Herlihy leads them home in first Galtee Runners road race event
GALTEE Runners AC had a very large turnout of 220 people for their first time organising a road race in their home town of Mitchelstown. This indeed can be seen to be a great success as the club have only been in existence for little over a year and they were competing for numbers against a number of other established races during the week.
This was the fifth race of the Ballyhoura Active Summer Series of races so there was a great attendance of runners from all the surrounding counties of Limerick, Tipperary and Cork. There were a large number of first time participants and participants who were aiming to add another race in the series to the list of races that they have participated in so far.
The first half of the course was quiet challenging going up through Mitchelstown but all participants were cheered on by the crowd who had gathered to watch participants head out on the 8km course at the foot of the Galtee Mountains. Michael Herlihy ( North Cork AC) led home the race ahead of local man Donal Coakley ( Togher AC) with Terry O'Brien from nearby Kilfinane AC taking third place.
Gillian Cotter (St. Finbarrs AC) was delighted with her win in the women's category as it marks another significant point on her steady progress over the last couple of years running. Cotter finished in sixth place in the Cork Marathon in June and has been a consistent performer throughout the year at athletics events so this was a just reward for her consistency. Clotilde Fitzgibbon and Joan Ennis both of Grange Fermoy AC finished four seconds apart in second and third.
There was a great atmosphere surrounding the finish area with all participants given a cheer as they came home. The Ballyhoura series has continued to be successful in bringing new participants to the sport and Galtee Runners AC is a great example of a club who have been very proactive in facilitating adults who want to try out the sport for the first time.
There is also a great social dimension to the club and they showed their ability in this area after the race with lots of sandwiches, tea and cake on offer during the prizegiving.
The next two races in the series are to follow quickly with the Kilteely Festival five mile Road race being held on Friday August 20 at 8pm in East Limerick and Liscarroll's Tom Fitzpatrick Memorial 10km road race on Friday September 3 at 8pm. Locals should also take note of the Glenroe Festival 10km road race on Sunday September 12, which incorporates a number of other family events on the day.
Contact Michael Herlihy Ballyhoura Failte for further information about these road races on 086 3168954 or mherlihy@ballyhoura.org
