Wins for Battle and Nolan in Tullamore Harriers 5k race

The annual Tullamore Harriers 5K made a welcome return to the road racing scene on Sunday last. On a glorious, warm, and sunny day, 403 athletes lined up for the start of the Healthy Offaly 5K Race Series, attracting competitors not only from neighbouring clubs but from far and wide.

Tullamore Harriers chairman Adrian Curley gave the athletes the start and immediately Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers took the lead, setting a strong pace and securing a convincing victory in 14:48.

The battle for second place was intense, with Kevin Minnock (Tullamore Harriers), Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC), and Paul Mitchell (Tullamore Harriers) pushing hard in the chasing pack. As they entered the stadium for the final 400 metres, Kevin surged slightly ahead, holding steady to claim second place in 15:41. Mick and Paul followed closely behind, finishing in 15:43 and 15:45, respectively, in what was a very exciting finale.

In the women’s race, Cheryl Nolan of St. Abban's delivered a super performance, finishing as the top female and placing 5th overall with a time of 16:16. Her clubmate Niamh Staunton took second place in 17:34, while another Laois athlete Michelle Keenan (Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC) secured third in 19:01.

The race followed an out-and-back route, starting on Charleville Road, heading towards Ballard before turning back down Charleville Road again. Runners then entered the stadium through the front gate, finishing on the athletic track.

As always, to organise this or any event, the club relies on the help and support of many people. A special thank you to club members, to friends and family who marshalled and helped in the various roles required to ensure a successful event.

Thanks to An Garda Siochana, Offaly County Council and to Offaly Civil Defence. MC for the morning was Dave Fox who did a wonderful job as always.

Age group winners

Luke Mahon (Tullamore Harriers) was 6th finisher in 16.21, taking a well-deserved Junior male prize. Rachel Donegan, who clinched an All-Ireland Schools medal the previous day, added to her haul with the Junior ladies prize.

O40: Orla Tooher (Birr AC); Tommy Walsh (St Coca’s AC). O45: Marcella McGrath; Paul Buckley (Ferbane AC). O50: Siobhan Hanratty; Brendan Donagher (Naomh Mhuire AC). O60: Maura Dervin (Mullingar Harriers); Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers). O70: Eileen Kenny (Tullamore Harriers); John Bennett (Ferbane AC)

Team winners

Tullamore Harriers ladies Rachel Donegan, Charlotte Abbott, Niamh McNihill and Eileen Kenny scored on the winning ladies team, while Kevin Minnock, Paul Mitchell, Luke Mahon and Barry Mooney took the men’s team win for the same club.

Top 100 finishers

1 Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers) 14:48; 2 Kevin Minnock (Tullamore Harriers) 15:41; 3 Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC) 15:43; 4 Paul Mitchell (Tullamore Harriers) 15:45; 5 Cheryl Nolan (St. Abban's AC) 16:16; 6 Luke Mahon (Tullamore Harriers) 16:21; 7 Ciarán McNamee (East Cork AC) 16:23; 8 Kedagh Geoghegan (Mullingar Harriers) 16:39; 9 Brian Regan (Crusaders AC) 16:42; 10 Barry Mooney (Tullamore Harriers) 16:50; 11 Adam Courtney (Ferbane AC) 16:51; 12 Corey Jinks (Ferbane AC) 16:53; 13 Donough McBrearty (Ferbane AC) 16:58; 14 John Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) 17:11; 15 Paul Conlon (Ferbane AC) 17:16; 16 Tommy Walsh (St. Coca's AC) 17:18; 17 Paul Buckley (Ferbane AC) 17:23; 18 Steven McNamee (Edenderry AC) 17:27; 19 Tom Dunne (Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC) 17:30; 20 Gerard Hanlon (Edenderry AC) 17:29; 21 Niamh Staunton (St. Abban's AC) 17:34; 22 Darragh Hynes (Ferbane AC) 17:36; 23 Gary Whittle (Tullamore Harriers) 17:38; 24 Rory Morrissey (St. Michael's AC) 17:40; 25 Nigel Cunningham (Tullamore Harriers) 17:42; 26 Kevin Looby (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:42; 27 Keith Coughlan (St. Michael's AC) 17:51; 28 Mark Ronan (Mullingar Harriers) 17:54; 29 Brian Hogan (Oughaval AC) 17:55; 30 Brenden Donagher (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:59; 31 Shane McGuinness (Tullamore Harriers) 17:59; 32 Enda Seery (Mullingar Harriers) 18:01; 33 Fergal Leonard (Tullamore Harriers) 18:04; 34 Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers) 18:07; 35 Eddie Lynch (Mullingar Harriers) 18:18; 36 Daniel Molloy (Tullamore Harriers) 18:20; 37 Joe Byrne 18:22; 38 Michael Brennan (Tullamore Harriers) 18:24; 39 Patrick McCarthy (Ballyskenach AC) 18:22; 40 Dean Carroll 18:22; 41 Kevin Lynch (Coralstown Kinnegad AC) 18:25; 42 Mark Hackett (St. Michael's AC) 18:25; 43 Liam Holleran 18:28; 44 Darren Butler (Tullamore Harriers) 18:28; 45 Declan Murphy (Naomh Mhuire AC) 18:32; 46 Martin Bannon (Kinnitty AC) 18:33; 47 Stephen Mahon 18:35; 48 Gerard Cleary (Naomh Mhuire AC) 18:38; 49 Darragh Carroll (Tullamore Harriers) 18:45; 50 Dylan Yarrow (St. Michael's AC) 18:54; 51 Liam Murphy (Naomh Mhuire AC) 18:54; 52 James Eustace (Newbridge AC) 18:57; 53 Sean Purcell (Clara AC) 18:58; 54 Shane Giles (Coralstown Kinnegad AC) 19:00; 55 Michelle Keenan (Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC) 19:01; 56 Liam Byrne (Tullamore Harriers) 19:03; 57 Danny Halford (Newbridge AC) 19:03; 58 Conor Barry (St. Abban's AC) 19:06; 59 Jodie O’Reilly (Tullamore Harriers) 19:05; 60 Ryan Fitzpatrick (Clara AC) 19:10; 61 Nick McGowan (Tullamore Harriers) 19:14; 62 Cian Keogh (Tullamore Harriers) 19:15; 63 Mikie Horan (Banagher AC) 19:12; 64 Ken Hume (Clara AC) 19:14; 65 Alan Heffernan (Tullamore Harriers) 19:22; 66 Gaelan Elliffe (Tullamore Harriers) 19:24; 67 Rachel Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) 19:27; 68 Maeve Dervin (Roscommon Harriers) 19:25; 69 Gearóid McCann (St. Michael's AC) 19:28; 70 Ciaran Friel (Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC) 19:39; 71 Jamie O’Donoghue 19:40; 72 Donal White (Ballyskenach AC) 19:43; 73 Brendan Abbott (Tullamore Harriers) 19:47; 74 Gerard Charles 19:45; 75 Nick Gover (Rhode AC) 19:45; 76 Brendan Hill (Ferbane AC) 19:47; 77 David Conachy 19:49; 78 Patrick Claffey (Kilcormac Killoughey AC) 19:49; 79 Brendan Kelly (Tullamore Harriers) 19:51; 80 Stephen Murphy (Edenderry AC) 19:57; 81 Nathan Hayes (St. Michael's AC) 19:59; 82 Stefan Coughlan (St. Michael's AC) 20:01; 83 Kevin Brazil (Ferbane AC) 20:02; 84 Kevin Kilkenny 20:11; 85 Shaun Bull (Edenderry AC) 20:11; 86 JP McLoughlin (Rhode AC) 20:10; 87 Orla Tooher (Birr AC) 20:14; 88 Joe Carroll (Ferbane AC) 20:14; 89 Tim Camon (Ferbane AC) 20:16; 90 David Buckley (Tullamore Harriers) 20:25; 91 James Barry 20:23; 92 Liam Coughlan (Banagher AC) 20:23; 93 Mark Delaney (Kinnitty AC) 20:23; 94 David Hackett (Kilcormac Killoughey AC) 20:20; 95 Christopher Leonard (Ballyskenach AC) 20:23; 96 Gerard Minnock (Naomh Mhuire AC) 20:29; 97 Dermot Harnett (Rhode AC) 20:27; 98 Kevin Carey (Rhode AC) 20:35; 99 Conor Delaney (Rhode AC) 20:23; 100 David Hollywood (Tullamore Harriers) 20:41.

*See more photos in this week's Offaly Independent.