Huge turnout for Hurley-Hoey memorial fundraiser

A total of 2,219 registered adult runners and walkers participated in last Saturday’s inaugural Eilish Hurley-Ger Hoey Memorial 10km walk/run. However that figure doesn’t include children. Organisers said that close to 2,500 people took part in the event, which started and finished at the St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield GAA grounds in Gurteen.

Proceeds raised will be donated St Anne’s School in Ennis and The Sunshine Children’s Ward in the Regional Hospital, Limerick.

Approximately 250 people took part in international sister events, with the largest numbers running in Centennial Park, Sydney.

“We had no idea how the marketing was going to go but it came good, which was very gratifying. The parish bought into it. The international stuff was just mind blowing. Everything from Angela Meaney with a photograph of Eilish (Hurley) in Melbourne to my brother, Conor, winning the Sydney run,” organising committee chairman Lorcan Hassett told The Clare Champion.

“It was great for the first year and the hope would be that it will grow year by year. The first goal was to make a difference to people who need it and we will make a difference. That was the whole premise for doing it,” he added.
The theme of the fundraiser in Clare and abroad was ‘run in memory of your loved ones.’
Sister events were held in Melbourne; Hyde Park, London; Pitsford Reservoir, Northampton; Dubai, Cape Town, New York, Madrid and Buenos Aires.

Leading the field at the start was Frank Landy (Ennis Track), Michael Shannon and Kenneth Rodgers with Robert Staunton (Galway City Harriers) leading the chasing group along with James Murphy from Tulla, now running with Crusaders AC Dublin, Gerry Carty (Galway City Harriers), Willie Devitt and Finbar O’Grady (both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Michael Shannon and Kenneth Rodgers went through the 2k in 6.15 but at the 5k mark, Shannon began to gain a few metres on his rivals, going through the half-way at 16.06. He was firmly in control for the second half of the race and arrived back in Gurteen with a time of 32 minutes followed by Kenneth Rodgers (32.06) and Robert Staunton (Galway City Harriers) in 32.54.
Dympna Ryan came home a very good winner of the ladies race in 37.28 from Marie Carey (39.02) and Ann McPhail (39.39).

Results
Senior ladies
1. Dympna Ryan, Dundrum (37.28); 2. Marie Carey, Ennis Track (9.02); 3. Ann McPhail, Dooneen (39.39); 4. Ann Marie Brooks, Marian (43.02); 5. Lorraine O’Loughlin, ind (43.02); 6. Melanie Hassett, ind (43.39).
Senior men
1. Michael Shannon, St John’s (32.00); 2. Kenneth Rodgers, St John’s (32.06); 3. Robert Staunton, Galway City Harriers (32.54); 4. James Murphy, Crusaders (34.19); 5. Gerry Carty, Galway City Harriers (35.25);
6. Niall Shanahan, ind (35.38); 7. Willie Devitt, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (35.45); 8. Finbar O’Grady, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (35.47); 9. Dermot Kearns, Dooneen (36.06); 10. Roy Holohan, Kilrush GAA (36.11).