Running the ’Bridge

The first Olympic Harriers/Bridge Milers 10k road race and 5k fun walk was held in Sixmilebridge on Friday evening when almost 800 competitors took part.

Over the first kilometre a group of five athletes made an early break. They were Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy), Michael Herlihy (North Cork), Sergio Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers), Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s), and Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and they went through the 1k mark in 2:51secs. Sergio Ciobanu was looking to beat 31:31secs which was Neil Cusack’s 10k split time when he won the Boston marathon in 1974.

Joseph Mooney from the local Olympic Harriers was leading the next chasing group along with Jason Broderick (Craughwell) and Niall Shanahan (Limerick). Sergio Ciabanu went through the 2k point in 5:54 and he was now almost 50m clear. He came home a very comfortable winner in 30:33 beating Neil Cusack’s time of 31:31. Michael Shannon pulled away from Michael Herlihy over the final half mile to take second.
Olympic Harriers were the team winners with  Joseph Mooney, John Hannon, Johnny Corbett and Barry Forde with 73 points and they won from Kilnaboy on 82 and Clare Crusaders on 203.

In the ladies race Tracy Roche (Dooneen AC) started out as a pace maker for athletes to run a sub 40mins 10k. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) went through the 1k in 5:50 running in the top ten with Veronica Colleran and Cushla Brid Hehir (Ennis Track) working well together as they made there way towards the 3k mark.

Sharon Rynne went through the half way point in 19:00 and at this stage she had a 30 second lead on Veronica Colleran. Over the final 3k she increased her lead to finish 14th overall with a time of 38:50 with Veronica Colleran second in 39:42 and Cushla Brid Hehir third in 40:07.

Results
Senior ladies: 1. Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (38.50); 2. Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track (39.42); 3. Cushla Brid Hehir, Ennis Track (40.07); 4. Andre Walkin, Go Tri Coaching (40.24); 5. Linda O’Shea, Sixmilebridge (42.41); 6. Loretto Duggan, St Mary’s (42.46); 7. Aoifa Carroll, Mallow (43.01); 8. Deirdre Finn, Boru Tri Club (43.08); 9. Muireann Lohan, Kilnaboy (43.16); 10. Linda Earley, Kildare; 11. Ellen Solan, St Cronan’s (44.48); 12. Ann McCauley, Ind (45.55).
Senior men: 1. Sergio Ciobanu, Clonliffe Harriers (30.33); 2. Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy (31.59); 3. Michael Herlihy, North Cork (32.08); 4. Kenneth Rodgers St Johns (32.23); 5. Julio Cesear F Castro, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (33.23); 6. Jason Broderick, Craughwell (35.43); 7. Joseph Mooney, Olympic Harriers (36.23); 8. Niall Shanahan, Limerick (36.50); 9. Ambrose Heagney, Kilnaboy (37.11); 10. Brian Murphy, Ennis Track (37.17); 11. John Hannon, Olympic Harriers (37.24); 12. Johnny Corbett, Olympic Harriers (37.46).
Teams: 1. Olympic Harriers = 73pts; 2. Kilnaboy = 82pts; 3. Clare Crusaders = 203pts.