Ciaran Doherty enhanced his reputation as one of Europe’s top Masters’ Athletics’ Steeplchasers. Last Monday, Ciaran emerged victorious in the M40 3000m Steeplechase at the European Masters’ Track and Field Championship in the Danish city of Aahrus. Ciaran’s time of 9.34.60 saw him clinch the gold medal with just 0.49 second to spare over British athlete, Sullivan Smith. Ciaran has had a busy time in Denmark; apart from defeating the cream of Europe’s M40 Steeplchasers, he has been on fishing business in Denmark.
Eoin Hughes completed a ‘Rosses’ double’ on Tuesday evening. Following on from his victory in the Burtonport 5K 7 days earlier, Eoin won the ‘Mary of Dungloe Festival’ 5K. Eoin finished in an excellent time of 16.16.
The next LAC finisher was Martin Gormley in 19.07, followed by fellow M50 athlete, John Hughes, in 19.36.
Just 3 days after his exploits in Dungloe, Eoin Hughes turned in an exceptional performance in the John Kilmartin Memorial 5K in Milford. He clocked 15.45 to record another PB and finish 2nd to JP Willamson of City of Derry Spartans. This was Eoin’s third sub 16 minute 5K of the summer. Karol Duggan continued his good form. He was one of 5 runners who ran sub 16 minute times when he was third in 15.52.
Another young LAC runner, David Smith, had an excellent run and clocked 17.13. 2 LAC runners who are currently enjoying a rich vein of form, Noeleen Scanlan and Shauna McGeehan, were the first women. They crossed the line together in 17.59. The LAC 1-2-3 was completed by Irene McFadden in 19.33. Irene was also first in the F40 category. Sinead Peoples was 3rd in the senior women’s category in a time of 19.53.
Kevin Greenan was 2nd in a very competitive M60 category in 20.48. Shaun McFadden finished in 21.15. Richard Raymond’s good form continued and he clocked 21.35. John Doherty put on another fine performance and was expertly guided around by club mate, Phil Boyle, in 22.13. M60 athlete, Jimmy McBride, came home in 23.12. Fellow M60 athlete, Hugh Gallagher, competing in his first race for 15 months, finished in 23.38.
Like all races run under the auspices of Milford AC, the 5K was very well organised and benefitted from the expertise of James Gibbons and his hard working team of helpers. As usual, the results were dealt with expeditiously by Brendan McDaid and North West Chip Timing.
Aoife Nash clocked 48.57 in Saturday morning’s ‘Point 10K’ in Dunkineely. Cliodhna Dunne finished in 51.58 in the race that was won by Philip Goss in 34.15.
24 hours later, the action moved 23 KM further west to the beautiful village of Kilcar and the ‘Kilcar Festival 5K and 10K’. Patrick Brennan had a superb run in the 10K and his time of 39.17 gave him second place. Gary Scully of Tipperary club, Nenagh Olympic AC, won the race in 36.26. The Tipperary visitor had a busy weekend as he’d finished second in the Dunkineely 10K.
In form LAC athlete, Annmarie McGlynn, is featured in the current issue of the influential and highly regarded magazine, ‘Irish Runner’. Athletics correspondent, Linda Naughton, wrote a very interesting article, which detailed Annmarie’s highly successful athletics career, both past and present.
