29th November 2009 - Results and Fixtures

Grennan and Harkin to the Fore in Winter League

Last week saw the running off of two legs of the Winter League. The league consists of three teams with every runner scoring points for their teams.

The first leg was held last Thursday night and was run over 3,000 metres on the tarmac lap. Thirty three runners lined up at the start. Guest runner Kevin Murphy from Wexford set a strong pace from the start and Catch Grennan was the only runner that matched him. Grennan bided his time till near the finish when he used his finishing speed to pull away from Murphy to win in a good time for the conditions of 9.21. John Harkin finished in third place with John Donegan just getting the better of Declan Fahey for fourth place.

Results.
1 Catch Grennan 9.21; 2 Kevin Murphy (Guest) 9.25 ; 3 John Harkin 9.56 ; 4 John Donegan 10.00 ; 5 Declan Fahey 10.01 ; 6 Eddie Garry 10.12 ; 7 Johnny Feery 10.12 ; 8 Mark Servis 10.18 ; 9 Liz Cuskelly 10.39 ; 10 Seamus O’Chonghaile 10.46 ; 11 Pauline Curley 10.51 ; 12 Pat Conlon 10.51 ; 13 Nick Devery 11.09 ; 14 John O’Connell 11.12 ; 15 Joe Wrafter 11.15 ; 16 Adrian Martin 11.17 ; 17 Liam Byrne 11.24 ; 18 Richie Faulkner 11.27 ; 19 David Gorry 11.28 ; 20 James Mahon 11.56 ; 21 Conor Rigney 12.01 ; 22 Mary Daly 12.06 ; 23 Evelyn Herlihy 12.32 ; 24 Glen Finlay 12.45 ; 25 Brendan Kennedy 12.52 ; 26 Declan lambe 12.55 ; 27 Jim Langan 13.00 ; 28 Ivan Cuddihy 13.26 ; 29 Martina Conlon 13.31 ; 30 Michael Carroll 14.01 ; 31 Jim Dolan 15.22 ; 32 Francis Neville 16.38 ; 33 Marie Philibn 19.22.

Winter League 2nd leg.
The second leg of the Winter League were held in Charleville Estate last Sunday. With all the rain recently, conditions were muddy but that did not deter the thirty runners who braved the elements to compete over a distance of three miles. First leg winner Catch Grennan showed his intentions from the start and went to the front early on and soon only had John Harkin for company. This pair shared the lead throughout until seven hundred metres from the finish when the strong running Harkin made his move on the last hill. It was here that Harkin pulled away from Grennan and he ran strong to the finish to win by fifty metres from Grennan. John Donegan held off Pauline Curley to take third place with Curley the first woman home in fourth place.

With one win each from the first two legs it is all to play for in the last leg for Catch Grennan and John Harkin. The last leg takes place on Thursday 10th December and with the team standings also close, the team captains will be hoping for a good showing from their respective teams.

Results.
1 John Harkin 17.24 ; 2 Catch Grennan 17.34 ; 3 John Donegan 18.25 ; 4 Pauline Curley 18.32 ; 5 Declan Fahey 18.36 ; 6 Johnny Feery 18.49 ; 7 Martin Carroll 19.08 ; 8 Pat Conlon 19.24 ; 9 Eanna Gowarn 20.01 ; 10 Liz Cuskelly 20.04 ; 11 Joe Wrafter 20.32 ; 12 John O’Connell 20.52; 13 Maire Triona O’Connor 20.54 ; 14 Vinny Conlon 20.54 ; 15 Maurice Fitzgerald 21.27 ; 16 Richie Faulkner 21.33 ; 17 Adrian Martin 21.37 ; 18 Fra Mollen 21.58 ; 19 David Gorry 22.27 ; 20 Darren Butler 22.38 ; 21 Mary Daly 22.42 ; 22 Neville Coughlan 23.23 ; 23 Brendan Kennedy 24.57 ; 24 Declan Lambe 25.06 ; 25 Evelyn Herlihy 25.10 ; 26 Martina Conlon 25.25.42 ; 27 Michael Carroll 26.52 ; 28 Una Mullen 27.01 ; 29 Mary Walsh 27.39 ; 30 Jim Dolan 29.47.

The late Patrick (Paddy) Beatty
As mentioned briefly in last weeks notes, Tullamore Harriers club were deeply saddened upon hearing the tragic news that Paddy, one of her favourite sons, had gone on to his eternal reward. Paddy joined the club in 1957.An accomplished athlete, Paddy won numerous individual and team titles in the famous blue and white. Paddy had the distinction of being the first Tullamore Harrier athlete to break the magical 2 min barrier for 800mts. As the years passed Paddy became heavily involved in the organisational side of the club. Devoting endless hours, he was a key member of the social committee that oversaw development in the club at that time, building the social centre, installing the tartan track and the sports complex. Paddy was hugely popular among his clubmates. Known for his soft spoken words of encouragement and advice, Paddy was an active member of the club until his untimely passing, an amazing 52 years of loyalty and devotion. The Chairman, committee and club members wish to extend their sympathies to Paddys wife Benny, his sons Tom, Donal and Ken, and his extended family. The Tullamore Harriers is a better place today for the fact that a man of the calibre of Paddy Beatty was among its ranks.

Fixtures
December 6th : National Novice Cross Country. Coolraine, Co. Derry.
December 10th. Winter League round 3. 3k Tarmac. 7pm
December 13th : European Cross Country Championships, Santry, Dublin.
December 15th : Grand National at 7pm followed by presentation of prizes.
December 25th : Goal Mile.
December 31st at 12 mid day. Round the Houses Road Race.

Training: Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm, Sunday morning at 8.30am Except on a race day. New members always welcome.

With the dark evenings now here it is important to be seen on the roads so reflective gear must be worn while training on the roads

Membership is now due. Forms available in clubhouse.