At the World Half Marathon Championships held in Riga, Latvia on Sunday, Shona Heaslip of An Riocht finished 24th in the women’s race with a time of 71 mins 7 secs. Fionnuala Ross placed 41st in 74:40. In the men’s race, Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC, the sole Irish finisher, was 60th in 64:14.
Locally, Brian G. Murphy of Uisce Éireann was the winner of the inaugural Radisson Blu Cork BHAA 5km at Little Island, Cork, finishing in 16 mins 2 secs. Tom McKenzie of Iuna Hospitality was second in 16:24 and guest runner Andrew Hobbs third in 16:32. Carol Finn was first woman in 17:55, followed by Vicki Spiteri of the HSE in 19:04 and Elaine Cardiff of the Dept of Ed in 19:32. Grade A team winners were the UCC men and the Dept of Ed women.
Note: the Defence Forces BHAA 5km on Sunday 15 October has a change of venue and will now take place in Tramore Valley Park.
Winner of the Douglas Credit Union 5km at Tramore Valley Park in Cork were Gavin Kenny of Bandon AC in 16:13 and Linda Kelly of Carrigaline Road Runners in 19:12.
Kahumburuka Tuahuku in 19 mins 57 secs and Lydia Bigley in 26:55 were the winners at the Sanctuary Runners 5km, an off-road race held on the national cross-country track at Abbbotstown.
At a well-supported NI and Ulster 10km Championships in Bangor, Co Down on Saturday (September 30), Andrew Milligan of North Belfast Harriers won a three-way chase for the line, out-sprinting Conor Bradley of City of Derry Spartans AC and Conall McClean of St Malachy’s AC. Milligan was given a time of 30 mins 27 secs, with the other pair a second slower on 30:28. First woman in 36:11 was Robyn McKee of Annadale Striders, with her clubmate Dearbhla Cox second in 36:25 and Sarah McNutt of Lagan Valley AC third in 37:55. Newcastle AC took the men’s team title comfortably with North Belfast Harriers second and Annadale Striders third. Best of the women’s teams was Annadale Striders ahead of Carmen Runners and Tafelta AC.
Winning the Rossi 5km in Rostrevor was Mark Malone in 15:52. First woman was Joanne Mills in 19:04. Earlier in the week, the Grant Thornton series of corporates race came to Dublin’s Docklands on Tuesday (September 26), with Richie Gardener of UPMC Sports the winner in 15 mins 28 secs and Sheila O’Byrne of Golf Ireland the first woman in 17:98. Although these races cost €35 per individual or €140 per team - plus charges - this particular one attracted an entry of over 3,000. Has no-one told these runners about BHAA events, where races cost a mere €10?