Tipperary Novece “B” Road Championships 2010

Edel Hickey Leahy and Michael Ryan win two great titles

The County Novice B road Championships took place in good conditions in Moyne last Sunday. The Ladies race over 3k attracted 12 athletes. Right from the start Edel Hickey Leahy of Moyne set the pace as she was determined to add this title to the County Novice B Cross Country title she won in Ballynonty late last year. Edel maintained this strong pace and turned at halfway still in the lead with the chasing pack consisting of the Clonmel duo of Emma Ferris and Nicola Maunsell as well as Ailbhe Carroll of Templemore trying hard to get back on even terms. Running over familiar ground Edel made every stride a winning one as she held on to win a great race in 12 min 11 secs. This was a great win by Edel who is a daughter of Mick Hickey of Dundrum, who won many a County and indeed National titles back in the 1960’s. Edel becomes the first lady athlete to win both the County Ladies Novice B Cross Country and Road titles. Then we had Emma Ferris of Clonmel also running very well to win the Silver medal in 12 mins 14 secs with Ailbhe Carroll of Templemore holding off the late challenge by Nicola Maunsell of Clonmel for the Bronze medal by one second. Ailbhe’s time was 12 mins 37 secs with Nicola times at 12 mins 38 secs. For the record Elizabeth Breen of Dundrum was 5^th in 12 mins 48 secs with Elaine Walsh of Carrick on Suir 6^th in 13 mins 3 secs. In the team event the host club Moyne reclaimed the Club title they last won in 2008 in Ballingarry when their winning team that day was Ashling Maher, Maura Ryan and Elaine Flynn. Their winning team last Sunday was Edel Hickey Leahy, Sinead Tynan who was 7^th in 13 mins 30 secs and Ashling Maher who was 8^th in 13 mins 39 secs. The Silver medals were won by Carrick on Suir and their team was Elaine Walsh, Catherine O Donovan 9^th in 13 mins 47 secs and Jackie Dunne who was 11^th in 14 mins 26 secs.

The Men’s race over 5K attracted 42 athletes and it was great to see six clubs vying for the Club title. Right from the start Michael Ryan and Sean McGrath both of Dundrum led the leading group that also consisted of the Coolquill duo of Joe Keaney and Andrew Smyth with Billy Phillips and David Kenneally both Thurles Crokes as well as Niall O Ceallaigh of Clonmel. Then at around halfway Michael Ryan increased the pace and soon opened a nice lead on the chasing pack. Michael maintained this strong pace to come home a convincing winner in 17 mins 19 secs to win his first individual title. Michael trained hard for this title and on this performance he will improve over the coming months. Then we had a right tussle for the Silver medal with Sean McGrath just ahead of Billy Phillips with 500m to go. Billy edged in front with 300m to go and held on to win the Silver medal in 17 mins 31 secs with Sean winning the bronze medal in 17 mins 37 secs. Then we had David Kenneally coming through to finish 4^th in 17 mins 48 secs with Tommy Falconer of Carrick on Suir 5^th in 17 mins 51 secs. For the record Michael Coen of Dundrum was 6^th in 17 mins 53 secs, 7^th Andrew Smyth Coolquill 17 min 54 secs, 8^th Jim Moloney Thurles Crokes 18 mins 3 secs, 9^th Joe Keaney Coolquill 18 mins 8 secs, 10^thJohn Russell Coolquill 18 mins 10 secs. In the team event there was a close competition between those great rivals Dundrum and Thurles Crokes with Dundrum edging it by 3 points (places) over the 5k course with four to score for the first time in this team event. The winning Dundrum team was Michael Ryan, Sean McGrath, Michael Coen and Colm Bradshaw who was 15^th in 18 mins 43 secs. The Silver medallists for Thurles Crokes were Billy Phillips, David Kenneally, Jim Moloney and Ger Corbett who was 14^th in 18 mins 35 secs. Coolquill won the Bronze medals and their team was Andrew Smyth, Joe Keaney, John Russell and Matt Alexander who was 13^th in 18 mins 29 secs. For the record Clonmel were 4^th on 79 points, 5^th Ballynonty on 113 points and 6^th Moyne on 119 points..

By

Niall O'Sullivan