The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The Dulick Motors charity four-mile road race and walk was held in Ennis on Saturday in aid of four charities, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Cahercalla Community Hospital, Clare Cancer Centre Kilnamona and Clare Crusaders.
The event attracted more than 200 competitors.
The rain stayed away as the athletes set out over the four-mile loop and four athletes made an early break, Michael Shannon, Kenneth Rodgers (both St John’s), Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Mike Cunningham (Mooreabbey Milers).
Going towards Drumcliffe, two athletes were away, Michael Shannon and Kenneth Rodgers, and going through the mile mark in five minutes flat. At the two mile-mark, in 9.55, they had almost a minute of a lead built up on Julio Cesear F Castro, winner of the Kildare half marathon in the Curragh last Sunday.
The leaders were shoulder to shoulder at three miles and making their way onto the final stretch, it was Kenneth Rodgers who was starting to show at the front.
He went on to win the title with a personal best time of 19.43 from Michael Shannon (19.45) with Julio Cesear F Castro in third (21.11).
In the ladies’ race, Aishling Power (Ennis Track) and Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) set a lively pace for the start with two more Ennis Track Club athletes, Zelma Power and Becky Coughlan, settling in well over the first mile. Caroline Conroy (West Limerick) was keeping in touch with the second group as Anne Murray (Flagmount) and Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick) were doing well.
The leader powered her way home after the two-mile mark to win in 25.00, with Aisling Power having a fine race to take second in 25.58, just four seconds ahead of Zelma Power.
Results
Senior ladies
1 Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) (25.00); 2 Aisling Power (Ennis Track)(25.58); 3 Zelma Power (Ennis Track)(26.02); 4 Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track)(26.12); 5 Caroline Conroy (West Limerick) (26.18); 6 Anne Murray (Flagmount) (28.20); 7 Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick) (29.11); 8 Mary Cahill (Ennis Track)(29.44); 9 Siobhán Murphy (Kilkenny) (30.08); 10 Rosie Mc Mahon (Ballynacally Meet and Train) (30.57); 11 Una Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (31.09); 12 Fiona O’Neill (Miltown Malbay) (31.15).
Senior men
1 Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s)(19.43); 2 Michael Shannon (St John’s)(19.46); 3 Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (21.11); 4 Mike Cunningham (Mooreabbey Milers) (22.13); 5 Niall O’Riordan (West Limerick) (23.03); 6 Kevin Lynch (Ennis Track)(23.20); 7 Kieran O’Dwyer (Ennis Track)(23.29); 8 Liam Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (24.23); 9 Ger Troy (Clarecastle) (24.42); 10 Brian Comyns (Ennis) (24.56); 11 Brian Sexton (Lahinch) (25.08); 12 Fergal McGrath (Ennis Track)(25.15).
