THE Clarecastle 10k Road Race was held in wet conditions on Saturday, with more than 200 competitors taking part.
After a mighty contest, Brian Murphy, Ennis Track, and Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy, crossed the line together with a time of 31.31, with Keith Whyte, St John’s, third in 33.45. Rachel Molloy, Limerick, recorded a big win in the ladies’ race in 42.13 from Noreen Mackey, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare and Mary Carthy, O’Briensbridge.
Clarecastle man Brian Murphy, along with Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy, had gone over 100m clear of Keith White, St John’s at the 2k mark with Pat Hogan, Ennis Track, working hard in fourth spot from Michael Killeen, Damian Roche and Tom Mackey, both Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare.
Murphy and Shannon had moved well away from the rest of the field at the 8k mark and they crossed the finish line shoulder to shoulder.
The ladies’ race was a well-supported event and Ennis Meet and Train, along with a number of Clare clubs, were well represented.
Rachel Molloy made an early move at the 5k mark and she had gone well clear by the 8k stage.

Results
Ladies
1. Rachel Molloy, Limerick (42.13);
2. Noreen Mackey, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (43.38); 3. Mary Carthy, O’Briensbridge (45.07);
4. Rita Whelan, Ind (46.31); 5. Ciara Lynch, Ind (47.52); 6. Bernadette Nash, Ind (48.29).
Senior men
1. Brian Murphy, Ennis Track and Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy (31.31);
3. Keith White, St John’s (33.45);
4. Pat Hogan, Ennis Track (35.36);
5. Damian Roche, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (36.14); 6. Tom Mackey, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (36.19); 7. Michael Killeen, Clarecastle (36.25); 8. John Hannon, Newmarket-on-Fergus (36.59); 9. Barry Whelan, Ind (37.02);
10. Martin Clancy, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (38.26); 11. Eamon Morgan, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (38.28); 12. Tom Geraghty, Marian (38.31).

Fixtures
July
18 Mazda Track and Field League Round 2
24-25 Athletics Ireland Juvenile Track and Field U-12s to U-19s Championships in Tullamore, starting at 10am
30 Kildysart Cultural Festival and the fourth annual Dermot Power Memorial four-mile fun walk and four-mile road race, starting at 7.30pm
31 Kilmihil Festival, Dan O’Halloran Memorial 10k road race at 2pm
31-1 Athletics Ireland Juvenile and Senior Combined Events in Tullamore
August
1 Munster Masters Track and Field Championships at Cork IT starting at 11am

 

Seamus Power wins Dundrum 10k

Dundrum Athletics Club held its annual road race in beautiful weather conditions with more than 200 competitors taking part, including a big Clare contingent.
Making a rare appearance this season, Seamus Power, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare won the title in 31.22. Shannon man James McIntyre (Finn Valley) was fourth with Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy, in fifth spot.
Loretta Duggan, St Mary’s, won the Masters Ladies’ O-35s title.
With one full circuit complete, Power was starting to stamp his authority at the front after Michael Carmody, Limerick, set the early pace and he came away with a very comfortable victory with a time of 31.22.
The Clare ladies were well represented in Dundrum, where Siobhán O’Doherty, Borrisokane, retained the title in 34.43, with Angela McCann, Clonmel, finishing second.
Loretta Duggan, St Mary’s, led the next chasing group and she captured the masters Ladies’ O-35s title.

Results
Senior ladies
1. Siobhán O’Doherty, Borrisokane (34.43); 2 Angela McCann, Clonmel (37.17); 3. Tracy Dooneen, Dooneen (37.37); 4. Eimear Power, Sportsworld (38.56); 5. Mary Louise, Ryan Bilboa (40.13); 6. Marie Carey, Ennis Track (40.17).
O-35
1. Loretta Duggan, St Mary’s (43.00).
O-50
1. Bernie Kelly, Galway City Harriers (44.42); 2. Carmel McDomhnaill, West Limerick (46.14); 3. Maura Falsey, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (47.06).
Senior men
1. Seamus Power, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (31.22); 2. Martin Doody, Limerick (32.14); 3. Michael Carmody, Limerick (32.42); 4. James McIntyre, Finn Valley (32.52); 5 Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy (33.18); 14. Keith Whyte, St John’s (35.06); 38. John Galvin, St John’s (38.07); 40. Frank Landy, Ennis Track (38.37).

Chesser retains title at national track and field championships in Santry

The Athletics Association of Ireland National Track and Field Championships were held over two days in Santry Stadium, with a host of Irish stars taking part before going to the European Championships in Barcelona.
Rory Chesser, Ennis Track, has been performing very well recently. On Saturday, he ran in England and posted a time of 3.42, while on Sunday he took part in the 3,000m steeplechase for the third year in-a-row. From the start, he went out with the leaders and produced a 64-second first lap. Among those who were fancied to do well in this event were Mark Kirwan, Raheny, Emmet Dunleavy, Sligo, who finished second last year, and Paul Rupprecht, Leevale.
On the final lap, Chesser had a 20m lead and he powered his way down the home straight to take the gold medal and repeat last year’s success with a fast winning time of 8.51:95, 10 seconds ahead of Paul Rupprecht, with Emmet Dunleavy taking the bronze medal.
Timothy Crowe, Sixmilebridge and Dooneen AC, finished eighth in the 400 hurdles in 54.36.
In the 56lbs for distance David Tierney, who hails from Ennistymon and competes with Leevale AC, captured the silver medal with a throw of 7.82m. The Clare champion, Richard Pilkington. Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare. was eighth with a throw of 6.07m.
In the 56lbs over the bar Michael O’Brien, Tulla, finished joint fifth with a throw of 3.50m while Richard Pilkington was seventh with a throw of 3.30m.

Results
Senior men 3000m steeplechase
1. Rory Chesser, Ennis Track (8.51:95); 2. Paul Rupprecht, Leevale (9.00:18); 3. Emmet Dunleavy, Sligo (9.01:77).
400m hurdles
8. Tim Crowe, Sixmilebridge and Donneen AC (54.36).
56lbs for distance.
1. Tomas Rauktys, Clonliffe Harriers (7.89m); 2. David Tierney, Ennistymon and Leevale (7.82m); 3. Sean Breathnach, Galway City Harriers (7.58m); 8. Richard Pilkington, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (6.07m).
56lbs over the bar
1. Seamus Fitzpatrick, North Laois (4.10m); 5. Michael O’Brien, Tulla (3.50m); 7. Richard Pilkington, Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare (3.30m).