The inaugural running of the Mick Molloy Classic 10K took place in Oughterard Saturday, July 18th 2009. We were honoured to have the great man himself not only start the race but be on hand to present the prizes to the various category winners afterwards. Judging by the amount of people lining up to meet Mick, he must have had a fairly sore hand by the end of the evening!

Given the history of running in the area, not only with Mick, but carried on to the present day in grand style by his cousin and M60 category winner, Martin McEvilly. It was only right and great to see road racing going on again in this neck of the woods.

I had the pleasure of having time for a brief chat with Mick while we made our way up to the start and share with him a few stories of his many running exploits down through the years.

The race itself was run under grey skies, but that didn't deter the almost 150 who toed the starting line just outside the town.

Matt Lockett of GCH was a comfortable winner of the Senior Men's race while Elaine Walsh of Athenry AC took the Senior Women's honours.

Paul Fallon.

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The following mini-report was penned by a person who wants to remain anonymous about the race and its route:

The 18th of July 2009 saw the revival of the Mick Molloy 10k in Oughterard, which was regarded in its day as a tough race. Over 100 runners assembled on the start line close to the GAA grounds and Mick Molloy was on hand to get proceeding underway.

The race got off to a pleasant (down hill) start through the town, over the bridge, a right and left turn took the runners on to the "high road". However, by the 1k mark and the start of the first hill, it became oblivious why the race gained its reputation as being tough.

The next 2k brought the runners up hill, with some short level stretches, a welcome break before the next hill. By 4k the top was finally reached, much to the relief of many weary legs. A steep down hill section followed by a sharp right turn, brought the runners to the 5k mark and onto the "low road", the route back into town.

Rumours were circulating before the race that the hills were on the "high road" and the "low road" was flat. They proved to be false and some small hills were encountered, which felt significant after climbing the "high road". The next 2k skirts the lake shore of Lough Corrib and is reported to be quite scenic!

By the 8k mark the hills had disappeared and provided a relatively flat route along the Glann road back into Camp Street and the very welcome finish outside the Lake Hotel.

Refreshments were served in the Lake Hotel after the race, which was also the race HQ. The Galway /Cork hurling game had to briefly interrupted to allow Mick Molloy make the presentations to the race winners. Most runners agreed that the race lived up to its reputation as a testing but memorable 10k.

Official Results of the Mick Molloy Classic 10K Road Race '09

Pos Num Time Name Club Category

1 672 33'51 Matt Lockett GCH SM

2 660 35'37 Joe Morrissey SM

3 658 36'05 Barry Davey SM

4 684 36'40 Ian Egan GCH M40

5 676 37'01 Conrad Conneely GCH M40

6 703 37'19 Brendan Gill SM

7 706 37'30 Peter O'Sullivan Craughwell AC SM

8 693 37'31 Ciaran Quinn Mayo AC SM

9 673 37'34 Patrick Boylan SM

10 686 38'08 Seamus Quinn GCH M40

11 704 38'28 David Huane Mayo AC SM

12 606 38'31 David McGinn M40

13 610 38'32 Damian Ridge GCH SM

14 685 38'40 Donal Kelly SM

15 638 39'07 Martin McEvilly GCH M60

16 689 39'11 Mark Breen Athenry AC M40

17 615 39'32 Adrian Fitzmaurice Athenry AC M40

18 708 39'47 Seamus O'Conghaile SM

19 687 39'55 Patrick O'Dwyer GCH M50

20 688 39'56 Danny Carr GCh M40

21 705 40'10 Martin Walsh SM

22 611 40'52 Elaine Walsh Athenry AC SF

23 700 41'13 Thomas Lee SM

24 653 41'28 Eimear Butler Athenry AC SF

25 618 41'37 Willie Burke SM

26 643 41'49 Brendan Monoghan Tuam AC M40

27 583 42'54 Barry O'Brien JM

28 648 42'59 Kieran Fox JM

29 614 43'20 Brian Geraghty GCH M60

30 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC F35

31 683 43'38 Ronan O'Conghaile SM

32 589 44'07 Ronan Kennedy SM

33 678 44'10 Cathal Kennedy M40

34 621 44'32 Brendan Kennelly M40

35 633 44'34 Paul Gibbons CRH M50

36 601 44'44 Neil Mooney SM

37 654 44'47 Robert Mooney SM

38 671 45'41 Martin Hynes Tuam AC M60

39 596 45'44 Fergal Lydon SM

40 599 46'07 Enda Gannon SM

41 649 46'32 Bernie Stapleton Lucan Harriers F35

42 656 46'35 Noel King M60

43 613 46'36 Con Foley Aer Lingus AC M40

44 642 46'52 Brendan O'Sullivan SM

45 701 46'53 Martina Fahy Athenry AC SF

46 616 46'55 John Waters SM

47 620 47'05 Bernie Kelly GCH F45

48 639 47'10 Martin Walsh M40

49 662 47'13 Francis Byrne M40

50 668 47'27 Marie Reilly Loughrea AC F45

51 585 47'41 David Cosgrove SM

52 692 47'49 Christy O'Malley Mayo AC M40

53 645 47'53 Henry Kenny SM

54 691 48'10 Michael Welby M50

55 670 48'12 Cliodhna Ui Ruain Galway Tri Club SF

56 659 48'20 Peter O'Malley M60

57 669 48'29 Enda Callanan GCH SM

58 646 48'32 David Kynch SM

59 612 48'33 Colm O'Maille GCH SM

60 665 48'39 Proinnsias O'Malley M40

61 630 48'41 Oonagh Walsh F35

62 587 48'43 Tony Walsh SM

63 675 48'51 Peter O'Halloran M40

64 600 49'14 Owen Finn M40

65 677 49'21 Tom O'Connor M60

66 664 49'35 Martin Kenny SM

67 625 50'16 Brendan Gill SM

68 629 50'26 Catherine Gilligan F35

69 657 50'42 Niall Grimes M40

70 690 50'43 Grainne Breen Athenry AC F35

71 609 51'09 Mary Ellen Doyle F55

72 698 51'12 Gerry D'Arcy M50

73 663 51'26 Ben Byrne SM

74 679 51'28 Mary Byrne F35

75 682 51'30 Peter Waters M50

76 577 51'37 Stephen Culligan SM

77 627 51'54 Valerie O'Reilly F45

78 574 51'56 Fidelma Savage F35

79 628 51'58 Sheila McCarthy F35

80 694 52'41 Michael Quinn SM

81 608 53'18 Particia Walsh F55

82 603 53'27 Phyliss Browne F55

83 681 54'09 Clare Walsh Mayo AC SF

84 578 55'05 Ronan O'Halloran SM

85 622 55'16 Debbie Flynn Athenry AC F35

86 697 55'57 Pam Clancy F45

87 709 56'34 Unknown Unknown SM

88 652 56'45 Christine Cox SF

89 623 56'47 Volker Plassmann SM

90 592 56'53 Ita Carter Athenry AC M40

91 651 58'14 Nuala Ni Choncubhair F35

92 591 58'15 Mark Costello M40

93 576 58'15 Rob Hamilton SM

94 580 54'44 Niamh McGauley SF

95 598 58'45 Michelle Maloney SF

96 702 59'09 Dave Mullins Tuam AC M40

97 647 59'44 Anne Reidy GCH F35

98 605 1'00'29 Elaine Walsh SF

99 593 1'00'02 Margaret Costello F45

100 586 1'02'36 Anne Marie Walsh GCH F35

101 632 1'05'44 Renske Boef SM

Prizes for the Mick Molloy Classic 10K

Num Time Name Club

Junior Men

1st 583 42'54 Barry O'Brien

Senior Men

1st 672 33'51 Matt Lockett GCH

2nd 660 35'37 Joe Morrissey

3rd 658 36'05 Barry Davey

Senior Women

1st 611 40'52 Elaine Walsh Athenry AC

2nd 653 41'28 Eimear Butler Athenry AC

3rd 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC

Men Over 40

1st 684 36'40 Ian Egan GCH

Men Over 50

1st 687 39'55 Patrick O'Dwyer GCH

Men Over 60

1st 638 39'07 Martin McEvilly GCH

Women Over 35

1st 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC

Women Over 45

1st 620 47'05 Bernie Kelly GCH

Women Over 55

1st 609 51'09 Mary Ellen Doyle