The Club made the short trip to Ballyneale last Sunday for the County Intermediate Road Championships, promoted by Carrick on Suir AC.
The women’s 4k race saw 7 club athletes competing. Suzanne Shine buoyed by her great performance in the County Novice B last Sunday led the charge and was well in contention throughout the race and on the downhill finish, she was full of running when finishing 4th in 15 mins 55 secs with the fast finishing AnnMarie Boland hot on her heels in 5th place in 16 mins, great running and improving on last year’s performance by 4 secs. Then we had Anne Marie Halpin also running a great race when finishing 7th in 16 mins 19 secs and these three athletes combined very well to win the Silver medals, beaten by just one point for the Gold medals, oh so close. We also had very good performances from Michelle Doherty 11th in 16 mins 54 secs, Nicola Maunsell 12th in 17 mins 4 secs, Sancha Quigley 18th in 18 mins 39 secs, great to see Sancha back running well again and the improving Donna Nagle 20th in 19 mins 42 secs.
The Men’s race also saw the Club very well represented with 9 athletes going to the starting line. Here the pace was strong from the start with Jimmy Boland in the leading group of three athletes. Throughout the race only a few strides separated these three athletes as they moved well clear of the chasing pack as the race unfolded. It was only over the final 400m as the athletes came into view that the medals were decided with Jimmy winning the Bronze medal in 26 mins 16 secs, a PB for the distance, great performance. Then we had his training partner Joey Feery also running a brilliant race when finishing 4th in 26 mins 48 secs also a PB for the distance, brilliant running. Conor Ryan competing in this Championship event for the very first time also ran a brilliant race when finishing 8th in 27 mins 32 secs, another PB. Anthony Bowen also ran very well when putting in a very strong effort over the downhill stretch to finish 13th in 29 mins 16 secs. These four athletes combined very well to win the Silver medals, edged out of the gold medals by a mere point, oh so close. We also had very good performances from Brian Carroll 19th in 30:16, Sean McCarthy 26th in 32:28, Alan Carter 27th in 32:49, Pat Walsh achieving a PB when finishing 31st in 34:57 and Jonny Tobin 32nd in 36:39.
