Raheny 5 Mile Road Race

Despite the less than ideal weather, there were still a record number of finishers of the Raheny 5 Mile Road Race on Sunday 29th January. That said, while the rain made it very unpleasant for spectators and officials, the conditions were near perfect for the runners as it was surprisingly mild and there was little or no breeze. Mark Christie proved unbeatable on the day and recorded a very convincing win in 23:29, beating regular rival Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC) who finished in 23:56 and Tomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght AC) third in 24.01.

Ben Vaitkevichius was next from Mullingar to finish, winning his master age category with an impressive 29:01, and not far behind was Ollie Donnelly in 29:32, a big improvement on his personal best time for the distance. Next in was Sean McMullin in 35:39 to place 4th in his master category. Also competing among the record 2,053 finishers was Marguerita Lyons, Pat Nugent, Caroline Walsh and PJ Ballesty.

Four Mile House 10km Road Race

The trip to Four Mile House in Roscommon on Sunday 29th January for a 10km proved rewarding for the group from Mullingar. Given the rain on the day, it was no surprise that the course was flooded in places but that only added to the challenge. It was a race of two halves, the first 5km being quite flat and fast but then the hills came on the second 5km, especially in the closing 2km, to really test the athletes. Running his first road race since September, Martin Lyons led the Mullingar contingent home in 2nd place overall in just over 35 minutes, followed by Aidan Gorry in 3rd overall. Keith Gorry was the next Mullingar athlete to finish, recording a personal best of 39:03 – even though the course was slightly long, as it had to be extended by about 100m, in the interest of traffic safety. Sarah Lowry was next in, completing her first race over the 10km distance and finishing 2nd woman, followed by Maura Dervin (3rd woman). Also competing for Mullingar was Enda O’Carolan who was happy with his performance in the tough conditions. Well done to all for braving the elements in Roscommon.

Excellent win in new PB for Jake Byrne in New York

At the Metropolitan Indoor T&F Championships on Friday 27th January at the Armory T&F Centre in New York, which is a competition for the urban Colleges in the North East, running for Iona College, Jake Byrne ran to victory in the 5,000m by just over one second with a new PB of 14:51.72. The last kilometer was a particularly fast 2:42. This time smashes his former best for the distance by 15 seconds, proving that College life in the USA is really suiting him very well and he continues to make his mark on the Collegiate circuit.

AAI Junior Indoors
Silver in 800m for Shane Fitzsimons
Personal best performances in Nenagh Read more

BHAA Eircom Cross Country

Mary Scully made a welcome return to competition after a prolonged absence due to injury with a very good run in the women’s 2 mile race at the BHAA Eircom Cross Country in Cherryfield Park, Firhouse, Dublin on Saturday 21st January to finish 2nd in 12:13 and continue her preparations for the AAI Masters Cross Country in February. In the men’s 5 mile race, best of the Mullingar group was Mark Carroll in 15th place in 28:18, followed by Kevin Baker in 19th (28:43), Matt Glennon, Justin Murtagh and Pat Muldoon Senior. We’ll see Mark, Kevin and Justin in action in February in the AAI Intermediate Cross Country and Matt and Pat in the AAI Masters.

Leinster Junior & Senior XC and Juvenile XC Relays
Medal winning start to 2012 Read more

AAI National Masters Indoors

Sean McMullin was the Club’s sole representative at the AAI National Masters Indoors in Nenagh on Sunday 15th January where he added to his impressive collection of National medals by taking gold in the 5,000m race walk and gold in the 3,000m run in his master category. Congratulations to Sean on his continuing success.

BHAA South Dublin Co. Co. 4 mile Cross Country

Congratulations to Ben Vaitkevichius and Sean McMullin who won their respective master categories at the BHAA South Dublin County Council AC 4 mile Cross Country in Tymon Park, Dublin on Sunday 8th January. Ben finished in 25:40, well up among the nearly 250 finishers, and Sean was very pleased to finish in 30:31. Both are showing good form as they continue their training towards the AAI National Masters Cross Country in early February.

Celtic International Cross Country

Part of the programme for the BUPA Great Edinburgh Cross Country on Saturday 7th January was the Celtic International Cross Country where Linda Conroy was competing for Ireland in the 4,000m under 17 race against the very best young athletes from Scotland, Wales and Ulster. Linda has really bounced back into top form again and ran a terrific race to finish 5th overall, second Ireland girl to finish being just edged out by Aisling Quinn (Ferrybank AC) near the finish. Her performance helped Ireland to gold in the team event, to get 2012 off to a brilliant start. Very well done Linda on her success in the Ireland vest and we know she is looking forward to wearing the green vest again a few more times this year.

Leinster Star Awards for 2011 presented

Liffey Valley "Tom Brennen Memorial" 5km Road Race
For some a new year is just another chance to start afresh on the race fixture list and so on New Year’s Day a few Club members hit the ground running so to speak by competing at the Liffey Valley AC "Tom Brennan Memorial" 5km Road Race in the Phoenix Park. Finishing well up and happy with his start to the New Year, the first of the Mullingar contingent to finish was Paddy Kelly, followed by Mark McCann, Ben Vaitkevichius (2nd in his master category), then Aron Fahey, Sinead Roche, Ken Whitelaw and Sean McMullin, all thoroughly enjoying their first race of the New Year.