Last October Bank Holiday Monday was a lovely fine day and many



club members were in Dublin for the marathon. Since then, weather



has dictated there weren't many such get togethers. Last Sunday



morning was another fine sunny day and was on my own for the day.



By late morning I had the papers read, and a good chunk of the



crossword done as well, when a loyal friend rang with an offer



of, "I'll go out of my way to pick you up, take you to Tuam Road



Race, put up with you for the day and drop you home in the



evening."

Ah well, with the sun shining outside, it's hard to refuse that



sort of offer and this man won't take no for an answer anyhow.



By one o'clock, James Lundon and I are on the road to Tuam. En



route, we passed Mick Rice running all the way from Athenry to



the same event. Now I know the Athenry to Sligo rail link hasn't



opened yet and there's no bus service but Mick, could you not



have cadged a lift from some other club member?

We got to Tuam in plenty of time to have a chat with the 'usual



suspects' and with the Monaghan family at the helm, the race



shortly got under way.

Afterwards, as usual, lots of tempting food was available - no



one goes home from Tuam hungry. I rarely pick up a prize at those



events but fortunately for me a few of the hot shots were absent,



resulting in my winning my category (M65!!!!!).

Now this win must be put in perspective with a man (Roger Rushe)



who beat me is a good few years my senior and had the added



handicap of having his hand in a cast. They call this carrying



top weight in horse racing!

Roger, I didn't know it was your birthday, so belated best



wishes.

Roger is coming to Athenry next Sunday for our race and may I



suggest putting another cast on the 'good hand' to slow him down



a bit more!

James as expected - with a 'slight' age advantage - beat me by a



'little' bit but he is the perfect gentleman and duly dropped me



home and sorted out a few problems with my computer, though he



hurried home without helping to finish my crossword.

I won't hold that against him.

Martin Keane.  

Athenry AC at 2010 Tuam