Even some of the most extreme August weather ever witnessed in Donegal couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of almost 200 runners last Tuesday in the Aurivo Charity 5K in Killygordon. Young Letterkenny AC runner David Smith made light of the conditions. He had an excellent run and finished second in 17.33. He took first place in the Male Junior category. Martin Gormley scooped another M50 first prize with a time of 18.53, which gave him a highly creditable 6th place overall. With a teenage LAC prize winner and a quinquagenarian prize winner, the club again gave a clear illustration of the wide age range over which it can successfully compete. The race winner was Finn Valley AC’s John McElhill in 17.04.
The rain had disappearred 24 hours later, with ‘Dessie’s Run’ 10K being run in perfect conditions in Derry. The first LAC runner across the line was Barry Mackey in 40.35. Barry, currently training for the Dublin Marathon, was second in the M50 category. John Hughes clocked 41.46 and was 2nd in the M55 category into which he has recently moved. Richard Raymond finished in 45.55. The winner of the 10K was Declan Reed of City of Derry Spartans in 31.27.
Sean McFadden took in the Leek Half Marathon near the English Midlands town of Stoke-on-Trent, while he was there visiting relatives. Sean put on a fine performance over the tough, hilly course and finished in 1.27.25. Sean was 9th overall and 4th in the very competitive M40 category. Simon Myatt, of Trentham Running Club, won the race in 1.16.05.
Paul Lee had a good run in the energy sapping ‘Warriors’ Run’ in Strandhill, Sligo on Saturday afternoon. Paul recorded a time of 1.26. for the tough event which comprises a 4K mainly uphill road run from Strandhill to the foot of Knocknarea, a lung busting 2.5K run up the mountain, a treacherous 2.5K mountain descent and the culmination being a 6K road run back to Strandhill village. Speaking afterwards, Paul described the mountain descent as ‘wet and slippery’. The winner of the race was Brian McMahon in 52.51.
Catriona Jennings had a podium finish in the SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10 mile race in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. Catriona’s time of 59.14 gave her 3rd place in the women’s race. Laura Graham of Mourne Runners was the first woman in 58.51. Aidan McKenna finished in 68.27 and Philip Connolly’s time was 91.54. The race attracted in excess of 4,000 runners, with Stephen Scullion, of Clonliffe Harriers, a decisive winner in 50.37.
James McBride, in his 15th time running the Letterkenny parkrun, finished in 24.17 which resulted in him winning the M65-69 category and finishing 7th overall. Inishowen AC’s Martin Mooney was first across the line in 21.25.
Martin Gormley ended the week as he began it- by picking up another M50 first prize. He ran 18.38 to take 1st place in the M50 category in Sunday’s Donegal Hospice 5K, which was held in Convoy in memory of Kathleen Donaghy. Martin was 4th overall. Liam Ferry also claimed a top 10 placing with a time of 19.53. Eimear Gormley was 3rd in the Female Open category in 21.51. Jimmy Gildea came home in 31.26. Finn Valley AC’s John McElhill continued his successful spell with a victory in a time of 17.11.
The winning numbers in the Letterkenny AC Mini Lotto on August 24th were 11, 12, 15, 18. There were no Match 4 winners. The following Match 2 winners received €20 each:
Sean Crossan, Nicole Kelly, Neily McDaid and the Gormley family.
The jackpot remains at €2000.
Hugh Gallagher.
LAC PRO.
