The Galway athletics community came together this week to wish their two Beijing bound athletes all the very best of luck in their respective competitions. Olive Loughnane from Loughrea and Paul Hession from Athenry were given a friendly send-off by family, friends, sponsors and clubmates at a reception sponsored by Irish running website www.RunIreland.com.
A special 5K Road race will be held in Ballinamore on Friday, August 1st, at 8 pm as part of the local community celebrations that evening to mark the selection of Colin Griffin to take part in the 50k walk in the Olympic Games.
The Race will be open to all over 14 years, with a particular welcome for joggers and walkers. It will also be part of the Ballinamore AC participation in the AAI Fit4Life programme which is supported by the Irish Sports Council.
Pictures and Report from Tom Hunt - Mayo AC
Focus Ireland are urgently seeking volunteers to enable their Focus Ireland Triathlon in Grand Canal Square Dublin to go ahead next Saturday the 3rd of August. If you could help them you should contact them directly - details are here:
http://www.focusireland.ie/htm/fundraising/challenges/triathlon/voluntee...
What goes around comes around.
Galway's senior track & field athletes had a successful day out at the National Track & Field League Final in Tullamore yesterday with the men's team taking home the bronze medals in division one, while the Ladies battled hard for a creditable 7th place finish.
Galway’s athletes put in a series of admirable performances, finishing at least as well as expected in virtually every event, and better than expected in many. In the end only two points separated Galway in 3rd on 109 points from St. Abban’s of Laois in 2nd with 111 points, with Ballymena & Antrim taking the win a further 5 points in front on 116 points.
It hasn't escaped the attention of the people of Athenry that one of their own will be repesenting town, club and country in Beijing in a few short weeks. The juvenile section of Athenry AC have led the charge and put it long hours to put up some great signs, and to let everyone know that a couple of nights of setting the alarm clock to watch Paul Hession take on the best in the world are ahead.
NOW UPDATED WITH "OFFICIAL" RESULT...
The inaugural Boston Scientific 5km Charity Road Race took place in Maree last Wednesday night in ideal, balmy conditions. As the sun set on Galway Bay, over 200 runners and walkers crossed the line and managed to raise €3300 for Galway Cystic Fibrosis. It was apparent that many of the competitors took the race logo to heart and completed the distance making sure to "Make Every Breath Count".
A quarter of the competitors were Boston Scientific employees and they were joined by friends, family and the elites of the Galway running scene.
Athenry AC juvenile members will be undertaking to raise much needed funds with a bag packing exercise this weekend.
The juvenile section put in a huge amount of work providing training and competition for young athletes in the community and could really use whatever support you can offer.
The clubs young athletes, parents and mentors will be manning the tills in Tesco's in Galway Shopping Centre from 11am to 8pm Friday & Saturday, and from 11am to 6pm on Sunday.
If you're available to assist or to offer a contribution please Conact Ann Grady at 0872179769.
Paul Hession claimed the national 100m title, in his last run in Ireland before the Olympics.
On a beautiful Sunday morning in Santry, he cruised to a stunning 10.21 in the heats, which was marginally outside the legally accepted wind speed at 2.1 m/s.
He returned later on to run 10.26 in the final, consistent world class sprinting as we have become accustomed to from the Ballydavid man.
Other Galway athletes in action included Sean Breathnach GCH, who won the National title in the Shot putt, as well as silver medals in both 56lbs height, and 56lbs distance.
At the third running of our fun handicap 10km last Friday, Peader Nugent got his prediction closest to his clock time to pick up First place in the 'Predict your own time 10km". Barry Beirne from neighbours Loughrea was even closer as he was first guest with a predicted time just 1 second outside his actual time.
The weather just about held off as Derek Conerney, Mary and crew pulled out all the stops to produce a great spread at the BarBque.