Some great performances at Munster 4-Mile Road Championships staged in county Tipperary

All roads led to Dundrum last Sunday for the Munster Road Championships incorporating Novice, Senior and Masters for men and women.

Great credit must go to Dundrum Athletic Club for having everything in place for two very competitive races. The distance was four miles for both events. Conditions were very good and on this renowned course fast times were the order of the day.
The first race got underway at 1pm and that incorporated the Women’s and also the Men’s over 65 events.

WOMEN’S RACE

Right from the start local star Dymphna Ryan made her intentions known as she set a strong pace over the small one-mile lap and going out on the three-mile lap she was joined by An Riocht AC athlete Amy Pollen Daamen, with the chasing pack in close attention.

Then around halfway Dymphna made her move when going clear and from there on every stride was a winning one. She came home toa great applause and was a very convincing winner in 22 mins 42 secs. Dymphna was winning this coveted title for the third year in a row and it was her fourth Munster Senior Road title, which shows brilliant consistency.
Caroline Hassett of Templemore won the Munster Novice silver medal and silver over 40 when finishing fourth overall in 24.19. Linda Grogan of Dundrum won the over 40 bronze medal in 25.11. Catherine Fogarty of Dundrum AC won the over 45 bronze in 26.56.

We also had great performances from Eileen McCullagh, Thurles Crokes 25.31, Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC 25.40, Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers 26.57, Michelle Ryan Templemore AC 27.09, Angela Fogarty Moyne AC 27.23, Sareen Walsh Clonmel 27.29, Patricia Ryan Dundrum 27.51, Abigeal Maher Fethard AC 28.54, Emily Leahy Dundrum AC 28.56, Deirdre Bailey Mooreabbey Milers 29.03, Noelle O’Brien Mooreabbey Milers 29.10, Mairead Julian Dundrum AC 29.14, Maire O’Shea Mooreabbey Milers 29.38, Denise Compton Dundrum AC 29.38, Patricia Ryan Mooreabbey Milers 31.02, Martina Ryan Thurles Crokes 31.07, Lindsey Ryan Thurles Crokes 31.13, Regina Dorney Thurles Crokes 31.14, Stephanie Byrne Clonmel AC 31.29, Carol Molloy Fethard AC 31.50, Marie Carroll Fethard AC 32.51, Mary O’Connell Mooreabbey Milers 33.01 and Isobel Minogue Fethard AC 35.08.

The County over 35 Women’s team of Dymphna, Caroline, Linda and Eileen won the gold medals while the Dundrum team of Dymphna, Linda, Catherine and Patricia won the Inter Club gold medals over 35.
The county Over 50 team of Sareen, Denise, Martina and Regina won the silver medals. The county Novice team of Caroline, Linda, Eileen and Sharon won silver. The Dundrum team of Dymphna, Linda, Catherine and Patricia won the Senior inter club silver medals
The county team of Dymphna, Caroline, Linda and Eileen won the Senior Inter County silver medals.

MEN’S RACE

This race also incorporated the Men’s over 65 event. Here Jim St John of Clonmel AC ran very well when winning the over 65 bronze medal in 28.29. Then we had his clubmate John Corry also running very well when finishing fifth overall in 28.54. Billy Prout of Fethard AC also ran very well when finishing eighth in 32 minutes flat. Ned O’Brien of Clonmel AC also ran very well when finishing tenth in 33.55. These four athletes combined to win the Inter County silver medals.

The evergreen Myles McHugh of Clonmel AC, still enjoying the running, won the over 80 title in 41.55.
The Clonmel quartet won the Inter Club silver medals.

The Men’s race over four miles also attracted a very good entry. After the initial charge over the first mile the pace began to settle and soon a group of three athletes were to the fore, with the chasing pack in close attention as they went out on the three-mile lap.

At the front of affairs were Mossie Bracken of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, Declan Moore of Bilboa AC and the eventual champion Mark Hanrahan of Ennis Track Club. These three athletes were still closely bunched at halfway. Then as they approached the three-mile mark, Mark Hanrahan made his move and kept a strong pace going all the way to come home a very worthy champion in 22 mins 42 secs.

The battle for the minor placings was decided inside the final 400 metres, with Mossie Bracken winning the bronze medal in 20 minutes 1 second, which was great running.

Then we had Dermot Gorman Carrick-on-Suir running well to win the over 40 Munster title impressively in 20.30. His clubmate Eugene O’Keeffe also ran very well when winning the over 55 Munster title in 23.33, with Fintan Rice of Fethard AC winning the silver medal in 24.08. Willie O’Donoghue of Mooreabbey Milers captured the over 60 title impressively in 23.48.

There were also great performances from Louis Rice Fethard 12th in 21.10, Matthew Ryan Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 13th 21.12, Tom O’Connell Dundrum AC 22.50, Sean Landers Mooreabbey Milers 22.51, Philly O’Dwyer Dundrum AC 23.05, Joey Feery Clonmel AC 23.30, Patrick Davoren Clonmel AC 23.37, Eamon Morrissey Dundrum 23.40, Gerry O’Neill Dundrum AC 23.45, Robert Cunningham Mooreabbey Milers 24.03, Kevin Patrick Lenihan Mooreabbey Milers 24.07, Martin Keane Dundrum AC 24.20, Michael O’Brien Templemore AC 24.23, James Maher Fethard 24.31, Darren Allison Dundrum 24.41, Damien Holian Mooreabbey Milers 24.45, Jamie Byrne Clonmel AC 25 mins, Tom Blackburn Mooreabbey Milers AC 25.14 Patrick Bowe Moyne AC 25.29, Jack Spillane Fethard 25.33, John Vahey Templemore 25.45, Ger Hanley Mooreabbey Milers AC 26.04, Jim Halley Dundrum AC 26.11, Dariusz Gazdowicz Mooreabbey Milers AC 26.16, Val Farrell Dundrum 26.23, William Keane Dundrum 26.28, Michael McNamara 26.34, John Fitzgerald Thurles Crokes 26.38, Brian Carroll Mooreabbey Milers 27.45, Shane White Dundrum 28.59 and Perry Power Mooreabbey Milers 31.39.

The Mooreabbey Milers over 50 team of Willie, Damian and Tom won the inter club silver medals while the county over 50 team of Eugene, Patrick, Willie and Fintan won the silver medals.