Curtain falls on excellent Mayo AC 5k Series

Athletics: There was huge excitement as runners gathered at Ballinrobe Racecourse last Tuesday evening, June 10 for the final race in the 2025 EBS Mayo AC 5k Series. The curtain came down on a very successful and enjoyable 13th edition of the popular series.

The five series locations at Castlebar, Westport, Foxford, Ballinrobe and Claremorris provided a range of different challenges, enabling excellent opportunities for all who ran to reach new levels.

Racing conditions at Ballinrobe were ideal – sunny and warm after an unsettled few days. The racecourse ambulance path provided a three-lap course which was flat and smooth, and added a unique element to the race.

Before the race started, runners, officials and supporters came together to pay tribute to the memory of three-year-old Maeve Boland who passed away suddenly last week. In a heartfelt gesture, they observed a minute’s silence, followed by a warm round of applause. Maeve’s mother Monica is a valued member of Mayo AC, and her father Darragh ran in three races of the series, highlighting the family’s close connection to Mayo’s athletics community.

When the racing was underway, Alan Dunne continued his flying form to claim a clear victory in 16:01, two seconds faster than his third place in the Westport race. Seamus Burke of Lake District AC chased hard thirty seconds behind and held off David Hickey by six seconds. Hickey had a great series and ran all five races winning twice, including the previous week’s 5k in Claremorris.

Sean O’Brien, also of Westport AC and who was second in Claremorris, was fourth in Ballinrobe in 17:04, having recorded his fastest time of 16:56 in Foxford.

Mayo AC’s first finisher was club coach Matt Bidwell – an excellent fifth place in 17:07 – while Michael Rocke was the next Mayo AC runner home in 17:20, and was rewarded for a five great Series runs with third in the overall prize-winners. He was followed by Gerry Kirrane 18:15 and new club member Steven Timlin in 18:21.

In the women’s race, Hillary Hughes of Westport AC claimed her fourth win in the series in 19:09. Indeed the top three was a repeat of the week before in Claremorris, as Mayo AC’s Jo Hughes and Eimear Fitzmaurice finished second and third again. They both came home with very impressive sub 20 times. Westport AC’s Michelle Needham (F50) had a great run for fourth in 20:19, ahead of Ruth Carney (F50) fifth 20:59 and Ruth’s Mayo AC teammate Una Mayock (F35) sixth in 21:02.

There was a fantastic buzz in the pavilion after the race as a record series turnout of 230 gathered for refreshments and the presentations.

This all followed on from the fourth round of the 2025 Mayo AC Series held seven days earlier in Claremorris. Conditions for the 5k were good – a dry and chilly 12 degrees with "a moderate to fresh and gusty southwest to west breeze".

The Claremorris course, with that long climb up Claremount Manor after the 3k mark, is one of the most challenging in the series. And on race evening the breeze into faces began as runners started the climb. After reaching the top they faced into the wind again on an energy sapping circuit of the track to the finish line.

David Hickey and Sean O’Brien of Westport AC finished first and second in the men’s race in 17:13 and 17:35 respectively. Occupying the bronze medal position was Mayo AC’s Michael Rocke in 17:51. Another Westport AC runner also claimed victory in the women’s race with Hillary Hughes crossing the line in 19:19. Mayo AC’s Jo Hughes was second in 19:50 while her clubmate Eimear Fitzmaurice took third in 20:10.

Mayo AC had a total of 44 competitors and after Rocke, the next three club finishers in the men’s race were Matt Bidwell M50 fourth in 17:59, Thomas Reilly 18:17, and Gerry Kirrane 18:28. After Jo and Eimear, Mayo AC’s next best female finishers were Colette Tuohy 21:10, Una Mayock 21:24 and Catherine McHugh 21:28.