Hospice Mile and Round the Houses race bring curtain down on year

Athletics: Tullamore Harriers News

The final club competition of 2023 was run off on New Year's Eve – the annual Round the Houses race. The race covers a distance of 4700m starting and finishing in the club carpark.

It is a sealed handicapped race with all athletes starting together and pre-calculated handicaps applied to their finish times. The athletes took off out the front gate onto the Charleville Road, left onto Adams Villas and back into the carpark via the back entrance of the Tullamore Harriers. This loop is repeated four times.

As always, great credit goes to the club handicapper Joe Wrafter, competition secretary Anna Hyland and the team of timekeepers, officials and supporters along the route. Tullamore Harriers chairman Adrian Curley and AAI President John Cronin welcomed the athletes for the 65th edition of this race and wished everyone a peaceful and healthy 2024. Adrian then hopped onto the start line to run the race himself!

It was wonderful to have club legend Mick Hayden in attendance, giving a hearty roar to all the athletes as they passed through the club grounds on each lap. While there was a nip in the air, luck was on our side because the rain didn't appear until the last few runners crossed the line. Well done to everyone who supported this very important club race and congratulations to all the winners.

First to cross the line was Jonathan Dunne, with a super run of 15.46. Fastest lady was Sarah Flanagan at 17.10. When all the handicap adjustments were calculated, Gerry Dunican was deemed the 2023 Round the Houses champion. Gerry had a great run, keeping good company with Liam Byrne and Daniel Molloy. Second place was awarded to Hilary Duncan, with Ann O'Malley 3rd, Paschal Naughton 4th, Adrian Curley 5th and Mags Grennan 6th.

Full results: Jonathan Dunne 15:46 - fastest man; Barry Mooney 16:05 (actual time), 00:14 (handicap), 15:51 (adjusted time); Eimhin Kenny 16:16, 00:05, 16:11; Cian Martin 16:30, 00:28, 16:02; Sarah Flanagan 17:10, 01:19, 15:51 - fastest woman; Darren Butler 17:43, 01:57, 15:46; Brendan McAuliffe 17:50, 00:23, 17:27; Glenn Finlay 17:51, 01:57, 15:54; Liam Byrne 17:59, 01:57, 16:02; Daniel Molloy 18:06, 01:47, 16:19; Gerry Dunican 18:09, 03:05, 15:04 - race winner; Alan Heffernan 18:12, 02:20, 15:52; Sean Reynolds 18:16, 02:30, 15:46; Adrian Curley 18:27, 02:48, 15:39 - 5th finisher; Catch Grennan 18:50, 02:35, 16:15; Shane Origan 18:55, 00:28, 18:27; Michelle Mullaney 20:11, 04:17, 15:54; Rita Daly Ravenhill 20:16, 04:12, 16:04; Johnny Feery 20:32, 04:00, 16:32; Leonard Owens 21:02, 04:17, 16:45; Charlotte Abbott 21:12, 05:22, 15:50; Elysia McCormack 21:39, 05:17, 16:22; John O'Connell 22:38, 03:50, 18:48; Margaret Grennan 22:40, 06:55, 15:45 - 6th finisher; Paschal Naughton 22:42, 07:09, 15:33 - 4th finisher; Denis Flynn 22:53, 06:25, 16:28; Ann O'Malley 22:54, 07:37, 15:17 - 3rd finisher; Mary Galvin 23:12, 07:09, 16:03; Naomi Galvin 23:46, 07:55, 15:51; Ruth Galvin 23:56, 06:30, 17:26; Paddy Rowland 24:00, 06:50, 17:10; Emer Rigney 24:11; Hillary Duncan 24:12, 08:57, 15:15 - 2nd finisher; Sharon Daly 25:16, 09:05, 16:11; Aisling McCormack 6:10, 09:45, 16:25; Jim Langan 29:47, 11:25, 18:22; Bernard Doheny 30:33, 14:15, 16:18.

Tullamore Harriers Hospice Mile

Wow, what a turnout for the annual Hospice Mile at Tullamore Harriers on Christmas morning! Thank you to all who stepped it out and made donations to the wonderful Offaly Hospice charity. Your donations will make a difference to many people and their families and Tullamore Harriers is very proud to support this worthy cause each Christmas. From early morning the track was alive with activity, with some walking many miles and others simply coming along to catch-up with friends on this special day.

Congratulations to Heather Murphy and Kevin Minnock who were fastest woman and man in the timed mile race. Kevin was getting one last dash in, before his wedding and clocked a fine time of 4.40! Heather had a great run too with a time of 5.25.

Pieta Wren Run

Melissa Hogan travelled west for the Pieta House Wren Run on St Stephen's Day. The 7k race took in the beautiful, surrounds of Woodford in Co. Galway. Melissa clocked 1.10.51. Well done Melissa.

Condolences

Tullamore Harriers AC extends deepest condolences to Mick Hayden and his family on the passing of his sister Joan Darrah (née Hayden) May she rest in peace.

Fixtures

January 21: Leinster Intermediate & Masters Day 3 Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.

Training

Senior training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.40pm to 8.30pm.