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| Linda Byrne |
Between the Longford Marathon and the Warriors’ Run , a healthy 1,300 men and women were racing long distances in tough terrain over the weekend. Clearly there’s no sign of the long-distance running boom vanishing any time soon.
In Longford, it was girl power all the way. Tullamore’s Pauline Curley, winner of he half marathon as far back as 2005 and a Longford regular since then, won the women’s marathon for a second consecutive year in a respectable time of 2 hours 47 minutes 39 seconds. Finishing second for a remarkable fourth year was Irish 100km record holder Helena Crossan from Donegal.
In the half marathon, Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin, who dominated road racing early last year but then took a long break showed a welcome return to form with a victory in 73 minutes 48 seconds.
With three times winner Sergiu Ciobanu just back from altitude training, it was left to Wieslaw Sosnowski to record his third victory in the men’s marathon. He had previously won in 2005 and 2007 and was second behind Ciobanu in 2009.
Sosnowski, a long time member of the Eagle club in Cork, returned to his native Poland a few years ago, but hasn’t forgotten his Irish friends. He still turns out in the Eagle vest and finished fourth in the Cork Marathon last June.
Maintaining his remarkable record in Longford was Peter Mooney. After finishing second in the 2004 half marathon, Mooney moved up to the full distance. He was 11th in 2006 with a time of 2:53.39, sixth in 2009 and fifth last year before finishing third this year in 2 hours 40 minutes 52 seconds.
Making it around comfortably in 5 hours 48 minutes was the race founder Liam Fenelon. With the help of family and friends, Fenelon organised the first Longford Marathon in 2002, so that he could run his 100th marathon in his home town.
Out on his own in the half marathon was West Waterford’s Raivis Zakis, second in 2007 and 2008. His time of 70 minutes 55 seconds put his over four minutes ahead of second placed Mike Yelverton, with Richard Gorman a close third.
At the Warrior’s Run 15km up and around Knocknarea, Co Sligo, the 800 places on offer fille dup months ago. Local athlete Emmett Dunleavy finished in 55 minutes 16 seconds, with mountain runners Owen Gahan and Brian Furey less than a minute behind. Emma Donlon, another experienced mountain runner was first woman.
Now for Saturday’s Woodie’s DIY Half Marathon Challenge in Waterford – a big success the last time it was held at this venue in 2008.
A late surge gave Kilkenny’s Brian Maher victory in the 32nd Rockford Roof Tiles 4-mile, held in Tinryland, near Carlow for the 32nd year.
Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF had pushed the pace from the start, along with Maher and Raheny’s Vinnie Mulvey. Only in the final kilometre did Maher make his move, finishing with two seconds to spare in 19 minutes 1 second. Mulvey was third, Tommy Evans of Gowran fourth and Rathfarham WSAF the first team.
Winning the women’s race comfortably was Raheny veteran Annette Kealy. Aoife
Culhane of DSD was second and Raheny’s Orla O’Mahoney third. Taking home the €1,000 holiday voucher was Joe Dunny.
* Starting next Wednesday with a two-mile run (7.30pm) is the annual Tinryland Autumn Fun Road League sponsored by Jason Farrell Sports
Andrew Ledwith will lead the entry at the Rennicks and Fr Delany Cups 5-mile road race around the quiet roads of Bohermeen, Co Meath on Sunday September 11 (2.0). All finishers this year will received a specially commissioned medallion, with the winning men’s team taking the Rennicks Cup, a miniature of the Sam Maguire Cup. The winning women’s team receive the Fr Delany Cup.
Paul Tierney’s phenomenal exploits over ultra distance trails continued when he finished finished third in the gruelling Montane Lakeland 100-Mile trail race. Paul’s time was 24 hours 34 minutes 47 seconds. Earlier this year, Tierney, a Cork garda, set a new Wicklow Way record of 13 hours 38 minutes 51 seconds for the 132km waymarked trail.
Borris House in Borris Co Carlow is the venue on Sunday morning September 11 for a a 5km charity trail race in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. Entry is just €5 for a lovely course and plenty of tea and cakes after; hill runners of all standards particularly welcome. Info Mick Kelly 086-1089642.
More than 1,000 are expected for this year’s Rathfarnham 5km on Sunday September 25 (10.0) – the traditional pipe opener after the long summer for runners of all standards. Last year Mullingar’s Martin Fagan set a new course record of 13 minutes 54 seconds and with over €5,000 in prize money, another quality field is expected this year. New this year is the mixed team category ( two men, two women) in both senior and junior categories. Entry is €20 with a long-sleeved technical top going to the first 900 to sign up. Register online at
www.athleticsrathfarnham.ie .
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