The windy conditions definitely didn’t affect the on course performances in Kinvara yesterday as both male course records were smashed with plenty of PB’s also ran in what has quickly become one of the most well organised & well liked races on the calendar.
The British raiding party took the honours in both the male 10k & half marathon as Steve Mitchell won the 10k in 31.17 taking over 1 ½ minutes of Matt Bidwell’s course record in the process. Following a few minutes behind were more familiar faces with Matt finishing second with Owen Byrne, also of GCH completing the podium.
In the half marathon, Ieuan Thomas time trialled his way to a 1.08.06, taking over 2 minutes of Mick Shannon’s course record from 2012. In an impressive performance the Welsh runner had easily distanced the chasing pack after the initial small loop of the town & continued to ease away as the race progressed. At the halfway point Ieuan held a commanding 5 minute lead & pressed on to finish a staggering 9 minutes ahead of his nearest rivals. Podium spots were a tighter affair with Paul Fitzgerald taking second, 30 seconds ahead of Niall Shanahan who held off last year’s winner Joe Cawley by 20 seconds to take third position.
The womens 10k race was a tighter affair & a successful one for Galway City Harriers as they took home a clean sweep of podium spots. Helen Corbett took the win in 39.39 with Sinead Brody second less than 20 seconds later & Esther O’ Flaherty third.
In what was effectively a training run for Jane Ann Meehan in her prep for her upcoming Manchester marathon she blitzed the course in 1.22.01, finishing nearly 5 minutes ahead of her nearest rival & only 16 seconds outside the course record. Jane Ann is the second club member to take the win here after Sinead Forans win in 2012 & as someone who thrives on tough courses this will surely be a target race in the coming years with a course record that is there for the taking. Becky Coughlan of Ennis Track was second with Roisin Farragher third for the third consecutive year.
As always we have plenty of club members toeing the line at these races & first home in the 10k was Pat McDonagh in 41.29 with Brian Somers nearly a minute later whilst Brian Burke ran a 49.39 for a 3 minute PB. Kellie O’ Shaughnessy made a rare appearance (without bike & swimcap) yesterday & finished with a 58.18, a full two minute faster that her recent Fields outing. We also had one of our current Fit4Life members, Denise Lally, completing the 10k in 1.19.07.
The half was a more stacked affair with 24 members taking part & PB’s galore. Gearoid Rohan, 1.21.45 (1.45 PB); Jane Ann Meehan, 1.22.01 (1.30 PB); Kieran Guiry, 1.28.51 (5min PB); Martin O’ Hara 1.31.25 (2min PB); Roseanne Trehy, 1.35.25 (10min PB); Siobhan Guinan, 1.36.44 (3min PB), Kevin Devane, 2.02.21 (10min PB). The list goes on.... Also making a rare appearance at this distance yesterday was one of our long standing members, David Dunne, running 1.48.40.