Clare River Harriers Leg of the County May 5K Series

Another Tuesday night in May, another leg of the May 5K Series, and this time the hosts were our near neighbours in Claregalway, whose race is run over a very favourable course, with its long downhill finish. Over 400 runners took part in a race which, once again, managed to stay dry, despite threatening rain.

25 Tuam runners took part - most looking resplendent in their green-singleted tops, and some great times were recorded. The Tuam athletes were either mad to run together, or were trying desperately to beat one another, as there were some great battles between the various Tuam athletes.

In first place overall in the race was, once again, Jerry Ryan of GCH who in a time of 15:19 is getting very close to breaking 15 minutes for one of the 5K road races. He was almost a full minute ahead of the next-placed athlete, John Byrne of Mayo AC. First woman home was Caroline Clancy of Loughrea in 18:50. A minute separated her and the second woman home - our own Anne-Marie Hynes of Tuam in a fantastic time of 19:48.

First Tuam athlete to finish was yet again Dave Mullins in 17:28. Can anyone catch this man? The work he has put in in training is really paying off in the times he is running. He pipped Dan O'Rourke to the post by four seconds - Dan finishing in 17:32. In sub-19, and out on his own, was Tommy Joe Whyte in a time of 18:44.

In the ongoing sub-20 battle, 3 Tuam atheletes fought it out, with Seamus Walsh (19:45) beating Jim Daly (19:46) by a hair's breadth and as mentioned, they were just followed by Anne-Marie Hynes in a time of 19:48.

Louis Brennan (21:43) and  Gerry Synott (21:46) were close in the  sub-22 race, and four athletes finished close to each other in sub-23 - James Gleeson (22:26), Michael McLoughlin (22:31), John Mongan (22:40) and the amazing Roger Rushe (22:47). James and Michael recorded PBs for this distance, and John Mongan was heard to remark that he hoped that they crashed into each other so he could pass them both!

The two Monaghan brothers Michael and Richard finished in a dead-heated 23:10. Next athlete home was the second Tuam female finisher, Sharon Walsh, in a time of 24:17. Seamus Sweeney recorded a sub-25 24:46 and he was followed by third Tuam woman Lorrraine Steedo, in a time of 25:33.

Running novice Suzanne Brennan (26:30) continues to run great times. She was followed by the evergreen Andrea Ridge (27:30) and by Tuam's running legend, the irrepressible Mickey Kelly (28:28). Next Tuam athlete to finish was Mattie Monaghan in a time of 31:49.

 Leonie Gibbons (32:07) won the sub-33 battle with Norma O'Rourke (32:24) reversing last week's result in Craughwell. They were followed by Paddy Gilmore, in a very consistent 33:21.

The last Tuam athlete past the finishing line was our walker Kathleen Hogan, who, in completing the 5K in a time of 40:14 was a full two minutes faster than last week's outing in Craughwell.

The series rolls on to Loughrea this (26th) evening, and we look forward to more intriguing battles in its more demanding course. The times of all the Tuam athletes are given below. The full results of the race are available here.

Dave Mullins	17:28
Dan O'Rourke	17:32
Tommy Joe Whyte	18:44
Seamus Walsh	19:45
Jim Daly	19:46
Anne-Marie Hynes	19:48
Louis Brennan	21:43
Gerry Synott	21:46
James Gleeson	22:26
Michael McLoughlin	22:31
John Mongan	22:40
Roger Rushe	22:47
Michael Monaghan	23:10
Richard Monaghan	23:10
Sharon Walsh	24:17
Seamus Sweeney	24:46
Lorraine Steedo	25:33
Suzanne Brennan	26:30
Andrea Ridge	27:30
Mickey Kelly	28:28
Mattie Monaghan	31:49
Leonie Gibbons	32:07
Norma O'Rourke	32:34
Paddy Gilmore	33:21
Kathleen Hogan	40:14