Looking out the window this week brought back painful memories of last year's double cancelation of the 2009 version of 'The Fields'. It wasn't an easy time to be a race organiser and we were all very relieved when the race was eventually staged and everything had gone smoothly. Great credit has to go to our race director, last year and this, for handling a tricky situation so well. It was interesting to look back at a couple of Frances Kennedy's fine photographs of that race and to remember the high-quality performances of our individual senior race winners on that day twelve months ago. Teresa McGloin delivered a stunning course record in claiming the women's race and Gary Thornton of Galway City Harriers romped home for the fifth year in succession. Gary's contribution to the Field's of Athenry 10km has been considerable over the last number years. Year after year he has delivered consistently high-class performances at this race that have helped the race grow into one of the best-regarded races around.

It was great to hear recently that Gary has been selected onto the Irish team for the forthcoming European cross-country championships and everyone in Athenry wants to wish him the very best of Galway luck in that race. There's a strong chance that one or two Athenry AC members will be in Portugal for that race in a cheering capacity and we hope they have a chance to roar Gary onto a big performance in the green singlet.