Week ending Saturday 30th April
Mullingar team and individual success at Leinster 10 Mile
Always a firm favourite on the road race calendar, last held in 2019 and cancelled since then due to Covid, the Raheny Shamrock AC “Battle of Clontarf” 10 mile returned last Easter Monday to St. Anne’s Park in Raheny where more than 300 runners toed the line under clear blue skies, ideal conditions for running. The race incorporated the Leinster 10 Mile Championship, adding to the interest and competitive edge of the race. The course was two laps of the park, which remained open to other users, but Raheny Shamrock AC made sure there were plenty of stewards around the course to keep the course clear for the runners and in fact many runners remarked after that the casual users of the park made excellent spectators as they cheered the runners along, adding to the atmosphere.
While the course in the park was flat, there were lots of corners and tight bends to negotiate, making it tougher than expected, or “very technical”, as described by Pauric Brady, to borrow a favourite description from the World of cycling. That said, all the Mullingar athletes turned in solid performances, the men finishing third senior Club and four of them also winning individual medals in their master categories.
Eddie Newman and Gerard Gavin raced each other all the way and it was only in the final stages that Eddie managed to pull clear and finish in 58:48, sixteenth overall and first in his master category, just ahead of Gerard one place behind in 59:04, taking the bronze for third in his master category. Next home was Alan Crowley in 60:49, and while initially disappointed not to break the sixty minute mark, was delighted to learn that he had finished third in his master category and with Eddie and Gerard, the Mullingar men finished third senior Club. Finishing strong and fast and leaving nothing behind was Pauric Brady (62:17), Patrick Muldoon (64:30), Stephen Naughton (65:11) delighted to place third in his master category, Enda Seery with a personal best of 66:29, Liam McGlynn (70:18) also making a careful return to racing after an absence due to injury, Siobhan Farry (76:40) and Gemma Kelly (80:03). The master team of Pauric, Patrick and Enda finished a very creditable fifth Club.
Congratulations to all the Mullingar athletes on their efforts in what was an excellent Leinster Championship race.
Juvenile T&F Meeting
The weather was absolutely fabulous last Sunday morning when we held the Mullingar Harriers Juvenile Spring T&F Meeting at the Club grounds under clear blue skies. Competition was for 8 to 14 years of age across four events per age group – sprint, middle distance, long jump and turbo javelin – and most of the youngsters took part in all four events, many of them getting a chance to try a new event for the first time, especially the field events, something which is a bit of a novelty to many of them. Best of all, there was a different podium in the age groups for all four events, which means many of the boys and girls who rarely get medals for running picked up something for their effort. Medals won or not, everyone enjoyed the event where the focus was very much on fun and it was great to see the various groups moving between events enjoying the chance to spend more time to chat together than they can at training.
Many thanks to all the Club officials and coaches and parents that turned up in great number to set up the grounds in advance, to help with warm ups, starts, finish judging, measuring long jump and javelin, recording results, presenting medals, manning the refreshments tables and all the other jobs needed to hold such an event. It was great to see so many Club members and extended family come out to help on the day and having so many parents mingling together helps create Club community too.
Thanks to all the boys and girls that took part and to their parents for bringing them. Thanks also for the generous donations of buns, cakes, soft drinks, tea and coffee, especially to Stephen Bell of Bell Lane Coffee Limited.
Given the success, this is an event that we plan to repeat again, so watch this space!
A truly memorable trip for the Colaiste Mhuire team
Very well done to the Colaiste Mhuire team that finished sixth of thirteen teams at the World Schools Cross Country Championships held in Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia last Sunday morning. Due to a change in local weather conditions, the planned cross country course was deemed unsafe, so the boys swapped spikes for runners and ran 5k on trails that were a mix of gravel and asphalt paths, not unlike the woodland trails in Belvedere, so familiar terrain for the Mullingar boys. However, Štrbské Pleso is 1,370m above sea level and it was very cold, below freezing, but the boys coped extremely well in the challenging conditions. Having a storming race, Diarmuid Fagan led the Colaiste Mhuire team home in a terrific eighteenth place, followed closely by Ross Killalea, then with Conor Sherwin, Pablo Lozano and Tadhg Sheridan running strongly and packing well in support, the team finished sixth, behind the teams from Turkey, England, Mexico, France and Morocco. Meanwhile, Conor Liston was deemed underage for the main race and ran in a separate selection race, where he ran well and finished well up. This was definitely an absolutely wonderful opportunity and experience for the Colaiste Mhuire team.
Mullingar 10 Mile launched
The Mullingar 10 mile road race will take place in Dalystown, Mullingar on Sunday 24th July. The event was launched last week and entries are now open. We expect most of the adult members that aren’t running to take part, so don’t delay booking your place in this important fundraiser for the Club.
May Committee Meeting
The May meeting of the committee will be held next Tuesday 3rd May in the Club house at 8.15pm after training. There’s a big agenda, so a full attendance is required.
Sympathy
Finally, the Executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to express sincere sympathy to Marina and Ken Daly and the entire Daly family on the death of their father, Frank Daly RIP, shortly before Easter. Marina and Ken ran for Mullingar Harriers from its earliest days. Marina won the All-Ireland Schools title in 1983 and such was her class, her record time lasted nearly 30 years and was only bettered a few years ago; 1983 was also the year she made her International debut and her name can be found on the Club’s International Roll of Honour in the Clubhouse. Frank was a member of one of the Club’s first master squads and off the track, he was a very committed, valuable and long serving member of the Committee. May he rest in peace.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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