Week ending Saturday 6th October
Leinster Schools Indoor Pentathlon Title for Shauna Leydon
Competing for Loreto Mullingar in the Intermediate Girls Pentathlon at the Leinster Schools Indoor Combined Events in the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown last Thursday, Shauna Leydon got off to a great start with a new personal best of 9.62 seconds in the opening event, the 60m hurdles. She then added to her points score in the shot putt and long jump but a clearance of 1.50m in the high jump, which was also a new personal best, was good enough to move her into second place overall just 9 points behind the leader heading into the final event, the 800m. Despite the rigours of a long day of competition and knowing that 9 points equates to less than half a second over 800m, Shauna dug deep and found the strength to pull clear in the final stages and win the 800m with distance to spare and increase her points total enough to put her into first place and win the Leinster title.
Linda Conroy makes a winning return to racing
After a number of years away from the racing scene, Linda Conroy made a winning return at the Castletown-Geoghegan 5k last Sunday morning where she finished fifth overall in 19:07, the first woman to finish. Linda Cunningham finished strongly in 23:15 to take the prize for third woman. First man and overall race winner was Gerry Gavin (17:19), ahead of Kieran Nolan second (17:56), Kedagh Geoghegan fourth (18:59) and Ken Whitelaw sixth (19:08) who did a brilliant job pacing Linda to victory. It has been several years since a 5k was held in Castletown-Geoghegan but last Sunday was a successful return of the race to the fixtures calendar and if repeated, is sure to grow in popularity in the years ahead.
Padraig Moran impresses in Rathfarnham
The Rathfarnham 5k last Sunday morning took place around the streets of Rathfarnham and Terenure in Dublin. The first 1.2k is a fast downhill section followed by a climb for about 700m, which leads on to a flat section of the course and as the course is a full loop, the runners get a nice downhill finish over the final kilometre or so. The course is fast and attracted nearly 950 to the start line. The race was won by Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrocks) in 14:29, comfortably clear of second, third and fourth place, and then came a group of four including Padraig Moran who had a fierce battle in the final sprint to the line, Padraig crossing in seventh place in an excellent 15:03.
Very successful Westmeath Schools Cross Country in Belvedere
In contrast to the wet and cold day for the same event last year, the Westmeath Schools Cross Country took place in perfect overcast but mild and dry conditions in Belvedere last Wednesday. As always, the grounds in Belvedere looked beautiful and as the grass was cut very recently, underfoot conditions were absolutely perfect for running. The hard work put in by volunteers from the Club in setting up the course meant that everything was ready on the day. Numbers taking part were well up on last year thanks to the fine day that attracted very big numbers across all ages, particularly in the primary schools races and it was great to see such enthusiasm in the competitors from the youngest first class pupil to the eldest sixth year student, cheered on by a big crowd of teachers and parents. The event continues to be very popular and we hope that competitors and schools will continue to support this excellent event in future years. We are indebted to the many volunteers, members and friends of Mullingar Harriers, who turned up to help officiate and make the day a success.
Thanks to Aine O’Reilly and James Carton who put in Trojan shifts taking turns running as the “rabbit” in the primary schools races, giving all the young competitors a clear person to chase so no one got confused or lost on the course. Sincere thanks also to the Westmeath Civil Defence who were on hand in good numbers to look after any first aid needs with their customary cool calm professionalism. The management and staff at Belvedere House and Gardens were also of great help in organising the day at a venue that is ideal for hosting such an event and the grounds came in for particular praise from the many parents that attended to watch. Finally, our thanks to the teachers and schools for competing in great numbers to ensure that the event continues to be one of the most eagerly awaited sporting events on the calendar for those of school going age in Westmeath.
The Primary school top 20 individual finishers and team scores and the Secondary schools top finishers are available on the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com. Congratulations to all who took part and as usual, the standard of competition was extremely high and medals were hard won for all the competitors. Team medals will be distributed to the schools this week.
Westmeath AAI Cross Country
If anyone that competed in the schools cross country in Belvedere has been bitten by the running bug, they might like to compete in the Westmeath AAI Cross Country Championship at the same Belvedere venue. Day one is this Sunday and is for ages u/8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years starting at 11am. Day two the following Sunday is for ages u/9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 18 and adult novice, senior and master, and everyone can run on both days if they wish, in their right age one day and moving up an age on the other day. The event is open to everyone in Westmeath and you don’t have to be a member of any Club to take part, so why not come along and give it a try?
Road Safety
The evenings are starting to close in, so all Club members are reminded that they must wear reflective clothing when running on the road in the evenings. That includes all who use our Club grounds and who run from the Clubhouse on training nights.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com.
PRO
