGlynn (Waterford AC) led for large parts but with 2k to go and with what looked like a commanding lead, the chasing pack led by Jack started to reel David back and finally caught him in the final kilometre to finish incredibly strong to take the National title in a time of 29:15, ten seconds clear. Following Jack in was Andy Nevin (32:34), Kevin Moore (32:46) and Dan Morris (33:13) and the men combined to place a very creditable sixth Club.
The Mullingar women had a small but strong team on the start line, all of them in good racing form following some great results on the roads recently. Claire Fagan and Elizabeth Carr raced hard from the gun, pushing on throughout the race to finish well up in the high quality women’s field. Claire led the team home in eighth place with a very fast time of 34:06. Elizabeth was next home in fifteenth place, finishing strongly with a new personal best of 34:44. Sinead Whitelaw completed the Senior women team, putting in a solid performance to finish in 37:48. This Mullingar team finished a very well deserved second Club in the National Senior Championships, a great result in a very competitive team race. Sinead also took home a silver medal in her master category, as did Mary Stuart who ran very well to finish in 40:21 and claim second place in her master category.
Also competing strongly in Dunboyne was Ian McCormack (33:39), Johnny Morrissey (34:31) and Kris Foster (34:48). In the “Battle of the Eddies”, finishing in 36:36 was enough for Eddie Newman to win the gold in his master category, with Eddie Lynch (37:50) winning bronze in the same category. They were followed in by Tommy Byrne (40:36), Pauric Brady (41:15) and Dean Keogh (42:59), all racing hard to the finish.
The next outing planned for our senior and master women and men squads is the National Road Relays and we’re hoping to enter strong teams to compete for National honours. Please let Ian McCormack and Sinead Whitelaw if you wish to be entered on teams [SW/IMcC/GD].
AON Mullingar Half Marathon
On a cool but dry St. Patrick’s Day morning, the 10th edition of the AON Mullingar Half Marathon was held. As it was sell-out some weeks before the race, it was no surprise that the biggest entry in the ten years of the race, over 1,500 runners, made their way to the start line on Pearse Street for the 10am start. Seeing the race grow year and year is a terrific boost and a fantastic fundraising success for charity partner TEAM (Temporary Emergency Accommodation Mullingar).
For Mullingar Harriers, it was our biggest participation yet, with 75 finishers, 42 of them recording best times for the distance, and a big number of the brilliant pacers were also club athletes. The race followed the usual route, out the Delvin Road past St. Loman’s Hospital and across the bypass, turning right and on to Curraghmore, then heading on through Marlinstown Bog and Wooddown before emerging from Greatdown and up “heartbreak hill” to cross over the N4, before heading on to the Canal path. Coming off the Canal just after Saunders Bridge, the final stretch took the runners along Millmount Road before turning into the town park for the finish. This was a superbly organised event, with road closures, top class stewarding and something for everyone on the roads and streets around Mullingar to enjoy on St Patrick’s Day.
First Harrier to finish was Dan Morris in a fine sixth place in 1:12:38, ahead of James Keegan seventh in 1:14:27, and with Tony Doran (1:16:23) and Paulius Patackas (1:17:18) both finishing in the top twenty, the men team finished first Club. Elizabeth Carr won the women’s race in 1:16:21, almost seven and a half minutes clear of the second place woman and with Mary Stuart (1:27:59) winning her master category, Orlaith Flanagan (1:29:10) and Orla McLaughlin (1:31:37) making up the women team, the Mullingar women finished first Club.
Also competing was Paul O’Reilly (1:19:38), Alan Crowley (1:20:03), Eddie Newman (1:20:04) first in his master category, Enda O’Carolan (1:21:10), Steven Underwood (1:23:44), Paul McCool Junior (1:25:17), Ciaran Mulkerrins (1:25:52), Kieran Nolan (1:26:03), Enda Seery (1:26:04), Darren Carroll (1:26:15), John Gallagher (1:26:33), Dara O’Shea (1:27:45), Mick Fagan (1:27:54), Joseph Doherty (1:29:16), Thomas Gilligan (1:29:19), Kieran Dodrill (1:31:07), Jason McKevitt (1:31:50, Declan Claffey (1:32:07), Aeilish McGovern (1:32:14), Aisling Corcoran (1:32:25), Aideen Tansey (1:33:27), John Long (1:33:45), Liam McGlynn (1:33:31) third in his master category, Tom Byrne (1:33:43), Colm Walsh (1:34:11), Conor Corcoran (1:34:14), Orla Gillespie (1:35:06), Mark Geoghegan (1:35:29), Brian Collentine (1:36:10), Zane Smukste (1:36:39), Sharon O’Dowd (1:37:02), John McNamara (1:37:34), Paul Ginnell (1:37:57), Joe Curley (1:38:01), Lee Bracken (1:38:01), Eva McMorrow Byrne (1:38:18), Barry White (1:38:26), Colm Brennan (1:38:27), Julie McLaughlin (1:38:29), Shaun Mills (1:39:27), Laura Fitzpatrick (1:40:00), Richard Carey (1:41:37), Caroline Mullen (1:43:35), Brendan Rice (1:43:40), Leona Behan (1:44:13), Grainne Feely (1:44:59), Jane Creevy (1:45:18), Ciara Dillon (1:48:45), Paul Plunkett (1:49:27), Elaine Scally (1:49:32), Martin Fitzpatrick (1:49:47), Martin Mullen (1:52:15), Michelle O’Halloran (1:52:34), Catherine Gavin (1:53:38), Ray Smyth (1:53:46), Kate Plunkett (1:53:47), Marie Louise Johnston (1:54:08), Matt Johnston (1:54:09), Joan Mulvihill (1:56:03), Emer Savage (1:56:48), Mairtin Savage (1:56:48), John Keane (1:56:34), Aine Kane (1:57:07), Matt Creagh (1:59:18), Declan Costello (2:05:03), Sorcha Hennessy Silke (2:08:33) and Marna Groenewald (2:10:26) [MO’S/GD].
Mullingar youngsters win plenty of medals in Athlone
Mullingar had a good squad of nearly forty underage athletes at the Athlone AC Invitational Indoors in Athlone last Sunday. Competing against athletes from Athlone AC and Clubs from County Roscommon in a low-key very friendly event, this was ideal for newcomers and especially our members that were too young to compete in the recent Leinster Indoors. They could choose two events from sprint, middle distance, long jump, shot putt or foam javelin, and high jump and every one of them thoroughly enjoyed the competition. Very many won medals – too many to mention by name – some more than one, but medals won or not, they all competed with great enthusiasm and were delighted to compete at the state-of-the-art Indoor Arena in Athlone. Congratulations to everyone that took part and well done to their coaches for having them well prepared to give their best on the day. Thanks also to the parents for bringing their children to the event, especially those that volunteered to help on the day, because without volunteers an event like this can’t happen [GD].
Streets of Portlaoise 5k
Competing in a big entry of just over 1,000 for the Streets of Portlaoise 5k on St. Patrick’s Day and enjoying the fast race through the town, a small Mullingar Harriers contingent was led home by Timmy Murphy in 15:36 to place twelfth, ahead of John Ryan in fifteenth place in 15:55. Kris Foster recorded a time 16:40 and Ian McCormack was just behind Kris in 16:42. Linda Cunningham completed the course in 21:58 and Claire Lennon Gavin came home in 24:06 [MO’S/GD].
April Committee Meeting
The April meeting of the committee will be held next Tuesday 1st April in the Clubhouse at 8.20pm after training. There’s a full agenda and a full attendance is requested.
Sympathy
Finally, the Executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to extend sincere sympathy to Darren Carroll and the entire Carroll family on the recent death of his grandfather, Joe, great grandfather to Fae and Finley. May Joe rest in peace.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
PRO
