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

The C& C Cellular Mayo AC Open Road League continues on Sunday 14th October with race five of the seven race series. This four-miler takes place at Ballina and is a one lap course starting near the track at Beleek Park going out via 'Dunnes' to join the 10k route on the Killala road, turning right and across to rejoin Beleek Park - resplendent in autumnal colour - and finishing close to the track. The race starts at 3pm. Entries (€10) will be taken from 1.30pm at track clubhouse.

The 'Terry Fox' run takes place annually at venues all over the world in support of the Terry Fox Foundation which raises funds for cancer reasearch in memory of a brave young Canadian. Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 18, and had to have his right leg amputated above the knee in 1977. While in hospital Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the 'Marathon of Hope'. After eighteen months, and running over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to prepare, Terry started his run in St John's Newfoundland in April 1980 with little fanfare. However, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran 42k (26 miles) a day through the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario - a journey the Canadians never forgot. On September 1st 1980, after 143 days and 5,373k (3,339 miles) Terry was forced to stop running outside Thunder Bay because cancer had appeared in his lungs. He passed away on June 28, 1981, aged 22. The legacy of this heroic Canadian is that to date more than $400 million has been raised worldwide in his name.

This is an ideal way to spend an October Sunday afternoon - you may run, walk, jog or even cycle in aid of a very worthy cause.

Local man Michael Rice (not the Athenry AC man of the same name) and his team of helpers have organised this race at Ballina for the past 15 years. This year for the first time Mayo AC are very happy to support the great work done by Michael in his fundraising effort. The leading runners from clubs around the province and further afield will be on the start line for this fifth race in the 2007 League.

Enquiries Michael Rice - 087 6611975; Michael McGrath (Mayo AC) 086 8534729 after 7pm.

Refreshments and presentation of prizes will take place afterwards at the Ridgepool Hotel.

Prizes:

First Three Overall - men and women,

Men 1st, 2nd over 40, 50

Women 1st, 2nd over 35, 45

Juniors, 1st M/F

The League is at an exciting stage as the tables show and points will be at a premium. Robert Malseed (Clonliffe Harriers) is currently leading the Men's table, while Mary Gleeson (Mayo AC) is well ahead in the Women's section.

Mayo AC League 2007 Men's Points Table

race 1 race 2 race 3 race 4 Points

Place Name Club total

1 Robert Malseed Clonliffe Harriers 24 25 24 21 94

2 John Byrne Mayo AC 25 17 20 24 86

3 Paddy Murray Mayo AC 21 19 22 23 85

4 Martin Corcoran Craughwell AC 23 21 21 0 65

5 Anthony Devaney Mayo AC 20 0 15 20 55

6 Billy Gallagher Mayo AC 17 0 18 18 53

7 Timmy .Glavey Mayo AC 19 0 14 17 50

8 Gary Higgins Sligo AC 0 24 23 0 47

9 Hugh Duffy Mayo AC 7 7 11 19 44

10 TJ McHugh Mayo AC 22 20 0 0 42

11 Joe Dawson Mayo AC 11 10 17 0 38

12 Michael O'Connell Sligo AC 0 14 19 0 33

13 Peter Hynes Mayo AC 9 2 9 13 33

14 Tommy Neville Mayo AC 0 4 12 16 32

15 Tom Meehan Sligo AC 18 13 0 0 31

16 Ronnie Naylor Mayo AC 5 1 8 12 26

17 Colin Merritt Togher AC 0 0 25 0 25

18 Declan Fahy u/a 0 0 0 25 25

19 Brian Kilgallon Sligo AC 15 9 0 0 24

20 Stephen Finnegan Sligo 10 0 13 0 23

21 Michael Freeley Rathfarnham AC 0 23 0 0 23

22 Paddy Mangan Dunshaughlin AC 0 22 0 0 22

23 Martin Conroy Sligo AC 0 0 0 22 22

24 Vincent Flannery Sligo AC 1 3 10 7 21

25 TJ Whyte Tuam AC 8 5 7 0 20

Mayo League 2007: Women's Points Table

Place Club/address Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 total points

1 Mary Gleeson Mayo AC 25 25 25 25 100

2 Ann Lennon Mayo AC 23 24 24 24 95

3 Anne Murray Mayo AC 20 20 22 20 82

4 Marian Sheridan Mayo AC 24 0 23 21 68

5 Catherine Conway Mayo AC 22 23 0 22 67

6 Olivia Feeney Sligo AC 17 19 0 19 55

7 Mary Naylor Mayo AC 13 10 15 15 53

8 Yvonne Byrne Westport 12 13 20 0 45

9 Noreen McManamon Mayo AC 21 22 0 0 43

10 Ann Fahey Mayo AC 11 11 17 0 39

11 Cindy McCarthy Sligo AC 18 16 0 0 34

12 Celene Sands LM Triathlon Club 16 17 0 0 33

13 Amanda Hynes Swinford 0 7 14 11 32

14 Breege Staunton Mayo AC 7 0 12 13 32

15 Patricia Battle Ballina 0 14 0 17 31

16 Regina Casey GCH 0 0 0 23 23

17 Bernie Kelly GCH 4 4 13 0 21

18 Nicola O'Ceallaigh GCH 0 21 0 0 21

19 Angela O'Connor Mayo AC 0 0 21 0 21

20 Breege Blehein-McHale Mayo AC 19 0 0 0 19

21 Lisa Kenny Athlone 0 0 19 0 19

22 Cathy Connolly Claremorris 0 18 0 0 18

23 Aisling Cawley Sligo AC 0 0 18 0 18

24 Maisie McGlone Lucan Harriers 0 0 9 9 18

25 Sinead Roche TCD 0 0 0 18 18