Record entry for Pakie Ryan Memorial

THE Pakie Ryan Memorial 10k fun run, 5k walk, 30k and 50k cycle was held in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Saturday with a record entry of over 1,800 competitors taking part.
Special guests on the day included Bernard Dunne, former world boxing champion, Martin Donnelly and Brendan Cummins, All-Ireland hurling winner with Tipperary.
The big winners were the three main charities Rape Crisis Mid-West, Clare Crusaders and Mid-Western Cancer Care Foundation.
Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy), Mike Cunningham (Bilboa), Niall and Thomas Shanahan (Limerick), John Hannon (Olympic Harriers) and Vincent O’Brien (Limerick) set the early pace for the first two miles of the 10km runwith Trevor White (St Cronan’s) leading the next chasing group that included Paul Ryan (Limerick) and Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon).
The leading ladies included last year’s winner Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) along with Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare). Tracy Guilfoyle and Ciara Hassett (from Quin and running with Rathfarnham AC in Dublin) were making steady progress along with Verena Tarpey (Limerick).
In the second half of this race, Michael Shannon made a decisive break at the 6k mark and he came home a very comfortable winner in 32:35. The second man was Mike Cunningham, almost four minutes off the winner with Vincent O’Brien third in 37:13.
In the ladies’ race, Veronica Colleran looked good at 7k but Sharon Rynne was starting to get back onto her shoulder at the 8k and she finished very strong over the final 2k to cause a big upset and win with a personal best time of 38:31.
The team competition for non-athletic clubs was won by Newmarket-on-Fergus intermediate hurling team of David McCormack, Niall Enright, Martin Frawley and Brandon Mullins on a total of 216 points from St Caimin’s School Shannon on 272 points and Newmarket-on-Fergus senior hurling team on 371 points.

Results
Senior men
1. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (32.35); 2. Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) (36.16); 3. Vincent O’Brien (Limerick) (37.13); 4. John Hannon (Olympic Harriers) (37.29); 5. Niall Shanahan (Limerick) (37.34); 6. Thomas Shanahan (Limerick) (38.01); 7. Trevor White (St Cronan’s) (38.04); 8. Kenneth Hickey (Ennis) (38.06); 9. Paul Ryan (Limerick) (38.13); 10. Johnny Corbett (Olympic Harriers) (38.16); 11. Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon) (38.20); 12. Anthony Boyle (Shannon Road Runners) (38.25).

Senior ladies
1. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (38.31); 2. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (38.38); 3. Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) (39.23); 4. Ciara Hassett (Rathfarnham WSAF) (42.24); 5. Agnes Rabat (Huat Vallespir USA); 6. Verena Tarpey (Rape Crisis Centre Limerick); 7. Lorna O’Neill (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 8. Melanie Hassett (Quin) (45.20); 9. Michelle Crowe (Newmarket-on-Fergus) (45.38); 10. Rachel Egan (Shannon) (46.20); 11. Tavi Zarate Diaz (Shannon); 12. Aideen De Paor (Galway) (47.05).