Records Galore at Michael Fearon \ Kevin Marron 5k Road Race

252 runners lined out on Friday 1^st August for the annual Michael Fearon and Kevin Marron 5km Road Race in Carlingford.  The rain lashed down on the runners as they waited to take to the starting line for the 5km but nothing could dampen their spirits for what was building to be a great race.  A bus-load of athletes from Newtown Blues arrived  for the race, some of whom had completed a couch to 5km programme and who contributed greatly to the fun atmosphere and air of anticipation beforehand.

Big congratulations to Martin Fagan, Mullingar Harriers who won the race in 14:26 and set a new course record by 22 seconds, 2^nd Freddy Keron-Sittuk, Raheny Shamrocks (last year’s winner), 3^rd Stephen Kerr, Armagh, 4^th Conor Duffy, Glaslough Harriers.  The 1^st four Senior Ladies across the line were 1^st Breege Connolly, North Belfast Harriers (17:14), 2^nd Danielle Fegan, Armagh, 3^rd Rebecca Murtagh, Dromore, 4^th Gillian Burns, Dromore.  Shane Toner, Glenmore AC ran a very strong race, finishing in 15:58 and was presented with the Francis O’Reilly perpetual trophy for being the first Glenmore AC athlete to cross the finish line.  Another great result was achieved by Paul Elliott, North Belfast Harriers who set a new Irish record for 5km in Vet Men 60 category.  Prizes were presented to all of the following: Vet Men 40, 1^st Gary Henderson, Armagh, 2^nd Nigel McKibbin, Dromore.  Vet Men 45, 1^st David John-Carrie, Dunleer, 2^nd George Shields.  Vet Men 50, 1^st Patrick O’Grady, Drogheda & District, 2^nd David O’Connell, Bohermeen.  Vet Men 55, 1^st Dermot Kerr, Armagh, 2^nd Paddy Mangan, Dunshaughlin, Vet Men 60 1^st Paul Elliott, North Belfast Harriers, 2^nd Pat Rocks, Newry City Harriers.  Vet Men 65, 1^st Willie McCracken, Newry City Harriers,  2^nd Jin McNamara, Donore Harriers.  Vet Ladies 40, 1^st Andrea Heslip, 2^nd Mary McGreehan, Drogheda & District.   Vet Ladies 45, 1^st Fiona Finan, 2^nd Mary McArdle, North East Runners.  Vet Ladies 50, 1^st Geraldine Branagh, Dromore, 2^nd Rose Lambe, Carrick Aces.  Vet Ladies 55, 1^st Nuala Reilly, Drogheda & District, 2^nd Marie Reilly, Navan.

In the team events, prizes were presented to the 1^st and 2^nd teams of 4.  The winning men’s team from Armagh were presented with the Michael Fearon cup – Stephen Kerr, Leroy Brady, Gary Henderson and Daniel Fagan.  In 2^nd place was a team from North Belfast Harriers – Andrew Considine, Brendan Crew, John Black and Edward Cooke.  The winning ladies team from Dromore were presented with the Kevin Marron cup and included Rebecca Murtagh, Gillian Burns, Geraldine Branagh and Andrea Heslip.  In 2^nd place was Drogheda & District – Pamela Howard, Maureen Harbison, Nuala Reilly and Mary McGreehan.

In the Junior competition, there were many fine performances on the night.  U17 Junior Boys – 1^st Caolan Daly, Armagh, 2^nd Aaron McGuigan, Glenmore AC, 3^rd Emmet Hughes, Glenmore AC.  U17 Junior Girls – 1^st Orla Duffy, 2^nd Hannah Stewart, Glenmore AC, 3^rd Annie McGuinness, Glenmore AC.  Glenmore took 1^st place in the Boys Junior U-17 team event – Aaron McGuigan, Emmet Hughes and Cormac Barry.  U19 Junior Boys 1^st Odhran Copeland, Beechmount Harriers, 2^nd Gavin Maher, Dunshaughlin, 3^rd Brendan Heaney, Newry City Harriers.  U19 Junior Girls, 1^st Jennifer McKenna, Newtown Blues.

The Juvenile races took the athletes through the streets of Carlingford where they received enormous support from an appreciative crowd.  Medals were presented to the 1^st 10 competitors.  U9 Girls 300m: Fee Brennan, Dunleer, Lucy White Glenmore AC, Chloe McCarragher, Glenmore AC, Orlath Daly, Glenmore AC, Danielle Brennan, Dunleer, Katie Glynn, Shercock, Saoircha McBride, Shercock, Paulina Kelly, Ardee and Aoife McGee, Glenmore AC.  U9 Boys 300m: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Dunleer, Rob Kelly, Ardee, Conor Litchfield, Mountpleasant, Conor Brennan, Dunleer and Conor Donheny, Dunleer.  U11 Girls 500m – Grace Fitzpatrick, Dunleer, Niamh Brady, Dromiskin, Anna Fegan, Newry AC, Jodie McMullen, Armagh, Laoise McElroy, Glenmore AC, Ava McNally, Ardee, Caoimhe McBride, Glenmore AC, Ava Brady, Glenmore AC, Katie Donnelly, Dunleer, Hillary Larkin, Dunshaughlin and Caitlin Savage, Glenmore AC.  U 11 Boys 500m – Sean Allen, St Peters AC, Sean McAvoy, Dunleer, Shaun Quinn, Glenmore AC, Mark Litchfield, Mountpleasant, Sean McCarragher, Glenmore AC, James McBride, Glenmore AC, Benny Casey, Dunleer, Cormac Woods, Glenmore AC.  U13 Girls 800m – Abbie Sheridan, Ardee, Emma Glynn, Shercock, Ciara Quinn, Glenmore AC, Anna McArdle, Glenmore AC, Ciara Carolan, Glenmore AC, Nicole Barry, Glenmore AC, Brennanna Savage, Glenmore AC.  U13 Boys 800m – James McArdle, Glenmore AC, Niall Brady, Glenmore AC, Darragh Brady, Glenmore AC, Michael Casey, Dunleer, Ian Arnold, Glenmore AC, Adam McKibbin, Dromore, John Digney, Glenmore AC, Craig Barry, Glenmore AC.  U15 Girls 1500m– Kelly Breen, Blackrock, Petra Reilly, Dunshaughlin, Caitlin Mulholland, St. Gerards, Amy Manning, Ardee, Jane Larkin, Dunshaughlin, Chloe Barry, Glenmore AC, Lillian Reilly, Glenmore AC.  U15 Boys 1500m – Kian Bittles, Beechmount Harriers, Glen Stewart, Glenmore AC.

Glenmore AC would like to thank the Red Cross and our official starter Tommy Neary.  Special congratulations to Tommy and his wife who celebrated 50 years of marriage on August 4^th.  Thanks also to John and Mary McGeown, Blackrock AC who helped enormously on the night.  Sincere thanks to all in Carlingford who bore with us for any traffic disruption.  Thanks to all our own athletes who turned up in great numbers to run and for some of whom, it was their first 5km.  Finally, Glenmore AC wish to thank all those who contributed in any way towards making this event a successful and enjoyable one, from those who coordinated registration, marked out the course, acted as stewards, to those who prepared and served the delicious fare for the refreshments after the race, too many to name individually but all much appreciated by the club.