The Athenry AC Handicap 10KM AKA "Burger Run" was a huge success last Friday evening around our old 10KM course (start & finish at St. Mary's GAA ground in Carnaun).

A beautiful evening and 32 willing competitors. All had to give their estimated finish times beforehand and then run blind i.e. without watch, Garmin etc. No one was supposed to see others' times but that rule wasn't always strictly adhered to if one were to look very closely at the estimated times of some people around 44:30-45:00!

The results were variable; the winners a little less so.

First Athenry AC female and overall winner was Deirdre Quinn, running a mere handful of seconds i.e. FIVE outside her estimate time, in a little over 51 minutes. First Athenry AC male was Darragh McShane who ran hard and fair and was SEVEN seconds inside his predicted time, easily breaking 39.

There were even prizes for our visitors. The male prize went to Craughwell AC's Diarmuid Quill, which raced a PB(!) for the distance and was 19 seconds under his handicap in the process. He couldn't let his club colleague, Pat Reidy, get too far out of his sight, could he? It's DQ's second time winning something in this race in three years! Audrey McMahon of Loughrea AC won the female visitor's prize, coming home less than 30 seconds under her proposed time.

Our own Johnny O'Connor won the race, running sub-38, though he was predicting a PB-shattering 37 beforehand. I love that man's enthusiasm! He even did a bit of steeplechasing around four KM if my spies are correct. Perhaps Valerie has the evidence of his jumping over - or was iy under - the railway level-crossing in the town?

Mick Rice can be forgiven his slow run if word from Connemara less than 48 hours before is to be believed and I've no doubt that it is - running a sub-3 on the Connemarathon course is no gimme at the best of times let alone on a training run!

Derek and his crew of helpers served up oodles of burgers afterwards. James Corbett was very able as race director on the evening. He was ably assisted by an experienced band of helpers.

A good evening and one that was missed by those unable to turn up or who were saving themselves for Oughterard the day after!

Place Number Name Club HandicapTime ActualTime Difference Prize

1 1519 Johnny O'Connor Athenry 37:00 37:52 0:52 Spot

2 1515 Darragh McShane Athenry 38:50 38:43 -0:07 1st Athenry Male

3 1522 David Mullins Other 39:30 38:57 -0:33

4 1514 Dermot Morrissey Other 40:10 39:04 -1:06

5 1508 Gary Doherty Athenry 42:00 41:39 -0:21 2nd Athenry Male

6 1524 Barry Beirne Other 42:40 43:27 0:47

7 1504 James Lundon Athenry 44:45 43:29 -1:16

8 1506 Frank Burke Athenry 45:00 44:11 -0:49 3rd Athenry male

9 1521 Brendan Monaghan Other 45:00 44:14 -0:46

10 1518 Pat Reidy Other 45:05 44:23 -0:42

11 1517 Diarmuid Quill Other 45:00 44:41 -0:19 1st Guest Male

12 1526 Jeff Noone Athenry 45:44 46:58 1:14

13 1501 Dave Huane Other 45:00 47:09 2:09

14 1502 Adrian Fitzmaurice Athenry 44:00 47:09 3:09

15 1513 Dave Dunne Athenry 44:46 47:13 2:27

16 1523 Mick Rice Athenry 39:00 47:15 8:15 Spot

17 1507 Meave Noone Athenry 48:00 48:28 0:28 2nd Athenry Female

18 1511 Alan Lambe Other 50:00 49:11 -0:49

19 1525 Audrey McMahon Other 51:40 51:14 -0:26 1st Guest Female

20 1531 Deirdre Quinn Athenry 51:12 51:17 0:05 1st Athenry Female

21 1500 Mark Siggins Other 48:00 52:43 4:43

22 1529 Philip Magnier Athenry 47:30 52:50 5:20

23 1528 Tony Daley Athenry 50:00 54:07 4:07

24 1527 Aonghus McGuinnes Athenry 49:30 54:07 4:37

25 1512 Assumpta Feeney Athenry 55:30 54:33 -0:57

26 1505 Siobhan Keane Athenry 57:00 54:36 -2:24

27 1503 Martin Casserly Athenry 56:00 54:37 -1:23

28 1516 Michelle Tooher Athenry 55:29 54:38 -0:51 3rd Athenry Female

29 1510 Maria Long Athenry 1:10:00 54:38 -15:22

30 1520 Liam Egan Athenry 57:00 54:52 -2:08

31 1530 Nicola Condon Athenry 57:50 55:10 -2:40

32 1509 Elaine Quinn Athenry 58:30 55:12 -3:18 Spot