County’s veterans strike gold in All-Ireland indoor championships

OVER 400 entrants for the All-Ireland Masters Indoors Championships held in Athlone last Sunday showed the strength of this level of athletics as numerous highly competitive events took place on the track and in the field.

There was great success for the many Galway athletes who competed. On the track, Galway City Harriers’ men took triple gold in the Masters 3000m, with wins for Matt Bidwell in the M40 section in 8.56, Martin Kearney in the M60 category and the evergreen Martin McEvilly in the M65 category. McEvilly also took silver in the 1500m O65 later in the day.

Peter O’Sullivan of Craughwell won gold in the M40 1500m in a sprint finish, clocking 4.10, while Eamon Hornibrook of GCH won silver in the 1500m M45 category. O’Sullivan also claimed a bronze in the M40 800m event in 2.03. Judith Roche of Loughrea won silver in the O60 Women’s 800m, running 3.20, and also took silver in the 1500m with a 6.44 timing.

In the sprints, Galway ladies performed well, with Margaret Higgins of Corofin winning the O60 gold 60m, Mary Barrett of Loughrea taking silver in the O55 60m, and Finula Cooke of Galway City Harriers securing bronze in the Ladies O50 60m, clocking 9.82.

In the field events, there were golds for both Mary Barrett, O55, throwing 10.44m and Margaret Higgins Corofin, O60, with 6.31m, in the shot putt. In the high jump, both Barrett and Higgins claimed two more gold in their respective categories, with Higgins jumping 1.10 a new Irish record.

Meanwhile, Mary Barrett of Loughrea competed in the British Masters championships recently in Lee Valley in London, winning gold in the shot putt, throwing 10.95m, silver in the high jump with 1.30m and equalling the Irish indoor record when winning bronze in the 60m hurdles. Mary also recently won the W55 British masters pentathlon in Lee Valley with a new Irish record.

Over 200 runners and walkers took part in the 2015 Abbey 10km held last Sunday. The race was won by Craughwell AC’s Damien Larkin, who is having a great season on the roads this year, clocking 35.21. Eddie Newman of Mullingar Harriers was just behind in second, 35.35, with Patrick Hanrahan of Ballinasloe in third.

Sinead Brody of GCH continued her good early season form, winning the ladies section easily in a time of 40 minutes flat, with Athenry’s Deirdre Quinn in second and Orla Kilraine third.

The 2015 Galway AAI 10 Mile Road Race Championships will take place in conjunction with the Craughwell AC 10 mile road race on this Sunday, March 22.

Medals will be assigned to the following categories: 1st/2nd/3rd Male/Female Senior, O40, O50, O60 and O70; 1st/2nd/3rd Male/Female teams of four finishers.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.