Mayo AC athletes busy on road and cross-country

The highlight of the weekend of September 13/14 for Mayo AC was their Autumn Club Day Out to the 11th annual Céide Coast Atlantic Run, featuring both a Half Marathon and a 10k.

A total of 31 Mayo AC runners took part in the two races, with most arriving in Ballycastle on a bus generously provided by Moran’s Coaches.

Participants were shuttled from the village to the starting points at Céide Fields Visitor Centre and the stunning cliffs.

The race route meanders along the coast road, passing Ballycastle beach before heading to the renowned Downpatrick Head. Here, runners ventured onto a 500m off-road stretch that took them past the famous Dún Briste sea stack.

After this scenic detour, the route returned to the main road and finished back in the village of Ballycastle. Running conditions were quite favourable, with temperatures ranging from 13° to 16°, bright skies, and a helpful tailwind as competitors made their way towards Ballycastle along the cliff road.

Dún Briste stood majestically against the horizon, framed by crashing white surf. However, after reaching that promontory - the turning point in the half-marathon - runners faced a strong headwind, and the steep uphill stretch back posed a significant challenge. Many finishers in both races had to dig deep and show their resilience and determination.

In the half-marathon John Gordon was the club's first finisher in 1:24.19 and won the M50 category, while Colette Tuohy was second woman overall in 1:40.23 and first F50.

The club's other prizewinners were in the 10k race with Micky Fox, first, M50 in 43:00 and Ruth Carney, first F50, in 44:35 The rest of the Mayo AC runners ran brilliantly and there was a very supportive atmosphere on the road and as they gathered at the finish line.

Ballycastle AC organised an excellent event, led by Joe Gardiner and his team of volunteers all along the course. All finishers and friends enjoyed a great spread of refreshments and a wonderful atmosphere in the community hall for prizegiving.

To finish off their club outing the Mayo AC crew went to the Merry Monk in Ballina where they enjoyed a carvery dinner, tea/coffee sponsored by the club.

Huge thanks to Colette Tuohy who organised a top-class club day out and to Damien Finnegan who drove Moran's Coach.

Apart from the huge Mayo AC crew who went on a club outing to, a number of other athletes from the club were also competing on road and cross-country.

Mayo AC member Rowland McIntyre ran in the fourth edition of the Athlone half-marathon – on an out-and-back flat course starting and finishing on the track at TUS Athlone Campus, and following the Athlone-Mullingar Greenway.

He crossed the finish line 22nd overall and 6th M40 in 1:22.04 – a great performance - well done!

And also well done to Úna Mayock who completed the Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park in 1:36.03 – 1:34.59 chip. She was halfway in 47:47 and ran the second half in 47:17 for an impressive negative split. Her chip time was just outside the 1:34.50 PB which she achieved in Barcelona.

Castlegar Athletics Club hosted their annual Open Cross Country at Galway Racecourse in Ballybrit on Saturday, September 19 last. It was the second cross-country event of the season in Connacht, and Mayo AC had five competitors in the Women’s/Men o60 race over a distance of 4340 metres.

Their finishing order in a field of 26 runners was: 14th, Paula Donnellan Walsh; 17th, Angela O’Connor (1st O60); 19th, Pauline Moran; 20th, Paraic Sweeney; 22th, Mary Browne.

The Mayo AC women's team were third with 64 points, behind winners Ennis Track AC 16, and Galway City Harriers AC 31.

On the previous weekend (September 13), Paula Donnellan Walsh ran in the European Masters off road Championship held in Rosnov, Romania. In the Up & Down 12k race she finished 8th of 16 runners in her W45 category.