Hollymount pulls out all the stops for annual road races
The first three finishers in the women's 10k at Hollymount were, from left: Hilary Hughes, Westport (second), Sara Doohan, Corran AC (first) and Caroline Coulter, Tireragh AC (third).
Athletics: The South Mayo village of Hollymount came alive once again on Sunday, November 19 for the 58th edition of the famous International Road Races.
The event was held in support of Mayo Mental Health Association.
Race Organiser Sean Reilly was there again, continuing the event’s great tradition begun by himself and brother Tom back in 1966.
On the course at the outskirts of the village, runners pass Tom’s statue commemorating his involvement in sport at Liverpool John Moore University and the Hollymount races in particular. He was the UK’s first professor of sports science and helped lay the foundations for sport and exercise scientific study at Liverpool Polytechnic before it became known as LJMU. Hence the annual arrival of a bus load of runners and their supporters from the Liverpool area for the race weekend. They maintain a unique sporting connection and tradition and Neil Chester led the contingent once again.
Sean Reilly got the 10k race going as a welcome break in the morning’s rain gave way to blue sky. Bright low winter sunlight spread over stone walls and along the course, which consisted of three laps of the local area mainly on single track slightly undulating roads.
At a mild 12 degrees and light breeze, conditions were good for racing a field of 127 runners headed off on their way up Main Street.
This year’s winner was Shaun McLoughlin from Westport AC in 34:01. He’s a regular race competitor and winner on the circuit. He was over 40 seconds clear of Mayo Ac’s Dan Charlton (34:44), with Alan Dunne of East Mayo AC (a Sea2Summit winner the week before) finishing third in 35:34.
The women’s race winner was Sara Doohan from Corran AC. She was well up at the front of the race from the start and came home sixth overall in 37:31, delighted with her time. She was the winner of the recent Connacht Cross-Country Senior League.
Hilary Hughes from Westport also had a great run when finishing ninth overall and second woman in 38:07.
Tireragh AC’s Caroline Coulter is another regular competitor at Hollymount and she came home third in 41:35 while Mayo AC’s Donna Gallagher ran a great race and was fourth woman home – and first in o40 category – in 42:29. This year she has shown tremendous improvement in races over various distances.
The event was well supported by clubs from around Connacht, and by the annual contingent of runners from clubs in the Liverpool area.
Category prizewinners were: Men’s o40, Shane Horan, Lake District AC, 36:44; o50, Francis Cryan, Westport AC, 38:03; o60, Frank Gilmore, Castle AC, 50:22. Women’s o40, Donna Gallagher, Mayo AC, 42:29; o50, Michelle Murphy, Liverpool, 49:55.
There was a great turnout by Mayo AC in particular, with the club having a dozen finishers. John Byrne was their second man home in 39:37 and was followed by Alan Bourke-Tuffy (43:23), Eimear Fitzmaurice (44:47), Gillian Hanrahan (48:58), Mairéad Bristow (48:59), Joan Walsh (51:52), Caitlin Woods (52:10), Julie Higgins (54:13), Rick Holmes (54:20) and Marcella McDonnell (54:29).
As usual there was a great race day atmosphere around the village and at the prizegiving. Sean Reilly presented the prizes and thanked everyone who made the day possible – organisers, stewards, and refreshments providers.
After the event in the Community Centre race HQ, there was an excellent spread of refreshments which were enjoyed by all.
