Gorman second in Longford Half

by Club PRO Paul Deering 

Sligo AC’s Richard Gorman recorded a personal best when finishing runner up in the Longford half marathon on Sunday last. Gorman (37) has had a good record in Longford over the past couple of years and Sunday saw him put in an exceptional performance in ideal running conditions.

Collooney based Gorman finished in 1:11:20, a time which would rank him amongst the best in the country in his age category. Sligo AC’s Damien McSharry did the full marathon and got under the magical three hour mark in 2.58.

Meanwhile, the club was represented at the National Masters’ track championships in Tullamore where there were category medals for Kevin McGlone and John McDermott. McGlone was winner of the over 45 category in a very competitive 800 metres. McDermott claimed two silver medals in the 100m and 200m.

The winners of the Sligo County Road Race League have been announced. Mari Johnston won the womens’ title, the second Sligo AC winner of the league in its three years, following Roseanne Mitchell’s win in 2011. Liam Feely of North Leitrim was the runaway winner of the mens’ title. Mari continued her winning ways on Sunday last when first woman home in the Kilmactigue 10km. Neal Higgins was second home overall in what was a very tough course.

The Warriors’ Run will dominate next week-end and the club will have many participants both male and female, some tackling the gruelling race for the first time. The club will have strong chances to win individual, and team category prizes.

Those in the mood after the Warriors’ for more racing, there’s a 5k in Calry on Wednesday week, September 4th.. The Harvest Run will get underway at 7.30pm at Calry Community Park. The annual Calry Parish three mile fun run/walk will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 3pm . Taking in a scenic route across Riverside it finishes at The Mall where children’s races take place beforehand at 2pm.

Track and Field National League Final Placings

The National League Final took place in Tullamore on Sunday with Sligo County Mens Team in second and the Women in third Team. Manager Dermot Mc Dermott did a great job in assembling all the Athletes and also competed and thanks also to Carina Clarke who looked after the Ladies Team for the Final.

Placings:
100ms / 400ms hurdles - Women -  Louise Mulvaney third in both.
110ms hurdles / 5k walk - Men - Kevin McGlynn fourth in both.
400ms hurdles - Men - Dermot McDermott third.
100/200ms - Men - Zak Irwin first and third.
1500ms / 3000ms Women - Eimear O’Brien first.
100 ms / triple jump - Women - Ania Bednoz first in both.
200ms - Women - Stacey Kerr first.
400ms - Women -  Claire Conlon fourth.
4 by 100ms relay - Men - Odhran Gildea,  Zak Irwin, Aaron Cadden, Kieran Elliott first.
4 by 100ms relay - Women - Stacey Kerr, Louise Mulvaney, Ania Bednoz, Emily Burns second.
4 by 400ms - Women - Stacey Kerr, Louise Mulvaney, Claire Conlon, Emily Burns second.
4 by 400ms - Men -  Colm Bourke, Zak Irwin, Cian Mc Bride, Kieran Elliott second.
1500ms Walk - Women - Rachel Conlon second.
1500ms - Men - Alberto Sanchez second.
400ms - Men - Kieran Elliott first.
800ms - Men - William Crowe fourth.
800ms - Women - Sorcha Fallon second.
5000ms - Men - Emmet Dunleavy first.
3k Steeplechase - Men - Kilian O Connor third.
Long Jump / Triple Jump - Men - Colm Bourke third in both.
Long Jump - Womens - Emily Burns third.
Javelin - Womens - Chantel Foley third.
High Jump - Womens - Ania Bednoz fourth.
Hammer - Mens - Stephen Reynolds second.

Sligo AC well represented at National Finals

By Club PRO Paul Deering 

Sligo AC members were to the fore in the Woodie’s DIY National League final at the Tullamore Harriers Stadium on Sunday. Competing for the county team in Division One (Men) and Division Two (women) there were several placings and excellent performances. At the end of a long day of tough competition, Sligo County men were second overall and the women third. It will mean County Sligo have won promotion to the Premier Division.

The County Sligo Squad

Sligo AC’s Emmett Dunleavy’s switch to the track of late has been going quite well and he won the 5,000m in 15.10.56 while another first came from Zak Irwin in the 200m in a time of 22.11 while he was third in the 100m in 11.32. Alberto Sanchez was second in the 1500m in 4.01 while coach Dermot McDermott was third in the 400m hurdles in 58.61. In the long jump, young Colm Burke continued his recent impressive form, finishing third with a leap of 6.77m. John McDermott was fourth in the pole vault and Stephen Reynolds was second in the hammer, throwing 32.16m. The four by 100m relay team was first in 43.10. In the women’s Division Two league, Stacey Kerr won the 200m in 27.02 and was fourth in 400m in 69.06. Ania Bednorz won the 100m in 13.12 while she was also first in the triple jump with a leap of 11.82m. Rachel Conlon put in a great effort in the 1,500m walk finishing runner up in 7.49.23 in a very close finish. Emily Burns was third in the long jump.

Meanwhile, there was a good turn out mid-week for the County Sligo 9k trail championships in Union Wood. It was another testing run, coming after two tough eight mile road races in the past two weeks. Ross McLynn led the field home with Jonathan Hill and Seamus Somers in hot pursuit. Great credit goes to Rory Connor for his efforts in putting on the race which should become an annual event. Results are available here.

In other news, Richard Gorman clocked up another victory this year, this time in the Castlebar 10k road race on Sunday in a time of 34.38. The Sligo AC vest was also seen in Cork last week with Philip Morrison proudly wearing the colours in the Southern capital where he finished a five mile event on Haulbowline Naval Base in 33.37.

Please see the club's Facebook page for lots more photos.

Club well represented at two testing eight miler road races

First three women home in the Knocknarea Mountain Loop 8 Miler: Patricia Foy (centre) with Niamh Nicholson (left) second and Deirdre Deering (right) third.

by Club PRO Paul Deering 

Testing hill runs were the order of the week-end with eight mile road races at opposite ends of the county.

On Friday night in excellent running conditions, a field of 100 brave runners took to the Gleniff Horseshoe in the latest race in the County League sponsored by Sligo Credit Union and Filan's Centra. Switched to an eight miler this year, the route was as tough as ever, starting and ending at the Ben Whisken Centre. Seamus Somers flew the flag for the club coming home third in an impressive 47.50 followed by Dannon Hannon (5th overall, first over 50) in 48.27. North Leitrim AC's Liam Feely led the field home in 45.02. Alan Kearns was 7th in 50.15 with Ross Downey 8th in 50.18 and Neal Higgins 9th in 51.00.

The race in the women's categories was every bit as close and exciting with Mari Johnston continuing her good form this year, triumphing in 54.40 followed by Aisling Van Rensburg (North Sligo) in 54.56 and Roseanne Mitchell in 58.55, the latter returning to near her best after recent injury. Fiona Fahey Gilmartin was eight in 61.04 and Pauline Henry 11th in 64.37. Noelle Galvin continues to improve and finished in 67.59. The club picked up a number of category prizes. Full results can be found here.

Attention switched to Strandhill on Sunday and the club had many runners amongst the 144 strong field in the 8 Mile Knocknarea Mountain Loop Race. The highest placed club member was Richard Gorman who was runner up to Liam Feely who did the double. Richard, who intends concentrating on cross country this coming winter, completed the testing route in 44.42, some 22 seconds behind the North Leitrim AC athlete. The next highest placed Sligo AC runner was Damien Kennedy (5th) in 52.04 with Karl Boyce (8th) in 53.57 and Joe Stagg (15th) in 57.08 (first over 50) and Philip Morrison 24th in 58.22.

Sligo AC recorded a victory through Patricia Foy who was first woman home in an excellent 55.05. Deirdre Deering was third woman across the line in 60.52 with Fiona Fahey Gilmartin fourth (third senior) in 62.03 and Catherine Bradley fifth in 62.08 and Ashling Cawley sixth in 63.13. Full results can be found here.

Please see the club's Facebook page for more photos etc.

Latest news catchup

by Club PRO Paul Deering 

It may be holiday season but the club's members haven't been taking a break with plenty of representation at various events over the past couple of weeks.

Shane Hayes winning 'The Gathering 5K' in Donegal on Monday last

Following on from the great success of Emmett Dunleavy with his silver medal performance in the 3,000m steeplechase at the national championships and Zak Irwin's two bronze medals at the Schools International in Santry there has also been plenty of local action.

 Father and son, Enda and Fintan Whelan represented the club at the national half marathon in the Phoenix Park at the week-end. Enda posted 1.40 while Fintan managed a pb in 1.39, a continuation of his recent good form having managed another pb over 8k in Coolaney in 31.33.

Also in action over the Bank Holiday week-end was Nicky Davey who was just on 40 minutes in the Dublin Bay 10k.

In Coolaney, US based Sligo student, Tommy Casey, showed a clean pair of heels to the field winning in 25.11 with Sligo AC club mate, Seamus Somers third in 27.41 and Ultan McNasser fourth in 28.08. There were category wins for Danny Hannon, Seamus Somers, Patricia Foy and Roseanne Mitchell. Of note also on the night was the performance of 14 year old Keenan Deering (35.58) who knocked two minutes off his pb from his last 8k in Rosses Point earlier in the summer.

On Sunday last the club was well represented at the Ballisodare 5k which was won by Tommy Casey in 15.26 in what was one of his last races on home soil before his return to the US. The club wishes him continued success in his academic studies and sporting life in the States. Richard Gorman who ran an 8k in Mullinabreena earlier in the day was second in Ballisodare in 17 minutes flat while Shane Hayes, back to his best after injury, was third in 17.20. A notable performance was that of Ciaran McMurray (15) who came home in 18.26. He was sixth in Coolaney in a very impressive 29.14. First woman home in Ballisodare was Catherine Bradley in 21.39 while Sligo AC colleague, Pauline Henry was second in 22.05.

Shane Hayes continued his good form in Tir Chonaill AC's The Gathering 5k in Donegal town on Monday evening last winning in a pb of 17.14. Another young athlete doing the club proud was Philip Hunter who broke the 20 minute mark for the first time, finishing eight overall and first junior in Donegal in 19.53.

This coming week-end there's the next race in the County Sligo Road Race League sponsored by Sligo Credit Union and Filan's Centra, the Gleniff Horseshoe 8 mile event. There are also eight mile races in Ballinafad on Saturday and Strandhill on Sunday. Anyone looking for a shorter distance, there is a three mile race in aid of North West Hospice in Mullaghmore on Sunday afternoon around the scenic Head.

County Sligo Trail Running Championships 2013

This 9k Trail Run will take place in the beautiful surroundings of Sligo's Union Wood on the outskirts of the town and is open to all levels of runner.

The start will be just off the main Sligo-Ballygawley Road at the entrance to the Woods opposite Union Foods. Showers will be available afterwards in the nearby Castle Dargan Hotel, followed by a BBQ at the hotel.

Entry will be limited to 200 runners and the price is €13. You can enter online here - also, please keep an eye on our facebook page for updates and further information relating to this and other Sligo AC supported races.

The Sligo 'Coast to Coast' 10 Mile Road Race

The Sligo 'Coast to Coast' is a unique event in the northwest of Ireland. It's a 10 miler which starts in the beautiful seaside village of Strandhill, loops around Sligo bay and finishes in the scenic village of Rosses Point.

This fantastic event which will see competitors bussed from Rosses Point beach car park to the start line in Strandhill will take place on the 29th September 2013. The course is fast and flat and will suit all levels of runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors.

You can enter online here - also, please keep an eye on our facebook page for updates and further information relating to this and other Sligo AC supported races.

Knocknarea Mountain Loop 8 Mile Road Race

Our friends in Strand Celtic are holding the Knocknarea Mountain Loop Run/Walk fundraiser again this year on Sunday the 11th of August 2013.

The walk kicks off at 10am followed by the run at 10.45am. You can register on the day from 9am at Sligo Enterprise Centre (Airport Business Park), Strandhill, or on Saturday the 10th of August at Strand Celtic Clubhouse, Strandhill Community Park from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Entry fees for the run and walk are economically priced at €10 for the run, and €5 for the walk. This 8 Mile event is a great warm up for anyone taking part in the Warriors Run and is open to people of all abilities and you will have plenty of time to recover for the main event on the 31st of August.