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.
Many thanks go to the Process Development (PD) department who showed up in numbers to help manage the event. They parked cars, registered athletes, marshalled the course and cleaned up afterwards. What a team!
Thanks also to Athenry AC who brought their equipment and expertise to the night to ensure a smooth, safe operation and a clean result.
But the biggest thanks goes to each and every person who took part. We hope you achieved your personal goals on the winding roads (and not insignificant hills!) around Maree. Be assured that every penny of the entry fee you paid is going to Galway Cystic Fibrosis.
Results are attached below.
The ladies event was won by Athenry AC's Ann Carter, the current Galway 10k and Cross Country champion in a super time of 18mins 48secs. Ann was followed home by Caroline Clancy (Loughrea AC) and Michelle Lynch (Galway City Harriers).
Jude Donnellan was the first female Boston Scientific employee, finishing in 23mins 25secs followed by Patricia Johnson and Marguerite Duffy.
Boston Scientific's Gerry Ryan (former four times National 10k champion) won the overall men's race in a superb time of 15mins 24secs. Think about that - he averaged 4:57 per mile for 3.1miles! Gerry competes for Galway City Harriers. Anto Devaney was second and Ruaidhri Geraghty of Galway City Harriers was third.
In the Boston Scientific Men's category, first home was Tom Connelly in 19mins 48secs for 36th place overall. Cian Blake was second and Kevin Keane third.
Mary McHugh claimed the veteran lady's prize and Ian Egan won the veteran men's event.
Jerry Forde of Blarney AC travelled up from Cork to win the wheelchair prize in a time of 27mins 56secs. Gerry is well known across the Irish road running scene having completed over 100 marathons in his trusty chair. He completed his 100th marathon in Connemara in 2007 by racing the 26.2miles on the Saturday (99th marathon) and then the gruelling 39.3mile ultra marathon on the Sunday to enter the 100 marathon club.
The fastest Boston Scientific team on the night was won by Packaging Department's Liam Forde, Damien Keogh and Marguerite Duffy who's combined time of 1hr 11mins 41secs was almost eight minutes faster than the second team.
Congratulations to all the prize winners.
On behalf of Galway Cystic Fibrosis, thank you to all those who took part and helped out on the night.
Race Organisers
Deirdre Hassett
Sinead Foran
Peter Delmer
Cathal McLoughlin
James Shannon