The 2017 Grand Prix Series kicks off on Thursday night March 30th, the Frank White 5 Mile on the track in Morton Stadium.
The Frank White Memorial 5 in times past was held on the roads around Dublin Airport, something that`s impossible now, in memory of the former Clonliffe athlete and Hon. Secretary Frank White who passed away in the club`s centenary year of 1986. Frank was a two time winner of the Clonliffe 2 back in the 1950s (`55 and `57) the following year, 1958 he ran in the World Record 2 Mile race won by Albie Thomas in Santry in August 1958.
Thursday`s race is a true 5 mile in that it is the only 5 mile race held in Ireland on a 400m. Back in the 1940s many a track meet featured 4 and 5 mile track races. Indeed these were National Championship races. In 1946 the Irish 5 Mile record was set by Martin Egan of Shanaglish, Gort, Co. Galway a time of 24.22.4, a record that withstood the test of time for all of sixty years, until Sergiu`s record in last year`s Frank White Memorial. Thursday`s race in once again sponsored by Sean Doran. As always anyone free on the night please come along to officiate. Race time as usual is 8.00pm.