Tuesday the 31st of May was the date for the 114th Clonliffe 2 Mile, once again run over the traditional Finglas to Glasnevin route, finishing outside The Gravediggers in Prospect Square.
Although the entry to the race was disappointingly lower than the last few years, clearly the quality was there, with a substantial number of athletes coming home in under 11 minutes.
Up front the race featured a three way battle between last years winner, Paul Flemming of Rathfarnham, Paul McNamara of Athenry and Civil Service master Jerry Healy. As the runners rounded the sharp left heading into the finishing straight at Prospect Square Flemming and McNamara were neck and neck and despite a scare when both runners nearly tripped over a speed bump, Paul McNamara prevailed in securing victory in 09:16, a winning margin of 1 second over Paul Flemming, with Jerry Healy coming home 3rd on the road and 1st in the master category, in 09:23. Third senior man was Derek Winters ofDrogheda & District in 09:44.
The first Clonliffe man home was Nigel Brunton, 5th senior, in 09:48.
In the senior women’s race, showing her continued return to form, was winner Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrocks in 10:27 from Fiona McGann of Civil Service in 10:58, with Sheila Doyle of DSD in 11:05.
The junior categories seen Clonliffe very much to the fore with a clean sweep recorded in the junior men’s by Brian Gallagher, 10:53 from Dara Boylan andDeclan Moran and again a clear sweep provided by the junior women being led home by Becky Woods in 11:49 from Sarah Woods and Denise Walsh.
In the master’s categories men O/40 was won by Jerry Healy in 09:23, men O/45 Gerry Carr of Civil Service 09:56, men O/50 Michael Jordan of North East Runners 10:29, men O/55 Pat Timmons of Raheny 10:45 and men O/60 Terry Mee of Donore 12:26.
In the master women category O/35 winner was Lucy D’Arcy of Sportsworld 11:11, O/40 Orla Gormley of Raheny 11:55, O/45 Nuala Reilly of Drogheda & District 12:40, O/50 Jose Power of Fingallians 14:10 and O/55 Pamela Benson, also of Fingallians, 11:58.
Once again the Club acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Eugene Kavanagh of The Gravediggers for his continued sponsorship, this year marks the20th successive year of his sponsorship of the Clonliffe 2. The Club also would like to thank all our race officials, stewards, helpers and An Garda Siochana.
Full results will be posted on this web-site shortly.