Colin cruises to Ballinamore Festival 10K win

Almost 150 runners between adult and juvenile took part in the annual Ballinamore Family Festival Solar Compare roadraces in Ballinamore on Sunday.

Running conditions were perfect and the new course on the Aughnasheelin road with the start and finish closer together and to the new race headquarters in the Island Theatre proved popular with the runners. Each finisher in the Open Races received a specially commissioned snood to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Ballinamore Athletic Club.

Colin Griffin, who had won a number of the more recent 10K races on the old course, was in great form, winning the event by a large margin from Adrian Gurn of Boyle AC and Stephen King of Cavan. 

Just behind King in fourth place was Carrick AC’s Deirdre Martin who came home in 41.06. Second and third here went to Ciara Regan of Crusaders and Veronica Burke of Sportsworld. In between, Carrick's Niall Comerton finished fifth and former Ballinamore AC All Ireland Schools and Club Racewalking champion Gary Burke was sixth.

Two local runners Sean Flynn and Niall Ahern fought out a close 5K with Flynn coming in first in 18.32. Cathal O’Hara of Mohill was further back in third place. Aoife Donaghy of Dublin City Harriers, who has been a frequent participant in this event, was at last rewarded with a victory when taking the women' s race in 22.25. 

The Underage races attracted 40 runners and provided intense competition with local club's Harry Townsend first over the line.

The results are as follows:

5K

Men: 1 Sean Flynn Ballinamore AC 18.32; 2 Niall Ahern Ballinamore AC 19.37; 3. Cathal O''Hara Mohill 20.32; U20 Odran Smyth 20.57; U16 Killian Owens 23.57

Women: 1 Aoife Donaghy DCH 22.25 2 Jacqui Treacy Drumshanbo 23.18; 3 Josephine Killeen 23.21; U20 Odran Smyth 20.57; U16 Killian Owens 23.57

10K

MEN: 1 Colin Griffin Ballinamore AC 33.11;2 Adrian Gurn Boyle  AC 39.24; 3 Stephen King Sligo 39.39; O40: 1 Niall Comerton Carrick 41.09; 2 Gary Burke Lisburn 42.01; 3 Ronan Griffin Ballinamore AC 43.13; O50: 1 Shane Towsend Ballinamore AC 43.40; 2 Damien Walsh South Sligo AC 43.57; 3 Brendan Wisley Ballinamore 54.07; O60: 1 Gerry O’Brien Dunshaughlin AC 48.33; 2 Mark Sheridan 49.35; 3 Paddy Croal Dromahair Dashers 49.47

WOMEN: 10K: 1 Deirdre Martin Carrick AC 41.06; 2 Ciara Regan Crusaders 42.33; 3 Veronica Burke Sportsworld 43.04; Over 40: 1 Teresa Mylott Carrick AC 45.40; 2 Deirdre Owens Brendan Doyle Running 47.33; 3 Elaine Reilly Templeport 48.00; O50: 1 Susan Gannon Castlerea 45.56; 2 Aishling Cawley Sligo AC 49.23; 3 Patricia McLoughlin Drumshanbo AC 59.20; O60: 1 Sandra Wilson 52.34; 2 Bernadette Morris 52.55; 3 Mary Ellen Timmins 60.07

Underage races

Girls: U10: Muireann Prior Boherlahan AC; 2 Anna Prior Ballinamore AC; 3 Lucy Nolan Ballinamore AC; U12: 1 Laoise Prior Boherlahan AC; 2 Neala Ni hAodha Ballinamore AC; 3 Olivia Tubman Ballinamore AC; U14: 1 Maria Prior Ballinamore AC; 2 Annie O’Brien Ballinamore AC; 3 Jane Cosgrove Ballinamore AC

Boys: U10: 1 Mark Dillon Ballinamore AC; 2 Noah McCartin; 3 Ruairi Flynn; U12: 1 Eanna Flynn Ballinamore AC; 2 Tom Dillon Ballinamore AC; 3 Mark Prior Ballinamore AC; U14: 1 Harry Townsend Ballinamore AC; 2 James Dillon Ballinamore AC; 3 Olabieshin Adedmola   Ballinamore AC

Leitrim 10 Championships

MEN: 1 Colin Griffin,  2 Adrian Gurn, 3  Niall Comerton; O40: 1 Gary Burke, 2 Ronan Griffin, 3  Barry Landers, O50: 1 Shane Townsend, 2 Brendan Wisley, O60: 1 Paddy Croal, 2  Michael Duignan, 3 Jerome Kelleher

WOMEN: 1 Deirdre Martin, 2  Fiona Cafferty, 3 Michelle McCartin, O40: 1 Teresa Mylott, 2  Elaine Reilly, 3 Charlene Cosgrove; O50: 1 Patricia McLoughlin, 2 Kate Meakin, 3 Susan McGirl; O60: 1 Mary Ellen Timmins