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| National Road Relays |
Sportsworld Photos from RacePix365
Sunday the 19th April saw the exciting National Road Relays competition held again in Raheny. The weather was a scorching hot day, too hot for a marathon or half marathon but with two course records on the day it didn’t seem to affect the runners and was perfect for the spectators. Raheny may have had their A, B and C senior team but it was great to see Sportsworld with a full ladies and men senior and masters teams.
First up was the ladies masters team with Helen White rounding the last corner in first place giving Lucy Darcy doing the second 2 mile leg the perfect start. Both Rathfarmham and Raheny had a strong Masters team but Aideen Downs brought the team home to take third place comfortably.
Next we had the mens master team with new club member Trevor Sweeny taking the first leg in his first road relays. Trevor did brilliant, running with the lead pack for the entire lap. Then over to Ed McEntee who like Lucy is more used to running in the Senior team. Ed did a great 2 mile leg passing over to Joe Byrne for the final one mile leg. The extra training on Saturdays on the polo grounds paid off for Joe doing a brilliant final leg and deserves to be given a new singlet for his run(only the runners have to be over 35 Joe)
Then we had the Ladies senior race which unfortunately was without Jean but thankfully Eimear Martin was fit and ready to run. Crona Brady took the first leg and showed what an improvement she has made since last year taking a deserved spot on the senior A team. Then Aoife took the second 2 mile leg chasing down the DSD team who have continued on from their brilliant cross country season. Eimear then took the final leg to bring the girls home in 4th. There was only 16 seconds between 3rd place and 9th with DSD getting a course record. However with the improving form of the Sportsworld senior team the DSD girls won’t be as confident of their medals next year.
Then after watching all the other runners warm up, annihilate themselves on the course and then enjoy the nice cool down lap in the sun it was finally the mens senior teams turn. Paul Duffy lead off taking the first 2 mile leg, with most of the teams putting their best runners on the first leg Paul had to contend with some of the best runners in the country on his first road relay. Next was myself who’s claim to fame now is that I beat Lorraine Manning by 1 second(now to beat some of the guys). Phil took the 3 mile leg, this year we had lot of competition for places on the team but there is not many if any in Sportsworld who could of done the gruelling 3 mile leg, Phil did a brilliant run matching his time from last year. The final 2 mile leg fell to Ronan who some how manages to work, go to college, train and learn Polish brought the team home to end a very exciting mens relay which saw Raheny return to form taking first place and doing it in style by getting a course record.
As usual the teams where helped along with great support from club members. There was 3 new relay runners this year who have bench marks to work off for next year, Packie is showing a return to form and hopefully next year will take his usual place on the senior team but there will be competition with new club member Gareth showing great speed. There is even rumours of Eanna out training. So hopefully next year the ladies masters team won’t be the only ones coming home with medals.
Report by Michael Cunningham
