Duhallow 10 Mile
Helen Gilroy 1st O/50, Marie Gillman 3rd O/50, Esther Murphy 1st O/40 in the Duhallow 10 which was very well organised.
Manchester Marathon
The Manchester Marathoners
Some superb running here from our two runners with both getting PBs. Morgan O'Regan did a great time of 3.O.24 yes three hours and twenty four seconds. Whilst Ger O'Regan also did a fantastic run of 3.16.57.
Well done both of ye that was fantastic running. We have a few photos of Ger thanks to Mark O'Reilly's sister.
Paris Marathon
Chris McCarthy was in touch to say Paris is done and dusted. He just coasted around and enjoyed it better that way. A full report and photos will follow from Chris as soon as he gets back.
UCC Carmel Lynch Memorial 10Km
On a wet and miserable morning this race started bang on time and as soon as the gun went off the rain stopped and stayed stopped until the race was finished and then started again. There was a great crowd of four hundred and sixty eight ran, Our first amn home was Kevin Smith closely followed by Edwin Cashman and our first lady was Sheila Buckley. Derek Ahern had a great run and got a PB by breaking 40min for the first time.
Our prize winners were Sheila Buckley 2nd O/35. Marian Aherne 1st O/50 and Joand McCarthy 2nd O/60. We had a very large crowd from the club running and also had a great crew helping with the advertising for our own race beforehand.
Photos are at the end of this post below.
Training Change Of Venue On Wednesday
The venue for Wednesday evening training will move from the Community Centre to Dairygold Co Op in Market Green (where the 9pm Thursday group meet) from Next Wednesday at 6.30. Plenty of parking and a great choice of routes plus toilet and changing facilities.
BALLINTOTIS TRIAL RUN
THIS YEARS TRIAL RUN FOR LOCAL CLUBS AROUND THE COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY APRIL 10 STARTING AT 7PM SHARP.
Paris Marathon
Photo shows club member Christopher McCarthy pointing out his name on the wall of entrants for the Paris Marathon tomorrow, We wish Chris the very best as we do all our runners.
Best of luck to all running this weekend and please remember to send in your reports mdtacinfo@gmail.com. We have runners in the Manchester Marathon, the Duhallow 10 , the Carmel Lynch (UCC) 10km ,Paris Marathon and probably elsewhere as well.
EIGHTY YEARS YOUNG – AND STILL RUNNING!
(By John Walshe, Midleton & District News, April 4th.)
It was a special occasion for a remarkable man last Sunday week at the final event in the Cloyne Commons Challenge 4km Series.
After finishing the four-kilometre race around the Commons circuit in a time of 25:56, Billy Griffin went into Harty’s Bar for a well-deserved cup of tea and a few biscuits. Instead, what awaited him was a beautiful cake in a surprise birthday celebration organised by his family, relatives and friends.
But this was no ordinary birthday for it marked Billy’s 80th year of which, amazingly, over 60 have been spent involved in athletics. In an article for Midleton Athletic Club’s 50th year publication in 2016, Billy explained how it all began: “I started off back in 1956; I began on my own as there was no club in Midleton or Carrigtwohill at the time. I remember cycling down to Carrigaline sports and up to Glenville, and cycling home again. There was an attempt made to form a club here in Midleton, we actually had shirts and all made, but it didn’t last very long.
“A few of us then joined Carrigtwohill for a short time and when the present club was formed in Midleton, we moved back. My brother, Maurice was on the committee of the new club. He didn’t run, although he did a bit of high jumping. I ran cross-country and the open sports mainly, as there were no road races at the time.
“One of the few races was from Waterfall to Warren’s Cross and I won it on one occasion. They’d never give you a distance; you just ran from A to B, it could be anything from three to four miles. Training at the time was all in the fields. We lived on the Rocky Road near Castleredmond and I used to have a fierce problem in the night-time but then I got the brainwave of putting on a beret and tying a flash-lamp or torch to it.”
The Cloyne 4km last Sunday week started at 9.30am which, given the change in time, was actually 8.30am. But early starts were never a problem for Billy Griffin as he was well-known for running around the streets of Midleton at unearthly hours.
“When I started working with Rohan’s in the 1960s I used to train at six in the morning. It was an eight o’clock start there but when I went to work for John A Wood we started at seven, so I had to get out at half-five to train,” he explained.
In his six decades of racing, the highlights which stand out include his three Dublin marathons (with a best of 3:24) and his first Cork to Cobh which he ran with the late Jerry Martin from Leamlara.
“Looking back now, it’s great to be still able to get out and run and it’s also great to see the Midleton club doing so well and to see all the people now out running.”
No doubt this amazing man, who is an example to people half (or even quarter) his age, will be out there amongst the multitudes on the roads of east Cork once again during the summer months ahead.
Keep the Midleton 5 alive.
The Midleton 5 (The Joe Hourigan Memorial) is the last great open 5 Mile race left in East Cork. BALLYANDREEN 5 is GONE, SHANAGARRY 5 is GONE, CHURCHTOWN SOUTH 5 is GONE, BALLYCOTTON 5 is GONE and the only one left standing is the MIDLETON 5.
So please come out and support the last of the classics. A race by runners for runners of all abilities from the fastest to the slowest all are catered for in this historic event.
You can enter now at www.midletonac.com and be sure of your place on the start line on 3rd May. Danny
Other Races
Carmel Lynch 10Km
Remember its a 10.30 start
This 10k race starts near Mardyke Gym on Mardyke Walk with registration at the Western Gateway Buildings from 9am. Please allow sufficient time to get across to the start line as the race will start at 10.30am. Note, start and finish are approximate on the map below and will be marked out and stewarded on race day.
Let UCC AC know you’ll be there by registering your interest on their Facebook event page.
Details at http://www.corkbhaa.com/races/ucc/
Thinking of racing the 5K on April 12th?
Pre-register your details online now to save time on race night...it would help us ensure a punctual start so please take the time by clicking below and submitting your details.
No Fees Now - pay at the pre-registered table on the night when you come to collect your race number.
Photos from UCC 10KM
