This article is from page 78 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 78 JPG
THE 37th Anniversary of the Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare Ath- letic Club and the Michael Egan Me- morial four mile road race attracted a very big turnout of athletes.
Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, retained his title for the third year in a row and ran three seconds faster than last year with a time of 19.42 minutes. In the ladies race Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, record- ing a big win in 24.04 minutes.
Over 100 competitors went to the start and over the first mile Seamus Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, led out with Gerry Ryan, Gal- way City Harriers, on his shoulder. SSCA ootlMmOebne lcd cMmOloMBEDuciMm DODD (omBDD 5.05 minutes with Dermot Galvin, St John’s a few metres off the lead.
Gerry Ryan made his way to the front and turning off the Miltown Malbay Road he began to pull away from Power.
Ryan was always looking to make a big move and he went through the two mile mark in 10.10 minutes, the three mile mark in 15.15 minutes.
With the wind to his back and all down hill to the finish he put in a blistering last mile to take this title for the third year 1n a row with a time of 19.42 minutes.
Seamus Power ran a good race to finish second in 20.06 minutes, with the 2003 champion Galvin, St John’s, making a great recovery over the fi- nal two miles to take third place in 20.30 minutes.
Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare won the team title and the Michael Egan Shield with Seamus Power, Donal Howley, James Kenny, Tho- mas Garrahy coming in for a total of 47pts.
The masters O40 title went to Pat Nugent who finished in the top ten with a time of 22.05 minutes.
The O45 title went to TJ Whyte, Tuam, in 22.51 minutes and a close second was James Kenny, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, with Michael Quinlivan, Tulla, third.
The O50 title went to the man in top form, Eugene Moynihan, Mar- ian. Hew was ninth overall with a winning time of 22.00 minutes. The O55 title went to Martin McEvilly,
Galway City Harriers, with Roger Rush, Tuam, winning the O60 title.
Donal Howley, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, once again pro- duced another big performance in the junior mens race to cross the fin- ishing line in 13th place.
The ladies race is always very com- petitive with over 30 ladies going to the start.
Veronica Colleran, Ennis ‘Track Club, set out at a very fast pace and went through the first mile in 6.06 minutes. Moving along nicely as they made their way into a slight head wind Sue Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrick- ane/North Clare, Marian, Burke, St Mary’s, Ann Murray, Mayo, Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, were all working hard.
At the two mile mark Colleran had gone well clear and had the rest of the field strung out behind her.
Colleran produced a strong per- formance from start to finish to cross the finishing line seven seconds faster than 2006 with a time of 24.06 min- utes with the master O40 Munster road champion Sue Garrahy taking second place in 26.57 minutes. Third
was Marian Burke in 27.18 minutes.
Ann Murray, Mayo, captured the masters O35 title ahead of Michelle O’Mahoney, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Hilda O’Connor, Ennis Track Club.
Rose Enright, St Mary’s, won the O40 title in 28.20 minutes from Marie Fennessy and Christine Or- gan, both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.Maura Falsey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, was the lead- ing masters athlete O45 with Hannah Kelly and Bernie Kelly, both Galway City Harriers, second and third. The O50 title went to Cushla Murphy He- hir, Marian.
The junior ladies race saw Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, running her first ever four miler, produce a professional per- formance with a winning time of 27.56 minutes from Becky Hand, Dooneen.
Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare ladies team placed well to take the team title with a total of 26pts. Sue Garrahy, Sharon Rynne, Michelle O’Mahoney, Maura Falsey scored for them.