The Grand Prix series remained in Malahide for one of the series highlights last Thursday night, for the Michael Murphy Memorial 5 Mile. The Michael Murphy Memorial Race has been running now for 36 years. The race was first run in the grounds of Malahide Castle back in 1980, the fastest time recorded that day was by Michael Murphy in a time of just over twenty-four minutes, tragically later that year, Michael was killed in a road traffic accident in the United States and the following year the race was run in his memory. Michael’s family donated the cup and have almost every year since attend the race and indeed sponsor the prize for fastest athlete.
The race is run on an open handicap basis and once again drew a great turn out of Grand Prixers for the two lap tour of the trails/tarmac around the grounds of Malahide Castle on a great night for racing.
A super turn out saw over 70 athletes start with some athletes doing 1 lap as a time trial, there were 62 finishers with Mark Dowling taking first place, with Mary Purdue Smyth second and the evergreen Dave Brady in third place. Declan Power was fastest male and Bernie Kiernan was fastest female. The top 20 leaderboard in the series is below.
Thanks also to all the officials who gave up their time on the night to ensure the races went ahead. Thanks again to the Murphy family for sponsoring the race.
Next race is the 4 mile, 2nd July at 8.00 in Santry Demesne.
| Brian McCann | 205 |
| Niall Markey | 203 |
| Emma Dunne | 182 |
| Kevin Dowling | 182 |
| Sean Doran | 182 |
| Richie Barr | 175 |
| Trevor Wisdom | 174 |
| Lorraine Sherwood | 164 |
| John O’Leary | 158 |
| Alan Worrall | 152 |
| Ernie Ramsey | 152 |
| Thomas Sherlock | 149 |
| Dave Brady Raheny | 148 |
| Sinead Smith | 147 |
| Frank McCarthy | 133 |
| Mary Purdue-Smyth | 130 |
| Liam Hennessy | 129 |
| Sinead Duffy | 129 |
| Clodagh Moriarty | 127 |
| Deirdre Fitzsimons | 126 |