Bracken and Ryan retain 10 mile athletics titles in Tipperary

Above: The first three women at the County 10 Mile Road Championships in Fethard - from left, Eileen McCullough, Moyne AC (silver); the winner, Dymphna Ryan, Dundrum AC and Madeline Loughnane, Thurles Crokes AC, who won bronze

The County Road Championships ended with the hosting by Fethard AC of the County 10 Mile event.

Despite the early start of 9am there was a very good entry, and athletes were greeted with warm conditions. The athletes headed out the Killenaule road and turned left towards Moyglass before returning again to the finish at the Fethard Town Park.

The defending champion was Mossy Bracken of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, and he was determined to retain his title. As such the pace was strong on the outward journey to Moyglass, then on the return trip Mossy went clear to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 54 minutes and retained his title.

Then we had Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir also running very well to win the silver medal in 54 minutes 59 seconds, with Matthew Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo making the podium by finishing third in 57 minutes 21 seconds.

The various category winners were as follows: first 0/35 Conor Keating Moycarkey Coolcroo 58.41, second Tom O’Connell Dundrum AC 60:69 and third Joey Feery Clonmel AC 61.51. First 0/40 Michael Gleeson Templemore AC 63.05, second Kevin Shortall Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 63.06 and third James Maher Fethard AC 63.59.

First 0/45 Declan Ryan Thurles Crokes AC 59.38, second Martin Keane Dundrum AC 64.06 and third Ian Martin Templemore AC 64.49.

First 0/50 Peter Madden Templemore AC 65.39, second Patrick Bowe Moyne AC 69.06 and third John Vahey Templemore AC 71.05. First 0/55 Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick-on-Suir AC 62.10, second Fintan Rice Fethard AC 63.52 and third Conor Fleming Clonmel AC 65.46.

First 0/60 Willie O’Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers AC 65.03, second Neilie Hall MCI AC 74.23 and third Bernard Feery Clonmel AC 78.35. First 0/65 Ger Kervick Mooreabbey Milers AC 81.25 and second Ned O’Brien Clonmel AC 91.04.

In the Men’s team competition, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC successfully retained the cup for another year with their scoring four of Mossy Bracken, Matthew Ryan, Conor Keating and Kevin Shortall. The Clonmel AC quartet of Aidan Flannery 58.34, Joey Feery, Conor Fleming and Barry Horgan 69.21 won the silver medals.

The Templemore AC team of Michael Gleeson, Ian Martin, Peter Madden and John Vahey won bronze. In the B section Moycarkey Coolcroo also won the gold medals with their team of Shane Minogue 63.09, John Fogarty 66.03 and Paul Bowe 68.50.

Above: The first three men at the County 10 Mile Road Championships in Fethard. From left, Matthew Ryan, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, who won bronze; the winner, Mossy Bracken, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC and the silver medal winner Dermot Gorman of Carrick-on-Suir AC

The women’s race was also competitive, as Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC successfully retained her title when coming home a very worthy and convincing champion in 62 mins 41 secs. Eileen McCullough Moyne AC won the silver in 67 mins 41 secs and Madeline Loughnane Thurles Crokes won bronze in 68.52.

The various category winners were as follows: First 0/35 Linda Ryan Thurles Crokes 84.54 and second Carol Molloy Fethard AC 85.10. First 0/40 Patricia Ryan Dundrum AC 70.42, second Emily Leahy Dundrum AC 75.27 and third Aine Roche Clonmel AC 76.10.

First 0/45 Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC 69.28, second Elaine Horgan Clonmel AC 73.20 and third Deniece Touhy Thurles Crokes 78.11. First 0/55 Martina Ryan Thurles Crokes 86.34.

In the team competition Dundrum AC defended their title with their scoring team of Dymphna, Catherine Fogarty and Patricia Ryan. The silver medals were won by the Thurles Crokes team of Madeline Loughnane, Laura Burke Carey 76.59 and Deniece Touhy. The Fethard AC team of Laura Earley 70.23, Abigeal Maher 84.38 and Carol Molloy won bronze.

At the presentation of the awards the County Chairman, Owen Fanning, thanked Fethard AC for hosting a brilliant event. He also thanked the clubs for supporting this event in what has been a very successful County Road Championship season.

Roll on the cross-country season.