Carrick Road Runners Athletic Club Notes 11th August 2008
What a fitting end it was to an absolutely fantastic Outfield Sports/ Asics 3 Counties Series on Friday night last. Not only did we see a record entry of 160 for this or any club event but we also saw the course record for the Carraig Hotel Deadman's 5 absolutely smashed by Clonliffe Harriers Sergei Turea in a time of 24:48 who not only won this race but also made it 3 out of 3 wins in the series and took top honours in the overall series from last years winner West Waterford's Raivis Zakis who finished a fine second place. The ladies also served up a race to remember, in particular the top 2 ladies on the night Corinna Walsh of West Waterford and Madeliene Dorney of Thurles Crokes who were only separated by 6 small seconds.
The Omen's were good right from the get go when the Irish summer decided to give us a break and on a balmy evening in Carrick the 160 runners really relished this now infamous ‘Deadman's 5' course. It is tough but fair! At the head of affairs the hilly second and third miles did not stop Clonliffe's Sergei Turea romping into an early lead and not only hold it but increase it with every stride and eventually come home in front of a large enthusiastic crowd to take a massive 18 seconds off Sandis Bralitis' existing course record of 25:06. The usual suspects were in the shake up and Raivis, Shane Mulaney, Danny Smith and Tony Fogarty really gave the crowd something to clap and cheer about. Our very own Pat O'Sullivan was also back from injury to finish in a very strong 10th place and scoop the over 40 prize in the process.
As with the previous 3 races in the series it was the ladies who upstaged the men. Corinna and Madeleine really fought tooth and nail for the top prize over this testing course and exchanged the lead a number of times throughout the race. It was to be the Dungarvan woman's night however as Corinna clinched the victory to make it 4 wins from 4 appearances and leave the destination of the ladies series title in no doubt at all.
In short it was a superb night's athletics on the banks of the Suir and the organizers of the series are already talking about 2009, but for now we can reflect on a lot of hard work done and a lot of hard miles run in Rathgormack, Ballyneale, Piltown and in Carrick over the course of summer 2008! For the record 83 runners qualified for the series by running 3 or more races. This worked out as 29 women and 54 men. All of them have a few stories to tell!
Carrick Finishers
As with the other races in the series there was a very strong Carrick-on-Suir AC contingent and last Friday night was to no different. Here is how the 34 club runners finished and congratulations one and all for flying the club colours so strongly: 10. O'SULLIVAN, Pat 28:46; 17. O'LOUGHLIN, Michael 30:04; 21. BARRY, Keith 30:10; 24. GRACE, Anthony 30:18; 27. FALCONER, Tommy 30:30; 28. BRUNNOCK, Johnny 30:34; 35. O'KEEFE, Shane 31:32; 36. CONNOLLY, Mark 31:36; 37. WELLS, James 31:37; 38. FOX, James 31:40; 57. NOLAN, John 33:10; 69. O'DWYER, Martina 33:55; 75. TORPEY, Barry 34:36; 76. DOWNEY, Andrew 34:34; 78. BRUNNOCK, Paddy 35:02; 79. MOLLOY, Mary 35:04; 93. MOLLOY, Dermot35:56; 96. KENNEDY, Kieran 36:21; 108. BURKE, Stephen 37:37; 112. POWER, Jackie 37:51; 114. POWER, Ann 37:59; 115. CORCORAN, Mark 38:06; 118. CRONIN, Ann 38:35; 119. POWER, Margaret 38:45; 125. O'NEILL, Marian 39:10; 127. HOULIHAN, Geraldine 39:55; 128. O'DONNELL, Tara 40:19; 132. WARD, Seamus 40:48; 133. EVANS, Jane 41:02; 135. LYNCH, Geraldine 41:18; 142. O'BRIEN, Jason 42:21; 143. O'SULLIVAN, Teresa 42:52; 144. SEXTON, Bernie 44:00; 153. O'MAHONY, Tina 47:30.
Official Race Results
Senior Men: 1. Sergei Turea-Clonliffe Harriers-24:48; 2. Ravis Zakis-WWAC-25:43; 3. Shane Mullaney-Thurles Crokes-26:31; 4. Danny Smith-Ballynonty AC-27:17; 5. Tony Fogarty-Thurles Crokes-27:29. Over 40 Men: 1. Pat O'Sullivan-Carrick AC-28:46; 2. Vasiliy Meumerzhitsky-Clonmel AC-29:09; Over 45 Men: 1. Michael Moore-Dundrum AC-29:20. Men Over 50: 1. PJ O'Dwyer-St. Senans-30:09; Mens Over 55: 1. Con Kelliher-WWAC-33:25; Mens Over 60: 1. Willie O'Gorman-35:24 ; Junior Men: 1. Gary Cantwell-KCK-29:48.
Senior Ladies: 1. Corinna Walsh-WWAC-30:07; 2. Madeleine Dorney-Thurles Crokes-30:13; 3. Laura Behan-KCK-31:52; 4. Susan Finn-Waterford AC-32:41; 5. Mary Doolan-Waterford AC-33:03. Women Over 35: 1. Diane Behan-WWAC-32:12; 2. Brigid Coffey-WWAC-36:44. Women Over 40: 1. Ann Whelan-WWAC-35:39; Women Over 45- 1. Eilis Ni HAodha-WWAC-32:55; Women Over 50: 1. Mags Power-Carrick-on-Suir AC-38:45; Women Over 55: 1. Terri Gough-WWAC-47:21.
Hearty congratulations to Pat O'Sullivan and Mags Power both of Carrick-on-Suir AC who scooped top prize in their individual categories while representing the club.
Outfield Sports/ Asics 3 Counties Challenge League
Top Five Men: 1. Sergei Turea-3 points; 2. Raivis Zakis-6 points; 3. Shane Mullaney-7 points; 4. Tony Fogarty-14 points; 5. PJ Guinan-22 points.
Top Five Ladies: 1. Corinna Walsh-71points; 2. Diane Behan-121points; Aine Roche-175 points; 4. Mary Molloy-191points; 5. Ann Whelan-206 points.
Thank You
This race would never have happened if it was not for the support and hard work of the following people. Our main sponsors The Carraig Hotel who not only sponsored the race but also laid on a very enjoyable post race/series party. Our overall series sponsors Outfield Sports, Carrick-on-Suir and Asics who have really supported the running boom in the town over the past few years. Glenpatrick Spring Water for our post race water. Thanks to the other individual race sponsors from earlier in the year who included Auto Power, Mr. Binman and Morris Oil. We also would like the thank the Gardai, the Irish Red Cross and Carrick-on-Suir Town Council and Mayor Liam Walsh for starting the race. There was great work also done by the people on registration as well as all stewards on the road most of whom were local volunteers. A particular mention must go to Keith and Shirley O'Shea who produced the results so fast and efficiently, as well as our ever dependable time keeper, famous cyclist, Bobby Power. A lot of hard work also went into the compilation of the overall series results by Lynda Brunnock and Geraldine O'Brien, well done. The club is also indebted to the race co-ordinator on the night Jimmy Power.
Thanks to all the clubs who traveled from far and wide to support this event. Thanks also the volunteers, supporters, committee members and injured runners of our own club who also helped out on the night.
Roll on 2009!!!