Sky zooms in on Pakie Ryan Memorial

It IS an event that has generated an unbelievable sense of purpose and the remarkable success story that is the Pakie Ryan Memorial Run in Newmarket is about to be catapulted to a wider audience.
However, this time round, the event has stimulated a greater deal of media interest. In fact, cameras will roll in the village on Saturday, as the event will be filmed for a future transmission on the Sky network.
While this dimension has excited organisers, the real thrust of the memorial 10km run, 5 km walk and cycle, to perpetuate the memory of a young family man and raise funds for local charities, will not be lost on the local community.
Last year, 1,700 participants pounded the pavements and pedalled their way on roads around the parish and this year all the indications are that the level of participation will be surpassed.
Chairman of the organising committee, Anthony O’Looney, is confident of a record entry and says meticulous planning over the past few months should ensure the event runs smoothly.
“We get tremendous co-operation from all the clubs and organisations in the area and want to see that everybody has an enjoyable day. We’ve gone into a lot of detail as regards arrangements and safety for participants and spectators has been the number one priority,” he said.
On the safety aspect, Seamus Cusack, is in charge of marshalling on the day.
“We place marshals at all junctions and ensure parking is available for all. Good communication is essential and local gardaí oversee our preparations and advise on road safety,” he added.
Secretary, Davy Ryan, brother of the late Pakie, is keen to stress the event has a healthy theme.
“We have plenty of choice and it’s great to see the large numbers, who turn out for a 5km walk, who would not normally participate in such an organised event. Young and not so young take part side by side and there’s a big social dimension to the hospitality at the finishing line,” he outlined.
Committee member, Flan Sheedy confirmed there would be a balloon release again this year.
“We introduced the balloon release last year and the balloon that went the furthest distance was Castlegregory in County Kerry. It was a great sight to see the thousands of red balloons floating into a clear blue sky,” he recalled.
There are two cycles on the day also, a 30km short route and a 50km spin for the more experienced.
Cycle organiser, Kevin Murray pointed out that all cyclists must wear a helmet and there will be motorcycle escorts to aid safe passage through roundabouts. Kevin is assisted this year by veteran of many cycling events, Ollie Hayes.
Emer Considine and Gráinne Ryan are co-ordinating registration and participants can register at Newmarket National School between 6pm and 9pm on Friday night and again on Saturday morning from 8.30am and 10am.
“Most people come on Friday evening to collect a race number and t-shirt,” Emer said. “We have an experienced team who ensure a speedy processing of people. We are fortunate, also, to have the legend of Clare athletics, James Sexton, on hand on race day to ensure results are available quickly,” she added.
Other committee members include Elaine O’Malley, Mike Cusack, Mark O’Malley, Johnny Ryan and Paul Tuohy. In its short history, the Pakie Ryan Memorial Run has raised over €60,000 for local charities. This year’s nominated charities are Milford Care Centre, Clare Crusaders Clinic and Mid-West Rape Crisis Centre.
Further details are available on www.pakieryanrun.com or by contacting David Ryan on 086 877 3017 or Anthony O’Looney on 086 825 3406.

5k titles for McGinley and Colleran

The (Ennis Track) Mothers Day 5k fun run/walk held at Lees Road in beautiful sunny conditions attracted almost 150 competitors. Brian McGinley (Ennis Track) and Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) made an early break and they went through the 1k mark in 3.09.
At this stage, they had opened up a good lead on Robert Staunton (Galway City Harriers), Eugene Moynihan (Marian)and Cormac Murphy (Fingal Tri Club) along with Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) who was running in the top six, along with Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy).
The leaders were together at the 2k mark in 6.23 and they were still locked together and 4k, producing the fastest kilometre of the race (3.06). Brian McGinley had to produce the big finish to take this title in 15.46, with Julio Cesear F Castro second and a good gap to the third finisher, Robert Staunton (16.36) with Eugene Moynihan (Marian) fourth in 17.15.   
The ladies’ race was very well contested with Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track), who finished second in the Joey Hannon Memorial 6k road race the previous day, recording a great victory in 19.00 with Tracy Guilfoyle a very good second in 19.25. After a mighty battle for third spot, Jackie O’Connor (Ennis Track) got in ahead of Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track), with Grace Eade (Ennis Track) fifth.

Results
Senior ladies
1 Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (19.00); 2 Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy)  (19.25); 3 Jackie O’Connor (Ennis Track) (20.11); 4 Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (20.12); 5 Grace Eade (Ennis Track) (20.40); 6 Gráinne McGuane (Galway City Harriers) (21.13); 7 Lorraine Hayes Ennis (23.16); 8 Jacinta Fahy (Ardrahan) (23.21); 9 Susan Taylor (St Cronan’s) (23.59); 10 Michelle Timoney Reeves (Ennis Track) (24.28); 11 Una Torpey (Quin) (24.37);12 Rosie McMahon Ballynacally (25.11).
Senior men
1 Brian McGinley (Ennis Track) (15.46); 2 Julio Cesar F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (15.59); 3 Robert Staunton (Galway City Harriers) (16.36); 4 Eugene Moynihan (Marian)(17.15); 5 Cormac Murphy (Fingal Tri Club) (19.15); 6 Aonghusa Fahy (Ardrahan) (19.52); 7 David O’Connor (Ennis Track) (20.00); 8 Sean Cahalane (Gneeveguilla) (20.53); 9 Shane Collins (Quin) (21.02); 10 Michael Harvey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (21.24); 11 Fergal McGrath (Ennis Track) (21.50); 12 Niall Matthews (RTÉ) (22.34).

Juvenile Indoor Championships

The National Juvenile Indoor Track and Field Championships (Day 1) for U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19s will take place at the Nenagh Indoor Arena this Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10am both days.
There will be one Clare athlete in the U-12 600m, James McGuire (Ennis Track), with a number of Clare athletes in the boys’ U-13, Tony Odubuto (Ennis Track) in the 60m and long jump, Thomas Clancy (St John’s) in the high jump, Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) in the 600m with Alex O Neill (St Cronan’s) the Munster U13s silver medal winner, will compete in the high jump.
In the boys’ U-14, Cathal O’Brien (Ennis Track) will be competing in the long jump, with Anna Courtney (Marian) in the girls’ U-14 60m hurdles and Angharad Loughnane (Marian) in the girls’ U-14 shot putt.
In the U-16 girls, Derbhile Ryan (Clonlara and Nenagh AC) will be in the high jump along with Rachel Clancy (St John’s) and Ronan Barry (Marian) in the boys’ U-16 high jump.
Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track) will be in the boys’ U-16 1,500m, Siobhán Nestor (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) in the girls’ U-17 1,500m, Laura Egan (Kilmihil) and Emer Hillery (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) in the girls’ U-18 1,500m finals and Emer Hillery in the 300m.
The big medal contender will be in the boys’ U-19, where Cormac Lynch (Marian), Munster champion at 60m and 200m, will be in action.

Michael Egan Memorial
Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare Athletic Club are holding the Michael Egan Memorial four-mile open road race and four-mile fun walk on Sunday, April 1 at Quilty, with the fun walk and the road race both starting at 1.30pm.
Changing facilities will be at the Kilmurry Ibrickane GAA Club, with the presentation of prizes and refreshments in the clubhouse.

Masters hit the roads in Waterford

The Munster Athletics Association Masters Road Championships will take place this Sunday  in Waterford (beside Butlerstown GAA Pitch on the R680 West of Waterford City) and the first race will be the masters Ladies (four miles) at 1pm  and that will be followed by the masters men’s (four miles) at  1.30pm.
Clare will be fielding two teams, with Clare clubs well represented and the Munster Masters Cross Country silver medal winners, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, will start as favourites to take the Munster title in the O-50s, with Clare also contesting the county award and a stiff challenge will come from Tipperary and Cork, along with the hosts, County Waterford.
The  following  Clare  teams have been selected:
Masters men O-50
Eugene Moynihan, Tommy Madden, Marian, Iggy Landers (St Cronan’s); Tom Mackey, James Kenny, James Sexton, Michael Harvey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare;) Michael Quinlivan (Tulla); Sean Whelan (Ennis Track).
Masters ladies O-50
Maura Falsey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); Cushla Murphy Hehir (Marian); Carmel McDomhnaill (West Limerick).

Fixtures
March
24 Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors U-14 to U-19 in Nenagh, starting at 9am.
24 The Newmarket-on-Fergus Pakie Ryan Memorial 10k Road Race and 5k fun walk in aid of Milford Hospice, Mid West Cancer Care Centre and Clare Crusaders, starting at the soccer pitch at 11am (contact Flan Sheedy 086 8662920).
25 Munster AAI Masters Men four-mile and Masters Ladies four-mile road championships in Waterford, beside Butlerstown GAA Pitch, starting at 1pm.
31 International Schools Cross Country, Perth, Scotland.
31 Athletics Ireland Juvenile Indoors U-14 to U-19 in Nenagh, starting at 9am.
April
1 42nd annual Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and the annual Michael Egan Memorial four-mile road race and four-mile fun walk plus the Clare AAI four-mile road championships at Quilty, starting at 1.30pm.
4 Clare Community Games relays in Cooraclare football field, starting at 6pm.
7 Cratloe 10k Road Race and 5k fun run/walk, starting at 12noon. 
8 The 28th annual Michael Sonny Murphy Memorial 10-mile road race classic and 10k fun walk at 1.45pm and road race at 2pm in Kilnaboy.
9 Ennistymon Hurling Club and Ennistymon Community Hospital 5k fun run and walk, starting at Ennistymon GAA Clubhouse at 11am.
14 The Johnny McMahon Healthy Heart 10k fun run and 3.5k walk in aid of three charities, Kilmaley Voluntary Housing, Clare Crusaders and Uganda Rays of Hope Hospice, Jinya, starting at Kilmaley school at 12noon.
15 Marian AC and the Matt O’Connor Memorial Open Sports at the Lees Road, starting at 2pm.