Half-marathon titles for Shannon and Duggan

THE second annual Declan Hayes Memorial Half Marathon and 10k Fun Run and Walk attracted a fine turnout of over 500 competitors on Saturday.
Former Kilkenny hurling great DJ Carey was the special guest and the official starter.
All proceeds were divided between Suicide Aware, Kilkee Marine Rescue and Clare Children with Autism.
The big winners were Eimear Power (Sportsworld) in the ladies’ 10k title in 40:04 and John Keogh (Kilmihil) winner of the men’s in 39:59. The ladies’ half-marathon title went to Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s) (94:09) and the men’s title going to Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) who set a new course record of 68:33.
The big field set out at a very good pace and two athletes made a break after one mile, Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) and Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare). Going through the first mile in 5:22, they had a 200m gap at this early stage on Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), Peter Delmer (Athenry), James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Kenneth Hickey (Ennis).
Shannon made his break going towards Baltard National School and at the three-mile mark in 15:52 he had 20m of a lead on Julio Cesear F Castro and they were well away from the rest of the field.
Shannon went through the 10-mile mark in 52:24 and was well on his way to a big win and a new course record of 68:33 from Castro (72:16) and Willie Devitt (77:21).
The ladies’ race was also very supported and produced a lively contest with Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s) setting the pace from the start with Susanne Uí Dhálaigh (Ennis) and Melanie Hassett (Derry). They went through the first mile in 6:45 and they had started to pull away from Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick), Anita O Connell and Claire Knight (Limerick).
Loretto Duggan had moved into the top 12 at the six-mile mark and she came home a big winner in 1.34:09 from Suzanne Uí Dhálaigh (1.40:05) and Melanie Hassett (Derry) (1.40:38).
Peter Delmer (Athenry AC) won the O-40 race in 81:37 with James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) winning the O-50 in 85:05.
The Declan Hayes ladies’ 10k title went to Eimear Power (Sportsworld) in 40:04. She finished second overall in the field with the men’s title going to John Keogh (Kilmihil) in 39:59.

Results
Ladies’ 10k
1. Eimear Power (Sportsworld) (40:04); 2. Helen O’Hanlon (Ennis) (45:14); 3. Lorraine Hayes (Ennis) (47:00); 4. Mary Foran Ryan (Ind) (47:45).
Men’s 10k
1. John Keogh (Kilmihil) (39:59); 2. John O’Brien (Ennis Tri Club) (40:35); 3. Felix Pruemmer (Ennis) (40:40); 4. Tim Forde (Cork) (41:18).

Half marathon
1. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (68.33); 2. Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (72:16); 3. Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (77:21).
O-40
1. Peter Delmer (Athenry) (81:37); 2. Kevin Shalloo (St John’s) (87:36); 3. Thomas O’Connor (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (87:42).
O-50
1. James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (85:05); 2. Tom Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (90:23); 3. Patsy Downes (Doonbeg) (94:08).
Ladies half marathon
1. Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s) (94:09); 2. Suzanne Uí Dhálaigh (Ennis) (100:05); 3. Melanie Hassett (Derry) (100:38); 4. Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick) (103:36).
O-40
1. Rachel Egan (Clare) (114:20); 2. Ann Daly (Clare) (121:17); 3. Una Kennedy (Quin) (123:33).
O-50
1. Claire Knight (Limerick) (107: 24); 2. Mary B Mannion (Ennis) (112:02); 3. Maura Falsey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (116:06).
Junior girls’ 10k
1. Aisling Kelly (St John’s) (55:40).
Junior men 10k
1. Cillian Blake (St John’s) (41:37).