Photo Credit: Alan Cowzer

More of Alan's great Irish Athletics photography can be seen at

More photos on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/566624@N23/pool/

Wish Us Luck…!

Next Monday seventeen Athenry AC runners will take on the challenge of the Dublin City Marathon, a race that also doubles up as the National Marathon Championships of Ireland.

The seventeen brave souls in question are;

Alan Burke
Brian Bruton
Brian O'Connor
Frank Burke
James Lundon
Liam Mycroft
Michael Rooney
Mick Rice
Owen Curran
Peadar Nugent
Peter Delmer
Philip Magnier
Ray O'Connor
Robert Staunton
Briget Ann Walsh
Conor Dolan
Finbarr Connolly

Well, there is a strong possibility that anyone visiting the Athenry AC Web site might think that the entire population of runners in the area is a greying, balding, self-obsessed ("...yeah, been carrying a dislocated shoulder for months..."), tunnel-visioned ("...only managed 105 miles last week, really disappointed...") bunch of old codgers -- who, me?-- but let's be clear, such is not the case.

Paul Hession presents an award to Tom Page for his years of dedication to Athenry Juvenile Athletic club at a function in the New Park Hotel.

In the photograph is Dermot McNamara ( juvenile secretary coach ), Tom Page, Mary Kelly ( coach juvenile club ) and Paul Hession.

by Tom Hunt Mayo AC

Coming back from the Gerry Farnan XC on Sunday I realised I had still to do that 'project' for Mick Rice.

No excuses now.

Tapering towards Dublin, clock ticking, feet up, nutrition, nutrition, nutrition....

Athenry AC had a great day out at the County Galway Cross Country Championships yesterday taking both of the individual senior races, gold men’s senior medals and silver women’s team medals. The races, which were held in the beautiful Dartfield Equestrian Centre just west of Loughrea in overcast, windy but thankfully dry conditions on a one kilometre loop of glorious East Galway parkland. Galway athletes were unanimous in their praise of Dartfield for making such a fine venue available as a venue for the county championships this year.

Gerry (or Ger) Mullane, so well-known in athletic circles
throughout Limerick, Munster and indeed the country, sadly passed
away in August 2007 at the age of fifty two. Gerry died doing
what he loved...running. He lived for his sport and always gave
it one hundred percent.

It would be impossible to list and do full justice to all of
Gerry's achievements and awards over the years, but I will
attempt to give you an idea of the commitment, dedication and
success that he had running over the last 25 years.

It would have to be said that his best event was the marathon.

Thanks to Tom Hunt of Mayo AC for Results

MAYO AC OPEN ROAD LEAGUE 2007
Race 5: BALLINA 'Terry Fox' 4 miles, 14 October

Men
1 John Byrne Mayo AC 20.40
2 Robert Malseed Clonliffe Harriers 21.13
3 TJ McHugh Mayo AC 21.26
4 Martin Corcoran Craughwell AC o40 21.39
5 Paddy Murray Mayo AC o40 21.46
6 Hugh Duffy Mayo AC o40 22.37

o50
1 Billy Gallagher Mayo AC 22.58
2 Tom Hunt Mayo AC 24.49

u19
Sean Brophy Castlebar AC 23.52

Women
1 Mary Gleeson Mayo AC 24.05
2 Regina Casey GCH 24.26

The Athenry AC club championship race will be held tomorrow over a 5km road course, starting and finishing in Newcastle, only a few short miles from Athenry itself. This is the same course that was used for Athenry's race in this year's Galway May Series of 5km races. Whilst the main action will concern the deciding of the Athenry AC Club Championships runners from outside the club are welcome to take part as guests. Registration will be at the carpark outside the Community Hall in Newcastle from 10:15am onwards tomorrow the 13th of October and the race will start at 11:00am.

Word has reached AthenryAC.com that Lindie Naughton has just
published her latest book, a handbook for Irish runners. Sincere
congratulations on this worthy enterprise!

It is incumbent on all runners to go out and buy at least one
copy, given that Christmas is just around the corner etc :).

I'm not sure what sort of distribution deal Lindie has procured
from book shops around the country but it will be possible to
obtain copies from her personally or her publisher at:

ASHFIELD PRESS LIMITED
30 Linden Grove • Blackrock County • Dublin • Ireland

An update on The Mayo AC Open Road Race Series from Tom Hunt of Mayo AC.

MAYO AC OPEN ROAD LEAGUE 2007 Race 5: BALLINA 'Terry Fox' 4 miles

Thanks to Tom Hunt for Summary Results. We'll publish a fuller result as soon as it becomes available.

St Barry's, Tarmonbarry GAA Club 24th Annual Half Marathon/6k
Sunday 7 Oct 2007
HALF MARATHON
Men
1 John Byrne (Mayo AC) 72.47
2 Peter Mooney (Na Fianna) 74.36
3 Valera Turcan (Clonmel AC) 76.40

o40
Vasily Neumerzhitskiy (Clonmel AC) 77.05

050
1 Billy Gallagher (Mayo AC) 82.51
2 Tom Hunt (Mayo AC) 84.41

060 Aidan Cashin 1.55.02

Women
1 Maura Dervan (Mullingar Harriers, V2) 96.25

6k
Men
1 Michael Hickey 23.15 (Jun)
Women

Local runner Fergal Geraghty of GCH came out on top after a great contest with Athenry AC'c Brian O'Connor and Brian Bruton in the annual Galway Bay 10 Mile Road Race in aid of Cancer Care West last Saturday. Regina Casey, also of GCH ran a particularly strong race to win the womens race and finish thirteenth overall. Athenry's own Ann Carter, County Galway 10k Champion, also ran a strong race as third woman accross the line in 69:17. Congratulations Ann!

Johnny O'Connor 3:01:50 (PB by over FORTY minutes).
Ray O'Connor 3:26:57 (PB by nearly 11 minutes).
Mick Rice 3:26:56 (running backwards).

I want TJ to re-measure that course!

Galway’s 2007 cross-country season got off to a great start this past Tuesday with the 2007 Galway Primary Schools Cross-Country Championships, which were held in ideal weather conditions in Renmore Park. Congratulations to all the children who participated.