Bronze medal for Craughwell AC in National Road Relays

THE Great Ireland Run on Sunday last also incorporated the AAI National 10km championships in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The overall race was won by the World record holder Keninisa Bekele in a super time of 28.53 in blustery conditions, with England’s Lauren Howarth taking the women’s crown in 33.36.

Galway City Harriers had strong teams and representation in all categories. The first Galway runner home was veteran Matt Bidwell of GCH running 33.36, for 36th place, securing an individual National medal in the process, with new recruit John Greaney close behind in 34.07.
Owen Byrne, Chris McGrath and Billy King were the next scorers on the senior GCH men’s team behind Greaney. The Vet 35 scoring team was completed by Gerry Carty and Brian Bruton.
GCH teams stand a strong team medal chance in the senior women’s race with Caoimhe Daniels, Regina Casey and Barbara Dunne all finishing close together around the 41 minute mark (results still awaited), while the GCH V35 women were led home by Jane Walsh, with Breege McGath and Clare O’Shea the other team scorers
Meanwhile, Craughwell AC fielded two strong teams at the National Road Relays in Raheny recently. In perfect if breezy conditions the Veteran men’s team of Mark Davis, Gerry Ryan and Martin Corcoran won a terrific bronze in the M35 race in 20:00 exactly.
The medal was a great achievement considering the average team age of 47, and the Craughwell team took the scalps of several renowned teams en route. Mark Davis ran the first leg with a stunning 4.53 mile split, Gerry Ryan took up the baton and duly ran the fastest two mile leg of the entire veterans’ event in 9:58, hauling the team up into 3rd position.
Martin Corcoran took the changeover with a decent but not unassailable lead on the 4th placed athletes.

Corcoran found the reserves to hold off his challengers to clinch the bronze and surprised many by breaking the Dublin dominance in the event.
The Craughwell AC Senior Men’s relay team performed well to take 14th place in a highly competitive field. The senior four leg relay was led out by Irish international, Jamie Fallon-Spellman with a strong 5:01 first lap.
Conor Gillen ran a fantastic second leg, maintaining his position to hand off to Neil Greaney, who also ran strongly in his debut in the difficult three-mile leg again, holding his place to offload to Jason Broderick for the final two mile leg to take the team home in a time of 43.26.