Pauline Curley wins Master Athlete of the Year

Pauline Curley traveled to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry last Saturday night accompanied by family and friends to the National Athletics Awards Night. Pauline was one of the nominations for The Cross Country/ Road Athlete of the year. Whilst she lost out in this category to Wicklow girl, Fionnuala Britton, Pauline was duly recognised for her achievements this year when she was announced as the winner of the Master Athlete of the Year. Greg Allen from RTE was the compere for the night and the following is some of his citation before he announced Pauline as the Master Athlete of the Year 'She was the only true amateur athlete among the 16 strong Irish team at the Olympic Games.   This if ever there was one was a personal journey and the sheer joy she exuded in the stadium and on crossing the line left us all remembering the true Olympic ethos of participation… espoused by the founder of the modern Olympic movement.. Baron Pierre de Coubertin.  Pauline achieved her dream finishing in 2 hours 47 minutes a hugely respectable time, savouring every moment along the way. The Baron would be proud of her as we are. Our Masters award winner is Tullamore"s Pauline Curley' Galway sprinter Paul Hession who narrowly missed out in a place in the Olympic 200 metre final was named Athlete of the Year. The Hall of Fame Award went to Eamon Coughlan who must rank as one of Irelands greatest ever athletes. British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships Last Saturday seven Tullamore Harriers athletes competed in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships which were held in Swansea in Wales. The Masters are for athletes over 35 years of age and there are different categories every 5 years in age thereafter. The Irish team was selected after a trial race last month and was up against the best athletes from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The races were held on an old fashioned cross country course with plenty of hills and mud. The best performance of the day came from Liz Cuskelly who had a brilliant fourth place finish in the women"s over 35 event. Liz was in a battle for third place for much of the 6k race and was only passed in the latter stages by Megan Wright from Scotland and finished fourth in a time of 24.58 just ten seconds away from a medal. However Liz was a member of the Irish team who came second in the team competition. Ann Carroll who won the over 35 category back in 1997 competed here in the over 45 section and finished 14th overall and was fourth Irish woman on the team who came second. Noel Kelly slipped and fell soon after the start in the men"s O 35 race but battled hard to finish sixth Irish man and was a member of a strong Irish team who were victorious in the team competition. Martin Carroll ran his usual strong race to finish 17th and was 5th Irishman in the men"s O 45 race in a time of 32.27. Martin was a member of the Irish team who finished second. Johnny Feery ran in the men"s over 50 race run over 8k and improved on his run in the trials to finish 23rd in a time of 34.16. Johnny was the fifth placed Irishman on the team who finished third. John Todd finished a good 11th place in the men"s O 55 race in a time of 34.34 and was the 3rd best Irishman on the team that finished third. Jim Langan ran very well in the O 65 Race run over 6k to finish in 14th position in a time of 33.07. Unfortunately for Jim, Ireland did not have a full team in this race. News Roundup Una Mullen competed recently in the New York Marathon and finished in a time of 4.03.42. Well done Una. Anyone who ran the Dublin Marathon recently and who wants to keep up their fitness are very welcome to join the club. Mary Walsh traveled to Cloniffe Harriers in Dublin last Saturday for the 45th anniversary of the ladies section of the club. Here Mary ran in the 600metres and came first in the over 60 race in a time of 2.16. Winter League. The first leg of the Winter League takes place next Thursday, 27th November. It will be run over 3000 metres and starts at 7pm sharp. Three teams have been selected and are posted up on the notice board. For anyone who wishes to run and whose is not currently on a team just come up on the night and you will be added to a team. Memberships are now due and cost 35 euro for the year Fixtures: 23rd November: National Inter-counties Cross-country, Tramore, Co Waterford 27th November; Winter league- first leg at 7pm. 30th November: Winter League-second leg at 10am in Charleville Estate 7th December; National novice Cross country championships; Ballyhaise Co. Cavan 11th December; Winter league- 3rd leg at 7pm 16th December; Grand National at 7pm. Presentation of prizes afterwards in Eugenes. Training: Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm, Sunday morning at 8.30am (except on a Race day). New members always welcome. On these dark evenings, it is important that all members wear reflective clothing when running on the roads.