This article is from page 32 of the 2008-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
SOME of Ireland’s top athletes and running enthusiasts will be in Kilnaboy this weekend for the annu- al Michael ‘Sonnie’ Murphy Memo- rial 1O-Mile Open Road Race.
The race, which takes place this Sunday from 2pm, commemorates the life of Sonnie Murphy, the local legend who took part in the two-mile Steeplechase of the 1932 Olympic GF Trslone
This is the 24th running of the event and organisers are expecting another bumper year, after record numbers took part last year.
“It’s the last of the four Munster 10 Mile Spring Classics. There is a prize for anyone who competed in all four events and, at this point, with three events completed, there are 177 still in the running,” said Vincent McCa- rthy of Kilnaboy Athletic Club.
“We get a good mixture of athletes. We would get eight or 10 elite men and five or six elite ladies taking part each year. The rest would come from every different class of runner.”
This year, local athlete Tracy Guil- foyle will be back looking to defend her title. Tracy last year became the first local athlete in the history of the race to win one of the major titles.
“She is training very hard at the mo- ment so she will be hoping to regain the tithe again this year. Last years men’s winner was John Byrne in a time of 54.24. We had 397 finishing the race last year which was the big- gest number ever,” continued Vin- cent. “It is growing away all the time. It grew up to about 200 and it stayed at that for a long time. But since we have been involved with the Munster Spring Classics, it has grown again. The number looks to be going higher again for this year.”
Before the business of the road race, the annual 10km fun walk takes place in Kilnaboy from 1.30pm.
“The fun walk is more relaxed, it’s non-competitive. People come to that and have a nice relaxing time,’ says Vincent. “We have used the race for years to make money for char- ity. We have raised about €15,000 or €20,000 for Cystic Fibrosis over the last number of years. We don’t have a designated charity this year but what- ever profit we have from the race will go to charity.”
The entry fee for the race is €10 and €5 for the walk. Anyone in- terested in learning more about the event or taking part should contact Vincent McCarthy at 065 6837875 or 086 1704471 for details.