Congratulations to Maire Treasa Beatty who won the Club Person of the Year award for 2008, presented at the Athenry AC AGM on Wednesday 14th Jan. This is Maire Treasa's first year of serious running and she didn't commence actual racing until March, so her total haul of 33 races during the year represents a serious commitment to competetive racing.

Gary Doherty came in 2nd in the standings (a position he achieved in 2006 also). Gary and Maire Treasa were neck and neck until mid-December, having exchanged positions quite a few times over the previous couple of months. In fact, at one stage in late November/ early December, there was a three-way tie for #1 with Maeve Noone also challenging. Maeve finally came in third, just ahead of her Fit4Life partner Maria Hehir.

Previous winners of the award were Johnny O'Connor (2007) and Alan Burke (2006).

"Funkiest Race of the Year" goes to Tony Daley for taking on the Kenyans in Kenya at the "Ngong Forest Hills 14k". Brave man!

The Newcastle Athenry run of the Galway May 5k series attracted the most Athenry AC runners among 2008 races. No less than 62 of our club members competed in that race. In fact, all six of the May 5k series had 50 or more club members competing, an amazing turnout.

Also at the AGM, Alan Burke and Iain Shaw were re-elected as Chairperson and Secretary of our club, while Valerie Glavin was elected as Treasurer. James Lundon steps down as Treasurer after 5 years in that position. Thanks to James for all his hard work.

Please see http://www.athenryac.com/image-galleries/2009-agm for some photos of the AGM attendees.

Athenry AC Club Person of Year 2008

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1 Maire Treasa Beatty 68 points

2 Gary Doherty 62

3 Maeve Noone 61

4 Maria Hehir 55

5 Mick Rice 51

Ray O'Connor 51

7 Ann Carter 48

Mark Breen 48

9 Peter Delmer 45

Valerie Glavin 45