To start the week Lindie Naughton brings us all the Irish endurance action and news from the weekend just gone (Tuesday 13th August).

Big road race of the weekend was the Streets of Galway 8km on Saturday evening (August 10)  with an entry of over 3,000,  where David McGlynn (Waterford AC) was the overall winner in  23 mins 43 secs. In the battle for second place, Craughwell AC’s William Fitzgerald out-sprinted  his clubmate Jamie Fallon with the pair timed at 24:13  and 24:15 respectively.

First woman in 30:15 was Norah Newcombe Pieterse (Mayo AC, W40). Cora Foy was second in 30:19 and Kate Collins Smyth third in 30:57. Fourth and first W50 was Ann Marie Connellan of Ennis TC in 30:59.

Also on Saturday, Ashley Crutchley  (Newcastle and District AC) won the Dambusters 10-mile in Silent Valley Mountain Park,  Co Down with a time of 58 mins 56 secs. First woman in 71:04 was Pamela Kir of (Roadrunners AC, W40). In the 10km, the winners were Garry Morrow (North Down, M40) in 33:56 and Aimee Mullin (Galbally Runners)  in 41:27.

Winners at the Youghal Bay 10km on Sunday (August 11) were  Jeremiah Sheehan (North Cork AC) in 32:36 and Linda Kelly (WatergrasshillAC, W50) in39:36.  Winning the half marathon in 71: 21 was Kane Collins (Dome Harriers).  First woman was Aoife Cooke (Eagle AC) in 78:52.

First home at the Monaghan 10-Miler was Mindaugas Balciauskis in 53:48.  First woman in  64:59 was Noeleen Brouder (Sportsworld AC, W45).

Somba-time

Peter Somba (Ratoath AC)  led home 314 finishers  at the Kells 5km Heritage Run in Co Meath on Friday evening (August 9) ,  with a time of 15:12. Second in 15:18 was Eoin Flynn (Rathfarnham WSAF AC, M40) in 15:18, while third in 15:25 was Sean Doran (Clonliffe Harriers).

Fourth and first junior was Conor McGuirk (Lusk AC) in 15:31. Juniors took the top three rankings in the women’s race,  with  Emma Hunt (Bohermeen AC) the winner in 18:29, Katy Hayes (St Coca’s AC) second in 19:07, and Tara hunt (no club) third in 19:19.  Terry Keogh (Raheny Shamrock) was first M50

In the age catgories, Patrick O’Grady (Clonliffe Harriers) was first M60 and Carol Dempsey  and Sharon McGrane, both Civil Service AC, first and second  W50. Winning the men’s team category was the Clonliffe trio of Doran , Maguire and O’Grady. Bohermeen AC, led by Emma Hunt, won the women’s team category.

In Co Wexford, Evan Fitzgerald (West Waterford AC) was the winner of the United Striders AC 5km Stride, at the New Ross Greenway also on Friday evening with a time of 14 mins 39 secs. Second in 14:56 was Mossy Bracken (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) while third was Dermot Gorman (Carrick-on-Suir AC, M40)  in 15:18.

Ciara Wilson (DMP AC) was first woman in 16:07, followed by her clubmate Katie Wilson in 17:40 and Adele Walsh (St Senan’s AC, W45) in 18:05.

On Wednesday (August 8)  Oisin Lane (Mullingar Harriers) was the clear winner of the opening round of the Longford 5km Trail Series at the Royal Canal in Longford Town in a time of 16 mins 18 secs. Sixth and first woman was Nikita Cassidy in 19:18. Three rounds of the series remain.

Swinford Autumn 5km Series Rd 1 (of 6),  Swinford, Co Mayo. 6.30pm.

Host club North Down made it a double at the Crawfordsburn Trail Race, with James Budde the winner in 17:10 and Sarah Grant first woman in 20:34.

Home Track & Field

At the NI and Ulster Track and field Championships at the Mary Peters Track, Belfast on Friday and Saturday, Brhane Gebrebrhan beat two of his Annadale Striders clubmates to win the men’s 5000m title in 15:00.46. Neil Johnston was second in 15:02.12 and Luke Dinsmore third in 15:03.49. Conal McCaughey (North Belfast Harriers) won the 10,000m in 32:21.02

Winner of the women’s 5000m  in 17:16.52 was Roise Roberts (CNDR AC, U23). Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers was second in 17:26.35.

At the British Milers Club Grand Prix final in Bury on Saturday (August 10),  a number of Irish distance athletes were recording personal best times among them many times Irish steeplechase champion Michelle Finn (Leevale AC)  who finished second in the women’s A 5000m in a time of 15:37.88 and s Íde NicDhomhnaill (West Limerick)  who was fourth  in 15:41.92.

In the men’s A 5000m, Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC)  finished third with a time of 13:50.44 while seventh was Hugh Armstrong Ballina AC) with his time of in 13:57.21 another PB.

Off-road

In a thrilling final to the classic Sierre-Zinal 31km race with 2,200m of climb in the Swiss Alps  on Saturday (August 10) Killian Jornet (Spain) was the winner in 2 hrs 25 mins 34.18 secs with young pretender Philemon Ombugo Kiriago, aged just 22 from Kenya,  finishing on his heels in 2:25.36.3.

Two Irish had entered with Paddy O’Leary finishing 78th in 3:02.00.6 and Zak Hanna 145th in 3:19.05.2. A total of 920 men (44 dnfs) and 191 women (18 dnfs). Best British result came from Scout Adkin who finished second woman in 3:02.21.1. Best of the British men was Robbie Simpson, 13th in 2:37.44.7.

Ultra-running

Wayne McGuigan and Karen Nicol were the winners at the Last One Standing/All Ireland Backyard Championship and Open Event held at  Florencecourt, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh from midday on Saturday (August 10)

Runners had an hour to complete each 4.2 mile loop before lining up and going again on the hour every hour until  only one runner remained who, as the last one standing, was declared the winner.

McGuigan completed 43 laps for a total of 180.6 miles, improving on his winning distance of 163.8 miles from 2023. Second with 42 loops/176.4 miles was Myles Barnes, while third and first woman with 40 loops/172 miles was Karen Nicol. In the interpro championships, Ulster were the winners with 371 loops, followed by Leinster 354 loops and Munster 313 loops.