Clonmel New Year 4km Road Race Series – Race No. 4

Despite the inclement weather we got a fantastic entry of 72 athletes who braved the conditions.  While conditions were wet it was mild and calm which helped many athletes achieve Personal Bests. We had 45 athletes achieving Personal Best in this year’s series tonight, brilliant running. The Personal Best were achieved by Ailish Cooney, Aine Butler, Alan O Shea, Alan Pearson, Barry Kent, Benny Hahessy, Brian Connolly, Brian McCluskey, Chris Maher, Ciara Meehan, Cyril Fogarty, Dan O Keeffe, Dave Johnson, Derek Nolan, Derek Pyke, Donna Nagle, Eamon Crowley, Eddie O Donoghue, Eddie Prendergast, Edwina O Connell, Eileen Hynes, Emma Ferris, Emma Norris, Gareth Coleman, Gerry Niland, Gints Plaudis, Ian Patterson, Jack Allen, Jackie Hickey, John Fitzgerald, Johnny Higgins, Julliette O Sullivan, Katy Pyke, Kevin Condon, Larry Martin, Liam Casey, Mark Foley, Mark Kelly, Maurice Boland, Michael Mockler, Olga Kelly, Paul Scully, Peter Furlong, Philly Ryan and Ross Alexander who won the race in 14 mins 4 secs, great performances all round.

Tonight’s format was a team event involving athletes predicting their Finishing Time and run the distance without a watch. We had 70 athletes competing in the team event and we decided to have teams of 2 athletes per team and prizes for the 1st 3 Teams. We took the combined Predicted time and compared it against the combined finishing time of the athletes in each team. So it was the cumulative difference that was used. The winning team was Peter Furlong who predicted 15 mins 10 secs he ran 15 mins 1 sec, 9 seconds faster than his Prediction while Joe Grinsell ran 1 second slower when he predicted 18 mins 40 secs and ran 18 mins 41 secs. So the combined effect was and combined difference of 8 seconds. In 2nd pace was the combined team of Mark Kelly and Brian Connolly who combined total was 9 seconds. The 3rd Team prize was won by the combined talents of Angela McCann and Noel Higgins whose combined total was 11 seconds.

The Club would like to thank the stewards for ensuring the race was a great success. Just two things to keep in mind for all future races, we insist that every athlete must wear a reflective Bib and a number – No Exceptions.

By Niall O’ Sullivan