Cooraclare runners out in force for Autism West Clare

THE annual Cooraclare 10k Fun Run, with all proceeds in aid of Voices for Autism West Clare, attracted 120 competitors.

Three athletes made an early break, Michael Shannon (St John’s), Willie Devitt and Finbar O’Grady (both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare). They went through the 1km mark in 3:40 with James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) leading the next chasing group that included Oliver McInerney (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Caoimhin Donnellan and Colm Carroll (both Cooraclare).

The leaders were running shoulder to shoulder at the 3km mark but by the 5km mark in 17:30, Michael Shannon was starting to pull away. He dominated the second half of this race to win with a time of 33:26 with Willie Devitt second in 35:35 and Finbarr O’Grady third in 36:29. The first junior was Caoimhin Donnellan (Cooraclare) in 43:30 with Colm Carroll (Cooraclare) the first local in 44:25.

The ladies’ race  was a much closer contest with Mary Cahill (Ennis Track), Maura Falsey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), Marian Downes (Kilmihil), Marian Lillis (Cooraclare) all running very steady and as they went through the 5km mark in 23:48, Mary Cahill had started to open up a few metres on the rest of this group. She held that slight lead all the way to the finishing line, finishing in 48:00 with Maura Falsey second in 49:25 and she was also the first local girl.

Results
Senior ladies: 1. Mary Cahill (Ennis Track) (48:00); 2. Maura Falsey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (49:25); 3. Marian Downes (Kilmihil) (49:32).
Senior men: 1. Michael Shannon (St John’s) (33:26); 2. Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (35:35); 3. Finbar O’Grady (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (36:29).
Cooraclare ladies: 1. Maura Falsey (Cooraclare) (49:25); 2. Marian Lillis (Cooraclare) (49:55); 3. Lourda Lillis (Cooraclare) (54:05).
Cooraclare men: 1. Colm Carroll (Cooraclare) (44:25); 2. Michael Kelly (Cooraclare) (44:39); 3. Tadgh Lillis (Cooraclare) (46:56).
Junior: 1. Caoimhin Donnellan Cooraclare (43:30).