Armstrong takes Patrick’s Day prize in Tubbercurry
Mayo AC's women's team who finished as the first club at the St Patrick's Day 10k in Tubbercurry. Pictured from left are Martina O’Connor, Dee Corcoran, Angela O’Connor, Monica Joyce and Paul Walsh of South Sligo AC.
The 51st edition of the Tubbercurry St Patrick’s Day 10k provided an excellent spectacle of sporting activity on our National Festival day.
The 10k acts as the start of the Sligo County Running League, and there was also a well-supported 5k race for aspiring speed merchants and runners at all levels.
Ballina AC’s Hugh Armstrong started out in the lead with high hopes of beating last year’s course record of 29:30 held by Olympian Andrew Coscoran. He was around 15 seconds faster at the 5k point at Moylough. However, running alone into the wind and rain on the tough second half took its toll, and although he ran strongly he was just outside the record, crossing the line in 29:41.
Sligo AC’s Emmett Dunleavy won the race many times over the years and his class showed as he finished second in 33:15, with clubmate Brian Kinsella third in 35:11.
The first woman home was Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) in 36:56, with Eavan McLoughlin (DCH) second in 38:00.
Mayo AC's Martina O’Connor ran the race of her life to finish an excellent third in 38:30 – a pb by over two minutes.
John Byrne ran a great race to come home first of Mayo AC’s ten finishers in a well-paced 36:24 and sixth overall. He has been a top three finisher in Tubbercurry a number of times since he first ran there 25 years ago, and he won in 2006 in 33:02 in a closely fought finish with Gary Higgins (Sligo AC).
The other Mayo AC finishers were: Ray Clarke. 41:33; Padraic McVann in a brilliant new PB of 40:45; Andy Neary, 42:30; Angela O’Connor, 43:01; Dee Corcoran, 44:26 – first woman O40, Monica Joyce – first O60 in an impressive 49:10, Caitlin Woods, 50:19 and Angela McVann, 52:04.
Congratulations to Mayo AC’s two individual prizewinners: Martina O’Connor, 3rd woman; and Monica Joyce, first O60. Martina and Monica were also members of the Mayo AC women who won the club title team, along with Angela O’Connor and Dee Corcoran.
Most of Mayo AC’s finishers were also in action at the National 10k in Dunboyne while Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC), Keelan Kilrehill and Kirsty Maher (both Moy Valley AC) are in the Irish team to compete in the World Cross-Country Championships in Belgrade Serbia this Saturday, March 30.
The 10k and 5k races were hosted by the local South Sligo Athletic Club. As usual they organised an excellent event – runners and spectators combined to create a real festival buzz. A grand spread of refreshments were provided at St Brigid’s Hall where prizegiving took place.
Men: 1st, Hugh Armstrong, Ballina AC, 29:41; 2, Emmett Dunleavy, Sligo AC, 33:14; 3, Brian Kinsella, Sligo AC, 35:11.
Women: 1, Aoife Kilgallon, Sligo AC, 36:57; 2, Eavan McLoughlin, DCH, 38:00; 3, Martina O’Connor, Mayo AC, 38:31.
Other age category winners:
Men: O40, Enda Marren, Swinford AC, 35:15; 050, Darren Aldridge, Corran AC, 39:48; 060, Danny Hannon, 42:18, Sligo AC.
Women: O50, Mari Johnston, Sligo AC, 40:26.
The 5k winners were Pearse Gallagher, 16:37, and Caitlín Hughes, 19:29, both Swinford AC.
