At the recent AGM of Carrick AC, PRO Mark Connolly outlined the many achievements by our members in road races, track and field and cross-country as well as some of the events organised by the club during a very busy 2013. This includes the following:
Road Races:
Martina O' Dwyer began the year in winning form when she took first place at the Mount Juliet Half-Marathon. Patrick Roche finished in fourth place at the Co. Tipperary Novice Road Championships where Tommy Falconer and Michael Murphy also finished in the top ten. Brian Murphy was the recipient of the Munster Star Award for his performances at Novice level during the cross-country season. The first running of the Bobby Fitzgerald Accountant Faugheen 5k kicked off the 2013 Outfield Sports Three Counties Challenge and saw 218 participants. Carrick AC's Martina O' Dwyer won the ladies' race while Sandis Bralitis (West Waterford) took the men's race. The second leg of the challenge was the O' Neill Pharmacy Tom Jordan Memorial 5 in Portlaw where Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) and Dympna Ryan (Dundrum AC) were victorious. Martina O' Dwyer continued her winning streak with victories at the Church Hill 10k in Cuffesgrange and at the Poulmucka 5. She also took second place at the Stoneyford 10k. The third race in the Three Counties Challenge saw Alan O' Shea (Bantry AC) and Siobhan Doherty (Borrisokane) take the men's and ladies' races respectively at the Carraig Hotel Deadman's 5. Club member Derek Walsh put in a fine run to finish sixth in the Waterford Viking Marathon. Brian Murphy took third place in the half-marathon event and the relay race was won by a team made up of Carrick AC members Tommy Falconer, Patrick Roche and Martina O' Dwyer along with Diane Behan (Waterford AC). At the AutoPower Rathgormack 5, race 4 in the series, Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) and Angela McCann (Clonmel AC) were the winners. Sergiu Ciobanu and Martina O' Dwyer were victorious at the final race of the Three Counties Challenge, the MorrisOil Piltown 10k. Brian Murphy took first place at the Ballymacarbry 5. Martina O' Dwyer was second in the Boston Scientific Clonmel Half-Marathon. Claire Annan won the Alan Everett Woodstown 5 with Martina O' Dwyer making it a Carrick AC 1-2 in the ladies' race. Patrick Roche was third in the men's race. Brian Murphy finished second in the Kill 7k road race. Brian went on to win the Solas 10-mile race in Waterford and then took the Tipperary 10-mile senior road title. At the Dublin City Marathon in October, Brian ran a great race to finish in a time of 2:30:24. Daragh Byrne, Tommy Falconer and Andrew Downey all clocked sub 3 hours for the marathon. The 'My Dress' Mile Challenge once again attracted new runners to the club and proved a great success. The 2013 SuperValu Winter League was run over 10 weeks in Kildalton College and Robert Briscoe was the overall winner. Tommy Falconer was named Carrick Roadrunners' Club Person of the Year. The Goal Mile on Christmas morning helped raise €3,700 for the third-world charity. Brian Murphy finished off the year in great style by winning the 'Baldy Man' 8k race in Tramore.
Cross- Country:
Martina O' Dwyer finished third in the O/35 category at the Gerry Farnan Cross-Country event in the Phoenix Park, thus qualifying to represent Ireland at the British and Irish Masters' Cross- Country in Cardiff. Martina helped secure the team silver medal for Ireland with a great run in Cardiff. Carrick AC enjoyed a great day at the Tipperary Masters' Cross-Country Championships in Thurles with Brian Murphy and Martina O'Dwyer winning the county titles and the men's team of Brian Murphy, Patrick Roche, Tommy Falconer and James Fox taking the team gold medals.
Patrick Roche finished in fourth place at the County Tipperary Novice Cross-Country in Moyne. At the All-Ireland Masters Cross-Country, Martina O' Dwyer finished fourth and Brian Murphy was a member of the Tipperary team that took the team bronze medals.
Track and Field:
Patrick Roche and Martina O'Dwyer both had third-place finishes at the Munster Indoor Championships in the men's 3,000m and the ladies' 1,500m respectively. Patrick and Martina ran as guests at the Leinster Indoors Championships. Patrick was third in the O/35 3,000m and Martina won the ladies' O/35 3,000m. Martina won the British Masters Indoors 3,000m in a new Irish record time of 10:20. Patrick finished fourth in the men's 3,000m.
Brian Murphy won the All-Ireland Masters' Track and Field 5,000m in Tullamore.
Well done to all our runners and here's hoping 2014 is another successful year for the club!