Week ending Saturday 12th August
Gold for Whitelaw and Connolly as Westmeath Road Championships return
The 2023 Westmeath Road Championships took place in overcast conditions at Grange last Wednesday evening. A day of showers gave way before the start, and while a tricky head wind added to the challenge for athletes, particularly on the C-Link Road section, a competitive race saw some regular podium finishers mix in with newcomers to honours. In the ladies’ 6k race Sinead Whitelaw led from start to finish and powered home in an impressive 22 minutes 24 seconds to take gold. Jacintha Reilly ran a very controlled pace and was rewarded with her first Championship medal, taking silver in 23:53. Mary Stuart continued her excellent form across a range of distances winning bronze in 25:02.
The senior men’s 6k race saw James Keegan stretch out into a commanding lead over the first circuit before being reined in gradually by Vinny Connolly at the 5k mark. Vinny pushed on in the closing stages opening a gap of 11 seconds by the finish to claim gold in 19 minutes 58 seconds, with James taking silver in a time of 20:09, and Kris Foster was a worthy winner of the bronze medal in 20:58.
In the master categories, it was master women o/35 gold for Michelle Bohan in 25:09, with silver going to Clare Gavin in 30:24. The o/40 category was won by Aeilish McGovern in 26:38, silver going to Ciara Dillon (22:23) and bronze to Eva Ross (29:24). Linda Cunningham was the gold medallist in the o/45 category in 27:27, silver going to Marie Louise Johnston and bronze to Naomi Battle with a finishing time of 29:15. Criona Reid continued her excellent recent form taking gold in the o/50 category in 26:45. Aisling Lane combined race walking and some running to win gold in the Junior category.
The master men categories saw Enda Seery take the honours in o/35 with 22:58, followed by Tommy Byrne on 23:40 for silver and bronze to John McNamara with a time of 28:24. In the o/40 category Alan Crowley came home for gold with 21:15, silver went to Patrick Muldoon in 23:34 with Darren Carroll earning a bronze with 24:17. The o/45 gold went to Enda O’Carolan on 21:53, silver to Kieran Nolan with a time of 22:33 and bronze to Colm Walsh with 24:56. Gerry Gavin picked up gold in the o/50 category with a time of 21:39. The o/55 category was won by Eddie Newman in 22:29, silver went to Tom McGrath (23:01) and bronze to Liam McGlynn (25:53). John Bannon struck gold in the o/60 category with a time of 27:53, the o/65 winner was Nollaig McEntegart in 27:26, with silver to Pat Muldoon (30:05). Sean McMullin was the gold medal winner in the o/70 category with a time of 32:48 and Jim Langan took silver with 42:50.
The other finishers on Wednesday evening were John Whitelaw (21:24), Padraig Beglin (23:23), Martin O’Donnell (23:48), Murty Hanly (24:45), Dara O’Shea (25:16), Niamh McEntegart (25:43), JP O’Brien (25:46), Paul Ginnell (26:41), Orla McLoughlin (26:43), Laura Geoghegan (26:54), Ciaran Muldowney (26:54), Martin Fitzpatrick (26:56), Mark Dunne (27:25), Therese Glynn (27:37), John Meagher (27:39), Aisling Farrell (28:48), Brendan Rice (28:52), John Donohoe (28:58), Eoin Clarke (29:17), Kevin O’Brien (31:08), Richard Ferris (32:10) and Shilpa Finnegan (37:40).
Medal presentations took place after the race in the Clubhouse, with refreshments provided by the athletes. Some excellent baking skills were evident and a most enjoyable after race get together was enjoyed by all present.
Presentation to North Westmeath Hospice
Our Club Treasurer Joanna Tyrrell presented a cheque for €2,000 to John Shaw, Chairperson of North Westmeath Hospice, the proceeds from the recent Pat Finnerty Memorial 5k series held in Belvedere in May.
The George Bell Memorial Seat
Members of the Bell family were present for the unveiling of the George Bell Memorial Seat, located at the bottom of the finishing straight. They were joined by founder members John Mulvihill, Bobbie Begley and Seamus Gibney, along with some other active members of the Club, prior to the presentation of the medals for the Westmeath Road Championships.
BuildMore Offaly Race Series
The final race in the Offaly 5k series was held in Birr last Friday night. Mullingar Harriers were in contention for a team prize going into the race. On the night we had 6 athletes taking part. The race around the historical town of Birr just finished ahead of some very heavy rain, in overcast and humid conditions. First home for Mullingar Harriers was Kieran Nolan in 17 minutes 59 seconds, which gave him third place in his master category. Linda Cunningham led the ladies team home in 21 minutes 56 seconds and with Caroline Mullen finishing fourth in her master category with 22:13 and Brigid McCabe winning her master category with a time of 23:26, the team of Linda, Caroline and Brigid secured third place in the team event. Patricia Broderick (23:53) and Joanna Tyrell (24:10) completed the Mullingar contingent.
Streets of Athboy 5k
In Athboy also last Friday evening, four Mullingar Harriers took part in the 5k race staged around the town and its surrounding roads. It was a flat and fast course with conditions overcast but dry and with a light breeze. James Keegan was second overall in 15 minutes 57 seconds, with Alan Crowley coming home in the top 10 with a fine time of 16:27, This was an agonising 4 seconds behind his master category winner and 2 other athletes just got in ahead of Alan to push him back to fourth by the narrowest of margins. Glenda Shaw ran 18:53 and finished fourth in her master category, with Ann Hall coming home in 19:49, which earned her third place in her master category.
Kilbeggan 10 Mile
This event was run last Sunday morning on part of the old Dublin to Galway Road, from Kilbeggan to Horseleap, where it turns left along country roads to Clara before turning left at the outskirts of the Offaly town and the runners have just under 3k to home, which includes a 200m grass surface finish area in the grounds of Kilbeggan GAA. On a dry overcast morning the conditions proved ideal for distance running. In the senior ladies’ race, Amy Mahony who is home on a short holiday from Canada showed that she is maintaining good running form when finishing third in 1 hour 8 minutes 46 seconds. The other Mullingar Harriers athletes who took part did not achieve a podium finish, but all were pleased with their run as they prepare for Championship races in the coming weeks. Joan Flynn returned in 1:10:03, Kieran Nolan running his third race in 5 days had a fine run coming home in 1:02:37, Alan Crowley ran 1:04:20 and James Cribbin finished in 1:08:46. Martin Fitzpatrick ran 1:14:29, Michelle Bohan 1:16:51, Jenny Algar 1:16:52, Nollaig McEntegart 1:17:23, John Bannon 1:24:43, Catherine Gavin 1:32:20 and Ian Gavin 1:38:59.
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