There has been some debate over the last few weeks about whether or not Maree had ousted Tuam as the PB course of the series but after last night’s event that debate is certainly put to bed. Athenry had another great turn out for the race with 79 members racing, 64 of whom set seasons bests times with many of those also setting PB’s.

Galway City Harriers continued their dominance of the series, taking up seven of the top ten places. Matt Bidwell, Conor Dolan & John Greaney were top three with Peter O’ Sullivan (non affiliated) & Owen Byrne of GCH placing fourth & fifth with identical times of 15.57 (Congrats to Owen for dipping under 16mins for the first time). Ray Somers of Athenry, in eight with a 16.45 & a 29 sec PB & Damien Larkin of Craughwell were the only other non GCH members to make the top ten. 

Regina Casey of GCH took her fifth win of the series in 17.31 & a series best time by over 30secs. Sinead Brody was over a minute back in second with an 18.44, holding off Grainne Ni Uallachain who was a further 6 seconds back. Jane Ann Healy (Meehan) who ran a 3.00.46 marathon a day earlier in Cork still managed to run an impressive 19.37.

Lyall Guiney also appeared to show no ill effects from his 2.47 marathon in Cork on Monday, strolling (for him) to an 18.07 after posting identical series best times of 17.05 in Legs 1 & 2. He is fine company in the 17min bracket now with three more members joining himself & Ray in the sub 18 club. David Noone & David Meehan both ran PB’s with 17.45 & 17.50 respectively & Mick Rice ran a season’s best time of 17.52. 

We also now have 13 members in the 18 – 19 minute bracket, 8 of whom set PB’s in Tuam to get there. Tomas Kadzielawski, who is steadily getting back to his PB form of 17.41, ran an 18.06 in Tuam & sits just ahead of Jane Ann Healy who ran a PB of 18.11 in Claregalway, a time which surely would have dipped much lower if it wasn’t for her marathon exploits. Chris Deakin is also finding that high mileage suits him; after running a 10k PB in Sixmilebridge on Friday night, followed up with an 18mile training run on Sunday, Chris ran a 18.19 PB in Tuam. Mark Hannon, Gearoid Rohan, Richard Ashe, Conrad Golden, Mick Duane, David Dunne, Ronan McCarthy, Pat McDonagh, Sinead Foran & Kenneth O’ Dea have now all run sub-19 this year with both Ronan & Pat gaining big PB’s last night to get there. 

The Athenry ladies were not going to be overshadowed last night though with plenty of smiling faces & PB here too. Siobhan Guinan (fresh for her hen celebrations at the weekend) ran her fifth PB of the series last night with a 20.16. Janet Clancy, who struggled to get past the 22min barrier for so long, absolutely smashed it last night with a 21.08 & now has her sights firmly set on sub 21. Maire Leader, Jane Mangan, Frances Leahy, Donna Lane, Mairead Blake, Nicola Condon, Mary Rohan, Anne Lyng, Shirley Quinn, Jacquie Lynskey & Cheryl Winston amongst others all ran PB’s last night in Tuam. 

Club stalwarts Martin Keane & Peadar Nugent both ran their fastest times of the series last night with 26.16 & 28.17 whilst Gary Doherty, one of only five people who have ran every leg of the series since its inception (51 races) also ran his best time of the series last night with a 21.09. 

A highlight of the series for many was the re-emergence of some long standing members after various injuries. Both Tomas Mangan & John Langan ran 5 legs each of this year’s series & both posted their fastest times in Tuam, with John earning a PB in the process. 

Results located here.

Club results for each leg are also attached below.

*Apologies if I have missed anyone’s PB.