21st December 2008 - Results and Fixtures

Grand National Win for Mary Walsh
The annual running of the Grand national took place on Tuesday of this week. This race is run over four laps of the Spollenstown- Charleville road circuit and covers a distance of 5060 metres. It is a handicap race where the runners are let off at different intervals with the fastest athletes setting off last in pursuit of those ahead of them.
Mary Walsh was the first to be let off and ran a very steady race to stay out in front to come home the winner in a time of 25.12. If Mary had looked behind she would have seen a fresh Jody O’Reilly charging through the field to finish second just 26 seconds behind. Pauline Curley was one of the last to start and she too ran well to pass a lot of runners to finish third. Catch Grennan was the last to start and he recorded the fastest time of the night despite a change of singlet mid race but the finish line came to quick for him and he had to settle for sixth place.
The presentation of prizes for the race and for other club races took place later that night in Euguene Kelly’s Lounge and a good social night was had by all.

Full Results;actual times in brackets. 1 Mary Walsh 25.12 (24.42); 2 Jody O’Reilly 25.36 (17.36); 3 Pauline Curley 25.47 (17.32); 4 John Harkin 25.48 (17.18); 5 Catch Grennan 25.53 (16.53); 6 Adrian Curley 25.58 (17.13); 7 Johnny Feery 26.00 (18.00); 8 Martin Carroll 26.02 (17.32); 9 Liam Dunne 26.05 (19.20); 10 Fra Mollen 26.10 (20.55); 11 John O’Connell 26.14 (18.44); 12 Adrian Martin 26.15 (20.00); 13 Ann Carroll 26.16 (19.01); 14 Mick Murphy 26.25 (17.45); 15 Liz Cuskelly 26.33 (18.48); 16 Mary Daly 26.38 (20.13); 17 Larry Rigney 26.41 (21.41); 18 Maire Triona Keane 26.44 (19.14); 19 Nick Devery (Guest) 26.50 (19.05); 20 Pat Conlon 26.51 (20.06); 21 Vinny Conlon 26.55 (19.55); 22 Maurice Fitzgearld 26.57 (21.07); 23 Paddy Dolan 27.01 (21.16); 24 Garry O’Connor 27.12 (21.27); 25 Tony McCormack 27.18 (21.18); 26 Una Mullen 27.38 (22.23); 27 Gerry Kavanagh 27.38 (22.38); 28 Brendan Kennedy 28.57 (23.12); 29 Andy O’Grady 31.16 (26.16). Guest. Niall Bryant 22.29

Goal Mile
The Goal Mile will take place on Christmas day between 10 and 12 noon on the Tullamore Harriers tartan track. It is a great place to meet people and also work up an appetite for the Christmas dinner.All you have to do is turn up, run or walk a mile and make a donation to Goal. For anyone feeling particulary energetic there will be a competitive mile at 11am.

Fixtures:
25th December; Goal Mile.
31st December; Round the Houses road race at 12 noon.

Training: Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm, Sunday morning at 8.30am (except on a Race day). New members always welcome. On these dark evenings, it is important that all members wear reflective clothing when running on the roads.

Memberships are now due and cost 35 euro for the year.

Best wishes to all members for a peaceful and happy Christmas and a healthy
and successful New Year.