Midleton Athletic Club – Senior Section News

By Peter Gunning - Joint P.R.O
Seventy-seven club members lined up for the second of the Ballycotton 5 Summer Series in Shanagarry last Thursday night. At a recent committee meeting the question of ethos arose with the thorny question of performance versus participation exercising the minds of club officials. On Thursday night this debate was answered.

We participated in numbers and we delivered on performance. John Hennessy, fresh from an O-40 second place in the 1500m at the Dublin Invitation track event, sauntered home unrivalled to claim first 0-40 in 28:31 and fifteenth place overall. Kevin Smith and Marc Dalton once again broke the thirty minute mark with Darragh Canavan and Adam Duchnicz just outside. It’s getting a little repetitive at this stage, but yes you’ve guessed it, Fergal O’Meara pbeed at 32:00. Prize winners on the night included Tom Cody who was first O-55 the ever-improving Mark Walsh who finished third O-50. Club captain Sally Drennan took sliver in the O-45 with Mary O’Keeffe one step below her on the podium.

Breda Cahill continued her astonishing season with a bronze in the O-40. Our first female athlete home was Anne Geary in 33:54. Great to see Anna Doris back and chipping her times down en route to pb territory. Super running too on the night from seven-minute miler Michelle Cashman. Sean O’Sullivan, John Cashman, Barry Aherne and Elaine Hennessy impressed as did Eugene McCarthy who should be well-placed to receive a top-50 place when the series ends in Ballycotton in August. With so many of our athletes among the 550 finishers this column would need a much larger word count to mention all.

However, this week we especially congratulate a number of our newest members from Vincent Connolly’s training group who ran their first ever race in Shanagarry.

Sean O’Sullivan won his first master’s prize in the Ballyclough 5k. Sean finished eight overall in a creditable 19:35 with clubmate and triathlete John O’Connell one pace ahead in 19:21. Lovely to see former club captain Danny McCarthy picking up a first prize in the O-60 category his second in two nights having won also in Clashmore 5 mile in a race run over a very challenging course. John O’Connell also ran an excellent race in the Dunmanway/Timoleague 10K coming home in fifteenth place overall in 40:45.

Club captain Edmiund O’Sullivan is taking the role-modelling aspect of his position most seriously being under no small amount of pressure from his female counterpart and rarely off the podium, Sally Drennan. On a wet night in Glamire recently, Edmund ran a superb 25:23 to ensure that the club won all three O-45 category prizes. Stan Byczek in 24:51 and John Cashman in 24:58 made it a one, two, three for Midleton AC in the Source and Fitness BHAA 4-mile event. Breda Cahill, Sally Drennan and Mary O’Keeffe were also among the prize-winners while Matt Chojan, Adam Duchnicz, Karol Watson, Anne-Marie Perry, Anna Doris, Danny McCarthy and Donie O’Connell kept the Midleton AC flag flying proudly.

Training continues on Monday in the CBS at 6pm and from the Community Centre on Tuesday at 6pm and 7pm.



Fixtures

A very busy fixture list lies ahead beginning in Macroom on this Thursday with the Daniel Kingston Memorial 5K. We received the following information from the organisers.

“On the 10th of February 2009 Daniel Kingston sadly passed away after a long battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma aged only 25 years. Daniel grew up with his parents, Vincent & Julien, and four sisters Fiona, Catherine, Juliet and Claire in Macroom. Throughout his life he had a keen interest in participating and watching sports. He was a keen footballer with Macroom GAA, a strong swimmer and runner and in the last few years he developed an interest in yoga and pilates.

The 5 km race on Thursday is part of the BHAA (BusinessHouses Athletic Association) calendar. Runners and walkers are encouraged to participate as a way of remembering Daniel in his hometown. The race will start in the Square at 8 p.m. – last registrations at 7.45 p.m. Many prizes for teams and age groups. Refreshments will be provided afterwards. Entry fee €5 and €8. It is the aim of our family to make it an annual event in Macroom”.

Fixture List

Daniel Kingston Memorial 5k: Macroom, Thursday 30th June @ 8pm

Ballinascarthy 10k. Friday 1st July @8pm (Proceeds to COPE Foundation)

EMC 5K in Ovens – Wednesday July 6th – 8pm

Corkbeg 5 Mile - new course in Whitegate on Thurday July 7 – 8pm

Dungarvan - 5 mile on Friday July 8 – 8pm

Kilworth Army Camp 5 Mile – Sunday July 10th - 12 noon

IPS Garda 5K (Cork BHAA) on Marina circuit – Wednesday July 13 – 8pm

Carrigtwohill 5K – Wednesday July 20 – 8pm



Cork City Sports On Saturday Next

The following events will take place at the 60th Cork City Sports International Track & Field Meeting on Saturday 2nd of July at the Cork Institute of Technology Athletic Stadium, Bishopstown, Cork:

MEN: 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 3000m, 400mH, High Jump, Long Jump, Pole vault, 1500m(Junior)WOMEN: 100m, 400m, 1500m, 100mH, High Jump, Long Jump, Hammer3k Walk (Men and Women)
This year's Sports will include a Juvenile 300m Gala, a series of underage 300m races for boys and girls in all age groups U9-U16. The Gala will precede the senior international programme, commencing at 12 noon. All juvenile athletes are welcome to take part, and must enter online.

Go dtí an chéad am eile, coimeád ag rith!