For the first time in its three-year existence an athlete from the host club won the An Riocht AC / Lee Strand Kingdom Come 10 Miler in Castleisland on Sunday morning.
The bunch of 500 or so runner were hardly gone from the start at Rice’s Height when Tim O’Connor came storming back into the stadium in triumph. He was followed smartly by Killarney man, Simon Mangan and, in third place, by another home club member, Pat Dunworth.
Caitriona Barry of the neighbouring club, Farranfore Maine Valley AC won the senior women’s race with Alison Kirwan in second and Michelle Hoare in third place.
It was a testing morning out as a strong and often gusting, south westerly breeze made the conditions a little more demanding on the runners.
While there was a huge focus on the ’10 Miler’ there was a great welcome back onto the track for all the Couch-to-5K participants. They were facing their own challenges on the morning and their delight at rising to and overcoming this hurdle was clearly evident on many of their faces.
Many family and friends were emotional as they saw their love ones making it back onto the track on that final half-lap of honour and the stroll back with a bottle of water and that oh so precious medal hanging from their sweat drowned necks.
I was reliably informed on the morning by several visiting runners that the treatment and the looking after they got here was away above and beyond what they get anywhere else.
At the finish line they were greeted with water and fruit and their medals. In the clubhouse then they were invited to tea/ coffee and sandwiches and rolls and this impressed them hugely.
In spite of the fact that there are now so many like and competing events on the local scene these days, the organisers were well pleased with the turn-out. Again the stewarding of the event drew volunteers from all quarters of the area and beyond. It’s at times like this that you really see the elements of strength beneath the wings of what we like to refer to as ‘Community Spirit’ and long may it prevail.
Results to hand as follows:
Senior Men 1: Tim O’Connor; 2: Simon Mangan; 3: Pat Dunworth; 4: Derek Griffin; 5: Billy O’Brien and 6: Ciaran Bouse.
Senior Women 1: Catriona Barry; 2: Alison Kirwan; 3: Michelle Hoare; 4: Deirdre Enright; 5: Catriona O’Shea and 6: Barbra Podraza.
Over 40 Men. 1: Gerard O’Sullivan; 2: Verners Tess and 3: Willie Reidy.
OVER 40 WOMEN 1: Eileen Egan; 2: Miriam Beasley and 3: Suzanne O’Sullivan.
OVER 50 MEN 1: Gerard Ladden; 2: Willie Guiney and 3: Eamonn Groves
OVER 50 WOMEN 1: Geraldine O’Sullivan; 2: Ann Mc Glynn and 3: Catherine McCarthy.
5K Senior Men 1: David Comber; 2: Arthur Fitzgerald; 3: Michael O’Regan; 4: John Starrett; 5: John Barrett and 6:
Kevin Griffin.
SENIOR WOMEN 1: Michelle Kenny; 2: Niamh O’Sullivan; 3: Siobhan Daly; 4: Sharon Cahill; 5: Roisín Culloty and
6: Mary Barrett.
OVER 40 MEN 1: Fred Browne and 2: P.J. Fitzgerald.
OVER 40 WOMEN 1: Aine Culloty and 2: Geraldine Histon.
OVER 50 MEN 1: Matt O’Sullivan and 2: Michael Dineen.
OVER 50 WOMEN 1: Nóirín Uí Cathasaigh and 2: Anne O’Sullivan.
OVER 60 MEN 1: Mike Bowler and 2: Ger Power.
JUNIOR MEN 1: Gavin Dillon; 2: Cian O’Brien; 3: John O’Connor; 4: Art O’Mahony; 5: Daire Keane; 6: Eoin Cahill.
JUNIOR WOMEN 1: Kayla Whooley; 2: Ava Kelliher; 3: Ellie Daly; 4: Clodagh O’Connor; 5: Kate Moore and 6:
Emma Finn.