New Year’s Day 8k

The club’s New Year’s Day 8k run/walk proved to be a great success with over 100 athletes, between runners and walkers turning out on what must surely be the coldest day of the winter... Athletes travelled from all over; Inishowen, Letterkenny, Finn Valley and Tír Chonaill in Donegal to Derry, Dublin, Sligo and Galway and across Northern Ireland, with the men’ winner John Brooks, from Rathfarnham AC in Dublin, while women’s winner, no stranger to Donegal was Maria McCambridge of DSD. Athletes from Galway City Harriers and City of Derry were amongst those on the podiums.

Paul Ward was best placed club athlete with a fine third overall and first in his MM35+ category with a 27.35 on the clock, while Michelle Harvey with 31.04 and Shelley Roper with 32.29 were second and third senior women respectively. New to the running scene and with a successful debut in her category was Julie McMullen, while Philomena Gallagher was a good second in her category with 35.06. Good performances were had by other club athletes; Noel Thomas (30.14), Michael Gallagher (33.34), Vinny Duffy (34.02), Sean Cassidy (34.39), Vera Haughey (35.54), Sharon McGowan (37.02), Brenda Morris (39.27), Ann Donoghue (41.01), Carina Clarke (41.02), Olivia Murphy, Deirdre Ferguson, Joe Duffy and Mark Sheerin. Other club members who took part in the 8k walk were; Aoife Hegarty, Martina McGee and Liz Carr.

The juvenile races saw the club take all age groups bar the U-9, with a notable double for the McMullen’s with Ronan first in the U-11 while sister Eva was first in the U-13, while Christopher Doherty was impressive in taking the U-15 race. There were great performances from all club athletes on what was a bitterly cold day at the sea front. Well done all.

A big thank you to the organising committee led by Canice Nicholas and Tony Cummins, and all club members who helped out on the day, as stewards, officials and helpers. A sincere thank you too to our three main sponsors, Canice and Ramona of Cara Pharmacy, Elizabeth and Peter McIntyre of the Allingham Arms Hotel and Eamon Barrett of Market Square, all Bundoran. Thank you also to our other sponsors, Supervalu, Bundoran; John Kent Sport, Sligo; Allsport, Donegal Town; Jako Sport, Sligo; McGinty Fruit, Donegal Town, Sean Cassidy of sound and vision, Ballyshannon and the Bundoran GAA club, your support is much appreciated. Thank you too to the local St Vincent de Paul for stewards and the Garda. The general consensus seemed to be that it was a successful event and it is hoped to make this an annual date in the road racing calendar. The proceeds will go to the local St Vincent de Paul. Afterwards at the prize giving, took place in the Allingham Arms Hotel, where much needed soup, tea, coffee and food was served while the results were processed. The prizes were presented by the three main sponsors, Canice Nicholas of Cara Pharmacy, Eamon Barrett of Market Square and Peter McIntyre of the Allingham Arms Hotel, who between them provided the sponsorship that enabled the run/walk to take place. Welcoming everybody, Tír Chonaill AC chairman Paddy Donoghue, thanked all those who took part, runners and walkers, the three main sponsors, Cara Pharmacy, Market Square, and the Allingham Arms Hotel. Closing he thanked the Bundoran GAA, with a special mention for Mickey McMahon, for the use of their changing rooms and for their cooperation in the organising of the event, he also thanked the organising committee, with special mention for Tony Cummins and Canice Nicholas, for their trojan work in ensuring the success of the club’s first New Year’s Day 8k. Wishing everyone a safe journey home, he said he hoped to see them all back again in 2010.