Eoin Keith Regains Irish 24-Hour title

By Ed Smith (with thanks)

In the early hours of Saturday morning,  Eoin Keith, 46, was feeling so bad at the Energia 24-Hour race on the Mary Peters’ track, Belfast that he was about to give up.

It was 2am and eight hours into this most demanding ultra test of mind and body. The decision he made to continue changed the course of the race as  Keith, a Cork native living in Dublin, gradually reeled in the early leaders to win with a total of 142 miles(228kms) and regain the title he last won two years ago.

In a race of swinging fortunes,  defending champion Eddie Gallen came through strongly to claim second (138 miles/222kms) in his 31st 24-hour race.  Finishing third was Melbourne-based Malcolm Gamble who notched up 136 miles/219kms.

Belfast’s Susan McCartney comfortably took the women’s Irish title for the first time running 117 miles(189kms)to finish ninth overall. Behind her Dublin Bay runner Brenda Miere took second(106 miles/171kms) and Carrick’s Gillian Cordner third (101 miles/163kms).

On a day when records tumbled, 35 athletes passed the 100-mile mark and  seven went over 200kms. The best placed international visitor was Italian Corrado Buzzolan who covered 101 miles/164kms, while Blarney’s Jerry Forde, aged 64, became the first wheelchair athlete to complete the race,  finishing 48th with a total of 55 miles/89kms.

There was a remarkable run from blind athlete Sinead Kane from Cork.  Guided by John O’Regan – a past Irish champion- Kane covered 68 miles/110kms to finish an emotional second in the 12-hour race.  Winner was Canadian-born Amy Masner from Arklow with a new record distance of 73 miles/117kms. Aine Gallagher, the previous record holder, finished third.

Dubliner Alan Gorski won the men’s 12-hour race with a total of 75 miles/121kms; Navan’s Darren Sheridan  was second and Dubliner Gary Cullinan third.

In the 24-hour team race, Dublin Bay Runners’ ‘A’ team came out on top. The three man, one woman outfit led by Ger Copeland covered 192 miles/309kms and comfortably broke the record set by Donadea two years ago.