Midleton AC Senior Section News Update
by Peter Gunning - Joint P.R.O

In Beaumont Park last Sunday week several of our athletes endured the mud, sweat and tears of the ESB cross-country challenge albeit heavier on the mud and lighter on both the sweat and tears. Once hosed down at the finish line Denis Kelleher and Stanislaw Bycheck emerged as our front running male pair while Maggie Chojan and Sally Drennan further enhanced their cross-country credentials on behalf of ladies. Ned Ramsell, Vincent O’Neill and Danny McCarthy also braved the conditions amongst a highly competitive 160 strong field.
Last Sunday saw the 24th running of the Tom Ryan Eagle AC 5 miler in Carrigaline. The Edge Sport sponsored event saw 446 athletes take to the line with 31 wearing the green and black hooped vests of Midleton AC. In a race won by Seánie McGrath it fell to Kevin Smith to lead our men home in a steady 29:03. Noel O’Regan, still recuperating from a succession of injuries looks to be returning to form in time for Ballycotton with a most respectable 29:21. Breathing down their vests however was a very strong club pack which included Kieran Mulachy, Neilus Aherne, Marc Dalton, Michael Dolphin, Fergal O’Meara and Mick Murphy. PB of the day went to new member, Niall McCarthy with a super 32:38 (watch this space guys!) with PRO of the day John Cashman a mere seven seconds in Niall’s slipstream. Morgan O’Regan ran a great 33.28 while John Carey, Francis Maunsell and Kevin Cooney were well pleased with their comfortable sub-7minute miling. Anna Doris led our ladies home in 34.05 with Sally Drennan second in 36.27. Susan Delaney, Helen Gilroy, Mary O’Keeffe and Margaret Jones all broke the 38 minute mark to average 7:30 miling which sets them all up nicely to PB in some style in Ballycotton. Sheila Buckley, Trish Murphy, Bernie Twomey, Caitlín O’Mahony, Joan McCarthy and Marion Cotter also enjoyed great runs on a beautiful morning in Carrigaline as did Kevin Morrison, Paul Geary, Donie O’Connell and Danny McCarthy. As these notes go to press all results are provisional but both Neilus and Sally took silver in their categories. Plus ca change!
Fergal O’Meara has informed this column that tickets for the post-Ballycotton dinner in Garryvoe Hotel are still available and he will be collecting money at training on both Monday and Wednesday nights. Tickets are €15 for members and €25 for partners, friends and groupies. There is a bus booked to bring us all home at midnight for an additional €5. As always this will be a wonderful night of celebration for our club. We particularly welcome those of you who are running Ballycotton for the first time to join us for a night of fun, laughter and song. That said booking is Brisk and numbers are limited so get in touch with Fergal asap.
Training continues each Monday (Midleton College 6pm) and Wednesday (Community Centre 6pm and 7pm). Various groups are meeting to trial the Ballycotton route at the weekend. Ask Edmund, Sally, Danny or John for details at training. Until next time .... Keep running!