Race Report – Eirgrid Dunboyne 4 Mile Road Race, Sunday 26th March 2017
Dunboyne AC’s 4 Mile Road Race is known as the short race with the big reputation and the 48th running of it proved so once again on Sunday. Huge numbers took part, including plenty of depth at the front of both the men and women’s races. This edition of the race saw six of the top athletes break the 20 minute barrier for the 4 mile distance. The now legendary post-race catering and attention to detail that the club has built up over the years was again on display on what was an ideal day to run a road race. The sun shone and the skies were blue as over 700 athletes ran the 4 mile distance and over 150 children ran the juvenile races which preceded the main event.
The men’s race featured Rio Olympian Mick Clohisey of Raheny AC who was aiming to improve on his 3rd place finish in 2016. And it was the Raheny man who took the race by the scruff of the neck from the gun. He was challenged all through by Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harriers and it was only into the final mile that Clohisey pulled away to record the victory in a time of 18:46. Brian Maher finished just 9 seconds behind in second (18:55) and Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers finished third in 19:24. Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers finished 3 seconds behind Keogh in 4th in 19:27 and Conor Duffy of Glaslough harriers finished 5th in 19:35 just 10 seconds ahead of Ferrybank AC’s Andrew Connick in 6th place with his 19:45. First home from the home club and winner of the Colman Jarrett Cup was Rory Kavanagh in 20:49 who finished 13th overall with a very strong run.
The 2015 and 2016 home club women’s winner and Rio Olympian Sara Treacy was not back to defend her title this time due to injury, so this opened the door for a new champion to be crowned. Ciara Durkan from Skerries AC, a previous winner of the race back in 2010, who had also finished 3rd in 2013 and 2014, stormed to victory in a time of 22:06. She was clear of Irish athletics legend Catherina McKiernan of Analee AC who came home in second in a time of 22:21. Kate O’Neill of Metro/St Brigid’s AC finished third in 23:03, clear of Isabel Carron also of Skerries AC in 23:34. Karen Costello of Dunleer AC (23:46) took 5th place holding off Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrocks (23:52) who finished 6th. First home for home club Dunboyne AC was Jane Bandila in 7th place just a further second back.
This course is well suited to the wheelchair event and our three athletes covered the distance superbly. Winner was Cillian Dunne from Borrisokane AC who finished in 20:28. Second was Shauna Bocquet from Craughwell AC in 21.30 and third Fiona McCormack in 22:40. Well done all.
The team prizes gave the home Club a reason to cheer when the Dunboyne AC team packed well to place second in the men’s competition behind a strong Raheny Shamrock AC and ahead of Civil Service AC who finished third. In the women’s team competition the home club again had success in finishing a close second behind Donore Harriers and ahead of Raheny Shamrock AC in third. EirGrid Running Club had the honour of winning the inaugural Corporate Team Challenge competition.
The Eirgrid Dunboyne 4 Miler prides itself on the race experience it provides for all runners and whilst the big guns played it out for honours at the front, there were over 700 other athletes from top Club standard right through to those who, last January, set their sights on completing the daunting challenge of their first road race over the distance, who ran with distinction on the day. Each athlete received deafening cheers as they passed though the village on three occasions over the course route and were then treated to the now famous post-race entertainment and refreshments afterwards whilst the presentations were made.
Full results for the race are available on www.myrunresults.com
Photos available on Flickr: http://bit.ly/2mP126o
Dunboyne AC would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to all who ran, supported, sponsored, planned and catered for yet another successful 4 Mile Road Race. We look forward to the next two races in the Club race series, the Clonee 10k (29th June) and the Carton Trail race (27th July).
