Club member Deirdre Hassett underlined the healthy state of women's running in the club over the weekend by claiming the inaugural Ballinasloe 10km Road Race. Deirdre tells me, " It's the first time I've won a prize for an athletics race. Was very excited indeed! Distance was a little short - my time was 40:39 but I estimate the corrected time was 42:20. The race measured around 9.6km on my Garmin, so it means I've cracked the first of my goals for this year - to break 43min for 10km."

Congrats from everyone in the club Deirdre on a great run and a fine win. May you win many more.

On the same day in Dublin another of the Athenry women had a great run in the BUPA Great Ireland Run. Jane Ann Healy made the top 10 Irish women in this huge event just behind Regina Casey of GCH who was 9th Irish woman in the race. Jane Anne posted 40:46 on this tough hilly course which is surely worth a sub 40:00 run around a flat route. GCH's Regina Casey just dipped under the 40 minute barrier as 9th Irish woman in 39:50. Both athletes can be proud of quality performances.

Jane Anne