Rynne and Grealish are top in Ballyea

The Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Athletics Association held its summer series four-mile road race and walk in Ballyea last week. There was another fine turnout for the event, which was hosted by Ennis Track Club. One-hundred-and-seventy athletes set out at 7pm from Ballyea Community Centre and Fergal Smithwick, winner of the 5k in Lees Road, set a very fast pace for the first mile, going through the mile mark in 5.30.
The chasing group was led by Mike Cunningham (Bilboa), Martin Grealish (Ennis Track), Michael Kelly (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Dariusz Kuranda (Ennis Track).
Pat Nugent was making good progress towards the leaders, along with the leading lady, Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Martin Grealish was on the shoulder of Fergal Smithwick as they went through the two-mile mark in 10.35 and over the final two miles, Grealish stamped his authority at the front and opened up a good lead going towards the three-mile mark, which he held all the way to finish.
He completed the course in a time of 21.42, with Dariusz Kuranda getting in for the second spot in 22.22 and Fergal Smithwick third in 22.25.
The ladies’ race was dominated by Sharon Rynne for the second week in a row and she set a very fast pace from the start. Going out with the leading men, she had a 10-second gap on Veronica Colleran at the mile mark. Siobhán Lennon, Aishling Power, Jackie O’Connor, Becky Coughlan, (all Ennis Track) were in the chasing group, with Michelle O’Mahoney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) a few metres further back.
Sharon Rynne recorded a very comfortable victory with a time of 24.30 and Veronica Colleran was a very good second in 25.04 with Siobhán Lennon third in 25.35.

Results
Senior Ladies: 1 Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (24.30); 2 Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (25.04); 3 Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track) (25.35); 4 Aishling Power (Ennis Track) (26.01); 5 Jackie O’Connor (Ennis Track) (26.32); 6 Michelle O’Mahoney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (26.54); 7 Rita Kierce (St Mary’s)(27.38); 8 Grace Eade (Ennis Track) (27.40); 9 Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s)(27.48); 10 Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (27.58); 11 Deirdre Cahill (Ennis Track) (28.25); 12 Susan Griffin (Ennis Track) (28.58).
Senior men: 1 Martin Grealish (Ennis Track) (21.42); 2 Dariusz Karunda (Ennis Track) (22.22); 3 Fergal Smithwick (Marian) (22.25); 4 Michael Kelly (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (22.27); 5 Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) (22.43); 6 Pat Nugent (Ennis Track) (23.08); 7 Eugene Moynihan (Marian) (23.47); 8 Pat Healy (Marian) 24.00); 9 Anthony Boyle (Shannon Road Runners) (24.23); 10 Rafal Kuranda (Ennis Track) (24.26); 11 Pat Hogan (Ennis Track) (24.35); 12 Douglas Hurley (Kilnaboy) (24.40).
Male Walker: 1 Brian Cleary (Miltown Malbay) (47.09).
Female Walker: 1 Elaine Rouine (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (43.48); 2 Sinéad Rouine (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (46.14); 3 Teresa Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (47.04).