Better Late Than Never!

Sometimes a milestone in the club's development just passes by without any proper acknowlegement. One such milestone was passed last weekend when an Athenry AC women's team claimed their first team title in the County Galway 10k Championships. Ann Carter led the Athenry women to their first County title in these championships and in the process retained her own individual title. With the week that was in it, with Paul Hession's heroics in Beijing and some other eejit running around in circles in Germany, this major accomplishment nearly passed us by.

The race in Claregalway has always been a favourite for Athenry AC runners as it provides an honest challenge on a fast course. This year however the weather conditions were terrible and the achievement of our women's team is therefore all the more admirable. The first three Athenry women over the line were Ann Carter, Elaine Walsh and Maura T Beatty and they beat the women's GCH team into second, leaving teams from Mayo, Loughrea and Craughwell in their wake. This wasn't the whole story by any means - the fact that 16 Athenry AC women took part in a single race in club colours was a red-letter day for our club. The very fact that so many women runners donned Athenry colours and ran for the club is an indication that we've grown as a club and that we're doing something right and is testament to the hard work of people like Maria Hehir, Maeve Noone, Grainne Breen, Ann Carter and many, may others.

All of our runner in Claregalway that night should take a bow - Maura T Beatty, Maeve Noone, Maria Hehir, Brid Moran, Ita Carter, Cepta Daley, Noreen McNamara, Ann Carter, Elaine Walsh, Bríd McGrath, Patricia Foley, Pauline Murray, Rena Doherty, Pauline Mulqueen, Assumpta Feeney, Michelle Tooher. Special mention has of course to go to our Women's Captain Maria Hehir who puts such great effort into organising teams for these races. How she finds the time to train and compete herself is a mystery to us all. Well done Maria!

On the men's side our foursome of Brian Brutan, Mark Greene, Owen Curran, Gary Doherty ran respectably well to claim bronze medals in the team championship.

The lads have a little way to catch up this year.