Michael Shannon wins final 5k

THE Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Athletics Association held its final round of the summer series at Lees Road Sports Complex last Thursday evening. It was another huge success attracting over 200 athletes.

Fergal Smithwick (Marian) set a lively pace for the rest of the field along with Michael Maher, Martin Grealish, Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy). They went through the 1km mark in 3:03. Michael Maher and Michael Shannon had taken over the lead at the 2km mark with Fergal Smithwick working hard to stay with the leaders as they made their way through the 3km mark in 9:25.
Martin Grealish had moved into fourth spot with Thomas Grimes (Limerick) and Kevin Chesser (Ennis Track) in the top six.
At the 4km, Shannon had that few metres of a lead and running a fine race, he came home in a time of 15:32 followed 20 seconds further back by Michael Maher. After a great contest for the minor places, the winner of round one, Fergal Smithwick finished in third spot followed by round two winner, Martin Grealish.
Eighty percent of the participants were ladies and last week, Leevale athlete Annette Quaid was contesting leadership with Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), who had recorded four straight wins. Both of these girls were setting a very fast pace, going through the 1km in 3:20, at which point they had opened up a few metres on Veronica Colleran, Siobhán Lennon and Aishling Power (all Ennis Track). As the leaders made their way towards the Lahinch Road, they were starting to pull away from the rest of the field with Rita Kierce (St Mary’s) and Michelle O’Mahoney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) making very good progress.
Annette Quaid had 20 seconds of a lead after the 4km and she held that advantage all the way to the finish to win with a time of 17:56. Sharon Rynne recorded another fast time to take second followed by Veronica Colleran.

Results
Senior ladies
1. Annette Quaid (Leevale) (17:56); 2. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (18;16); 3. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (18:21); 4. Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track) (19:02).   
Senior men
1. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (15:33); 2. Michael Maher (Ennis Track) (15:56); 3. Fergal Smithwick (Marian) (16:10); 4. Martin Grealish (Ennis Track) (16:21).
Male walker
1. Brian Cleary (Miltown Malbay) (31:08).
Female walker
1. Sinéad Rouine (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (26:06); 2. Teresa Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (31:14); 3. Elaine Rouine (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (31:32).