The Mayo Road race series has proven immensely successful this year and has attracted many Athenry and other Galway runners 'north of the border' to Mayo this year and others. The success of the series has not been an overnight phenomenon as Michael McGrath of mayo AC explains below.
by Michael McGrath Chairman Mayo AC
Mayo AC Road Race League .. Ten years A-growing
In 1999 the committee of Mayo Athletic Club decided to organise a number of mid-week races for members. During the running boom years of the 70s and 80's almost every small town and village had some kind of annual distance race. Sometimes they were point ot point, from one town to another, others were a long loop out of town and back or laps as is the case with a survivor of those times, Hollymount. However, there was a decline in interest in the early nineties in parallel with tough economic times. By 1999. there were few road races.
So the 'Mayo Summer League' came about. These were low-key races attracting mainly Mayo based runners and a few from Galway. They took place at various venues in the county. Among the early star performers were Seamus Breslin, Ann Lennon, Josephine Macken, Noreen McManamon etc.
After a couple of years the league developed and started to incorporate races that were already in place, such as Balla 10k and De Care Claremorris. New names emerged on the winners list - Angela O'Connor, Breege Blehein McHale, Martin Conroy, John Byrne, Regina Casey. By 2007 the league had expanded to seven races with a generous prize structure and a points system catering for junior, senior and masters - men and women. By 2008 there were eight races spanning the months of May to December.
In the ten years to date the league has served its purpose well. The main objectives of the club are
- providing competition for Mayo runners
- attracting competition from other clubs in the West
- offering fund-raising opportunities for numerous worthy causes through those who participated eg Balla, De Care/Claremorris, Terry Fox/ Ballina
The current crop of successful Mayo AC runners contains many who took their 'first steps' in these league races. Among them are Mary Gleeson, Kathy Connolly, Timmie Glavey, and some like TJ McHugh exchanging his GAA jersey for the red and green singlet. Many of those who have done well in the league have progressed to do well at national level.
There have been a number of different sponsors: Staunton Sports (now Elvery's). Breaffy House Hotel, O'Connor's Supervalue and for the past three years C&C Cellular. The current trend indicates that the league will continue to grow into the future. Mayo AC's current involvement with Mayo Sports Partnership will ensure that all races cater equally for both the competitive and fun runner.
The senior men and women who won the league over the years (Mayo AC unless stated)
1999 Seamus Breslin, Ann Lennon
2000 Seamus Breslin, Ann Lennon
2001 Paddy Murray, Ann Moran (Kilmurry/Ibrikane AC, Ballina resident)
2002 Ian Egan (GCH), Ann Lennon
2003 Michael O'Connor (GCH), Angela O'Connor
2004 Martin Conroy (Sligo AC), Breege Blehein-McHale
2005 John Byrne, Breege Blehein-McHale
2006 John Byrne, Regina Casey (GCH)
2007 Robert Malseed (Clonliffe Harriers), Mary Gleeson
2008 John Byrne, Mary Gleeson
In 2007 Frank Greally sponsored annual 'Irish Runner' awards for the most improved athlete in the league and they were won by TJ McHugh and Marian Sheridan. TJ McHugh has gone on to gain further achievements notably a bronze medal in the 2008 National Marathon Championships in the M35 category. Marian Sheridan is currently out through injury but hopes to be back running in 2009.
The outlook for running in the West looks to be in a progressively healthy state at the moment. The Road League has played a significant part by providing a programme of races that meets the needs of a growing number of people who want to improve their fitness. Mayo AC welcome runners at all levels and looks forward to increased participation in the League in 2009.
Mary Gleeson in Claremorris