The Great Glinsk Gallop has galloped its first race! Thank you to everyone who braved the tail end of the heatwave in July to support Caisleán Óir, Glinsk Community Childcare http://www.caisleanoir.com/ ; all the runners, walkers, volunteers, marshals, MC, warm-up lead, music, refreshments and prize-givers...and many many more who helped make this day possible. It was a great afternoon and the weather was perfect, not too hot and with a cooling breeze as people ran to the finish line! We had a quick efficient registration with free Glinsk Gallop t-shirts for the first 100 registered- (A special thanks to Heneghan's Supervalu in Glenamaddy for sponsoring the t-shirts.) There was plenty of water sponsored by Dunnes Stores, a good atmosphere with music to get people pepped up, and a feisty warm up provided by Shape up with Bonnie. The race begin exactly on time and was led by our lead Marshall on motorbike, we had runners and walkers and there was great cheering as they passed the many water stations. We had good feedback on the km markers and inspirational quotes to keep them going at each kilometre, it must have been tempting to pass the pub in the village and not nip in for a cool refreshing drink.

The course was challenging on such a warm day, once through the village the runners race up a gradual incline along the side of a forest before reaching the top of the course for the race to the finish line. Congratulations to all the winners in our categories, and of course, to our overall winners to cross the line;

1st  Pat McSharry 40 min 41 sec



2nd  John Lynch 40min 56 sec



3rd  Michael Conway 43min 55 sec

We had excellent race commentary and photographers waiting for the runners to cross the finish line, they were met by a team of volunteers to show them to the refreshments and shower facilities. A big thanks to O'Hara's bakery of Foxford who supplied the sandwiches and buns for all the weary racers to sit down with a cup of tea and wait for the rest of the racers to cross the line. Finally we cheered the last of the racers and walkers, made sure everyone had been fed and watered, presented the Great Glinsk gallop trophies to all the winners and bid adieu until next year. The challenge next year is to spread the word and have every racer bring a competitor...the more to take part the better it will be.

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