The Maroon and White were well to the fore in beautiful Annaghdown last night with both the men and women making their mark at the top of their respective fields.

There was a fine turnout from the club with twenty-seven Athenry  AC athletes making the journey to the lakeside venue for Paul Fallon's annual solstice run. At the starting line, it looked likely that Paul McNamara of Athenry would dominate the men's division but matters were less clear in the women's race. The race started under beautiful summer evening sunshine and runners were brought on an enjoyable tour of quiet country roads and lanes for the requisite 10,000m before returning to the pierside in Annaghdown and the santuary of the finishline and the cool waters of the lake.

When the finishers came back to pierside it was clear that it would be a good night for Athenry runners when Paul McNamara scooted home unchallenged in 32:45. In truth it was little more than a training run for the talented Athenry athlete. The second and third places were closely contested with Craughwell AC's Peter O'Sullivan getting revenge for a similarly close fought finish with Athenry's Mick Rice earlier this year in Ballycotton. On this occasion Peter made it home first by the narrowest of margins in 35:09.3 to 35:09.4.

The best was yet to come. Run of the night must go to Athenry's Deirdre Regan who won the women's race in a stupendous time of 41:55 with Athenry's Aoife Callan not far behind in 43:11, filling the silver medal position. These two fine athletes have a lot of improvement to come and will no doubt figure prominantly in races later in the season. Congratulations from all your club-mates in Athenry on a superb race.

Deirdre, Aoife, Valerie Glavin and Sinead Goaley also combined to take the women's team prize - a bonus on top of fine individual races.

Another fine performance was recordrd by Adrian Fitzmaurice who recorded a personal best for the 10km distance in 38:55. On a night when many others struggled to meet their finish-time targets this was a remarkable achievement. Adrrian's running has come on in 'leaps and bounds' recently and this was further evidence of his improving form.

Our congratulations also go to another woman on the comeback trail, Valerie Glavin, who showed her improving form by claiming first prize in her category.

Another Athenry runner to make their mark last night was Peter Delmer. Scotching the rumour that he had emigrated to Paruguay, Peter ran a fine race and no doubt will soon be back where he belongs, at the front of the field (just behind me).

Well done to all the Athenry runners who turned out last night to represent their club.

It really was a good night for the maroon and white.

(Athenry Result Below - Full Result Attached)

Deirdre Regan - Annaghdown

Aoife Callan - Annaghdown

Paul McNamara - Annaghdown

Place Bib Name Surname Gender Cat Club Time



1 668 Paul McNamara male Senior Athenry AC 0:32:45.2



3 630 Mick Rice male O40 Athenry AC 0:35:09.4



11 690 Owen Curran male O40 Athenry AC 0:38:05.7



15 328 Adrian Fitzmaurice male O40 Athenry AC 0:38:55.6



18 310 ray somers male Senior Athenry AC 0:40:37.0



20 622 Peter Delmer male O40 Athenry AC 0:40:59.8



24 695 Deirdre Regan female Senior Athenry AC 0:41:55.6



28 311 aoife callan female Senior Athenry AC 0:43:11.9



30 678 Dave Dunne male Senior Athenry AC 0:43:30.8



32 679 Mark McDonagh male Senior Athenry AC 0:43:43.3



35 666 James Corbett male Senior Athenry AC 0:43:50.1



39 632 Barry O'Sullivan male Senior Athenry AC 0:44:39.2



43 361 Valerie Glavin female O35  Athenry AC 0:45:05.2



46 397 Tony Killarney male O50 Athenry AC 0:45:23.9



52 693 Gerry Killeen male O40 Athenry AC 0:45:57.7



56 669 James Lundon male O40 Athenry AC 0:46:11.6



57 356 sinead goaley female Senior Athenry AC 0:46:12.4



71 651 Ian Quinn male O60 Athenry AC 0:48:12.3



85 643 Ed Egan male Senior Athenry AC 0:50:00.2



89 315 Janet Clancy female Senior Athenry AC 0:50:32.6



114 692 Bridget Kissane female Senior Athenry AC 0:53:11.0



120 645 Martin Keane male O60 Athenry AC 0:53:45.8



139 620 Orla Grogan female Junior Athenry AC 0:56:51.4



145 377 elaine quinn female O35 Athenry AC 0:57:48.7



154 323 Martina McShane female O35 Athenry AC 0:59:33.9



155 621 Yvonne Keary female Junior Athenry AC 0:59:39.3



157 302 Marie Curran female Senior Athenry AC 0:59:42.8