The inaugural running of the Mick Molloy Classic 10K took place in Oughterard Saturday, July 18th 2009. We were honoured to have the great man himself not only start the race but be on hand to present the prizes to the various category winners afterwards. Judging by the amount of people lining up to meet Mick, he must have had a fairly sore hand by the end of the evening!
Given the history of running in the area, not only with Mick, but carried on to the present day in grand style by his cousin and M60 category winner, Martin McEvilly. It was only right and great to see road racing going on again in this neck of the woods.
I had the pleasure of having time for a brief chat with Mick while we made our way up to the start and share with him a few stories of his many running exploits down through the years.
The race itself was run under grey skies, but that didn't deter the almost 150 who toed the starting line just outside the town.
Matt Lockett of GCH was a comfortable winner of the Senior Men's race while Elaine Walsh of Athenry AC took the Senior Women's honours.
Paul Fallon.
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The following mini-report was penned by a person who wants to remain anonymous about the race and its route:
The 18th of July 2009 saw the revival of the Mick Molloy 10k in Oughterard, which was regarded in its day as a tough race. Over 100 runners assembled on the start line close to the GAA grounds and Mick Molloy was on hand to get proceeding underway.
The race got off to a pleasant (down hill) start through the town, over the bridge, a right and left turn took the runners on to the "high road". However, by the 1k mark and the start of the first hill, it became oblivious why the race gained its reputation as being tough.
The next 2k brought the runners up hill, with some short level stretches, a welcome break before the next hill. By 4k the top was finally reached, much to the relief of many weary legs. A steep down hill section followed by a sharp right turn, brought the runners to the 5k mark and onto the "low road", the route back into town.
Rumours were circulating before the race that the hills were on the "high road" and the "low road" was flat. They proved to be false and some small hills were encountered, which felt significant after climbing the "high road". The next 2k skirts the lake shore of Lough Corrib and is reported to be quite scenic!
By the 8k mark the hills had disappeared and provided a relatively flat route along the Glann road back into Camp Street and the very welcome finish outside the Lake Hotel.
Refreshments were served in the Lake Hotel after the race, which was also the race HQ. The Galway /Cork hurling game had to briefly interrupted to allow Mick Molloy make the presentations to the race winners. Most runners agreed that the race lived up to its reputation as a testing but memorable 10k.
Official Results of the Mick Molloy Classic 10K Road Race '09
Pos Num Time Name Club Category
1 672 33'51 Matt Lockett GCH SM
2 660 35'37 Joe Morrissey SM
3 658 36'05 Barry Davey SM
4 684 36'40 Ian Egan GCH M40
5 676 37'01 Conrad Conneely GCH M40
6 703 37'19 Brendan Gill SM
7 706 37'30 Peter O'Sullivan Craughwell AC SM
8 693 37'31 Ciaran Quinn Mayo AC SM
9 673 37'34 Patrick Boylan SM
10 686 38'08 Seamus Quinn GCH M40
11 704 38'28 David Huane Mayo AC SM
12 606 38'31 David McGinn M40
13 610 38'32 Damian Ridge GCH SM
14 685 38'40 Donal Kelly SM
15 638 39'07 Martin McEvilly GCH M60
16 689 39'11 Mark Breen Athenry AC M40
17 615 39'32 Adrian Fitzmaurice Athenry AC M40
18 708 39'47 Seamus O'Conghaile SM
19 687 39'55 Patrick O'Dwyer GCH M50
20 688 39'56 Danny Carr GCh M40
21 705 40'10 Martin Walsh SM
22 611 40'52 Elaine Walsh Athenry AC SF
23 700 41'13 Thomas Lee SM
24 653 41'28 Eimear Butler Athenry AC SF
25 618 41'37 Willie Burke SM
26 643 41'49 Brendan Monoghan Tuam AC M40
27 583 42'54 Barry O'Brien JM
28 648 42'59 Kieran Fox JM
29 614 43'20 Brian Geraghty GCH M60
30 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC F35
31 683 43'38 Ronan O'Conghaile SM
32 589 44'07 Ronan Kennedy SM
33 678 44'10 Cathal Kennedy M40
34 621 44'32 Brendan Kennelly M40
35 633 44'34 Paul Gibbons CRH M50
36 601 44'44 Neil Mooney SM
37 654 44'47 Robert Mooney SM
38 671 45'41 Martin Hynes Tuam AC M60
39 596 45'44 Fergal Lydon SM
40 599 46'07 Enda Gannon SM
41 649 46'32 Bernie Stapleton Lucan Harriers F35
42 656 46'35 Noel King M60
43 613 46'36 Con Foley Aer Lingus AC M40
44 642 46'52 Brendan O'Sullivan SM
45 701 46'53 Martina Fahy Athenry AC SF
46 616 46'55 John Waters SM
47 620 47'05 Bernie Kelly GCH F45
48 639 47'10 Martin Walsh M40
49 662 47'13 Francis Byrne M40
50 668 47'27 Marie Reilly Loughrea AC F45
51 585 47'41 David Cosgrove SM
52 692 47'49 Christy O'Malley Mayo AC M40
53 645 47'53 Henry Kenny SM
54 691 48'10 Michael Welby M50
55 670 48'12 Cliodhna Ui Ruain Galway Tri Club SF
56 659 48'20 Peter O'Malley M60
57 669 48'29 Enda Callanan GCH SM
58 646 48'32 David Kynch SM
59 612 48'33 Colm O'Maille GCH SM
60 665 48'39 Proinnsias O'Malley M40
61 630 48'41 Oonagh Walsh F35
62 587 48'43 Tony Walsh SM
63 675 48'51 Peter O'Halloran M40
64 600 49'14 Owen Finn M40
65 677 49'21 Tom O'Connor M60
66 664 49'35 Martin Kenny SM
67 625 50'16 Brendan Gill SM
68 629 50'26 Catherine Gilligan F35
69 657 50'42 Niall Grimes M40
70 690 50'43 Grainne Breen Athenry AC F35
71 609 51'09 Mary Ellen Doyle F55
72 698 51'12 Gerry D'Arcy M50
73 663 51'26 Ben Byrne SM
74 679 51'28 Mary Byrne F35
75 682 51'30 Peter Waters M50
76 577 51'37 Stephen Culligan SM
77 627 51'54 Valerie O'Reilly F45
78 574 51'56 Fidelma Savage F35
79 628 51'58 Sheila McCarthy F35
80 694 52'41 Michael Quinn SM
81 608 53'18 Particia Walsh F55
82 603 53'27 Phyliss Browne F55
83 681 54'09 Clare Walsh Mayo AC SF
84 578 55'05 Ronan O'Halloran SM
85 622 55'16 Debbie Flynn Athenry AC F35
86 697 55'57 Pam Clancy F45
87 709 56'34 Unknown Unknown SM
88 652 56'45 Christine Cox SF
89 623 56'47 Volker Plassmann SM
90 592 56'53 Ita Carter Athenry AC M40
91 651 58'14 Nuala Ni Choncubhair F35
92 591 58'15 Mark Costello M40
93 576 58'15 Rob Hamilton SM
94 580 54'44 Niamh McGauley SF
95 598 58'45 Michelle Maloney SF
96 702 59'09 Dave Mullins Tuam AC M40
97 647 59'44 Anne Reidy GCH F35
98 605 1'00'29 Elaine Walsh SF
99 593 1'00'02 Margaret Costello F45
100 586 1'02'36 Anne Marie Walsh GCH F35
101 632 1'05'44 Renske Boef SM
Prizes for the Mick Molloy Classic 10K
Num Time Name Club
Junior Men
1st 583 42'54 Barry O'Brien
Senior Men
1st 672 33'51 Matt Lockett GCH
2nd 660 35'37 Joe Morrissey
3rd 658 36'05 Barry Davey
Senior Women
1st 611 40'52 Elaine Walsh Athenry AC
2nd 653 41'28 Eimear Butler Athenry AC
3rd 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC
Men Over 40
1st 684 36'40 Ian Egan GCH
Men Over 50
1st 687 39'55 Patrick O'Dwyer GCH
Men Over 60
1st 638 39'07 Martin McEvilly GCH
Women Over 35
1st 695 43'33 Ann Murray Mayo AC
Women Over 45
1st 620 47'05 Bernie Kelly GCH
Women Over 55
1st 609 51'09 Mary Ellen Doyle